Huffington Post and aQuantive? |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
The massive $25 million investment that Oak Investment Partners is pumping into online news site Huffington Post today comes at a time when traditional media companies are firing reporters, closing bureaus and reducing the size of their publications.
That alone is interesting. But what caught my eye in Kara Swisher's report this morning were remarks from Oak's Fred Harman, who drew some parallels between the investment in Huffington Post and his firm's backing of Seattle-based aQuantive.
Harman tells All Things Digital that his firm continued to invest in aQuantive even though economic times were tough.
“Who knows how deep this economic situation is going to be. But strong companies that keep investing through a bad cycle can emerge as winners,” he said.
That certainly turned out to be the case for aQuantive, which sold to Microsoft for $6 billion last year. Oak's $25 million bet is a big one that Huffington Post can help transform journalism in this country.
But the venture firm is known for big bets. In the Seattle area, the firm has backed a number of companies over the past 15 years: Primus Knowledge, Internap, Radiant Research, Qpass, SnapIn, Talisma and Tegic Communications.
What is interesting about that list is that every one of the companies has either been sold of completed an IPO. With $25 million in the bank and an estimated valuation of just under $100 million, could Huffington Post be the next successful exit for Oak?
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
Who's creating today's energy efficient buildings? Find out at the BetterBricks Awards, Feb. 16
BetterBricks Awards salute the individuals leading the way for high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Join us as we recognize these standout green building professionals.
Award categories include: Advocate; Architect/Designer; Facility Manager/Operator; and Owner/Developer.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Kampschroer, Director of U.S. GSA's Office of Federal High Performance Buildings. Kevin leads the U.S. General Services Administration's efforts in building sustainability and accelerating industry adoption of sustainable principles across all aspects of a building's life.
Register here by February 10!
If you are interested in buying a table, email Monica Alquist or call her at 206-876-5404.
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.