Alastair Goldfisher

After July 4, not many of us are in the yuletide mood. But each summer, after the fireworks have settled, Shomit Ghose, a partner at Onset Ventures, sits down and writes the firm’s annual holiday card, which is being mailed today to friends and associates of the firm. Onset has handcrafted holiday cards for the […]

Late Friday, the dominant online music retailer Apple confirmed what had been rumored all day long, that it bought La La Media, operators of the digital music service known as Lala. The deal terms were not disclosed, but the acquisition may well be an example of the old phrase, “If you can’t beat ’em, then […]

A little known tax act that is likely to be enacted soon and have a major impact on the private equity industry is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009, which was introduced by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry (D-MA), Richard Neal (D-MA) and Charles Rangel (D-NY). The Act essentially requires foreign financial […]

It’s not that Reid Hoffman is everywhere in Silicon Valley. It just seems that way. Hoffman, a serial entrepreneur, who recently joined Greylock Partners as partner, was named today as the first speaker for TEDx Silicon Valley, which takes place at Stanford University on Dec. 12. To borrow a phrase from another reporter, the TEDx […]

Jason Calacanis now has some angels in his corner. As you no doubt already know, Los Angeles-based investor and entrepreneur Calacanis has started a new angel investment network called the Open Angel Forum. Calacanis has been waging a campaign various angel networks, such as the Keiretsu Forum, Maverick Angels and AlwaysOn, for charging startups for […]

I thought it was curious when I posted earlier today how Maveron has opened a San Francisco office for Partner Amy Errett to call home. The office isn't as curious as the location. The consumer-focused firm said it was hanging its shingle a few blocks west of the heart of the financial district on a short block shadowed by tall buildings. Just got off the phone with Errett, who says the office locale is temporary. Ideally, they're looking in the areas South of Market and Jackson Square to setup more permanent digs. Now that makes sense, since the firm is looking to scout the industry for promising wellness, online education and Internet-based consumer services businesses to back.

Seattle-based venture firm Maveron announced today that it has officially opened its San Francisco office. The consumer-oriented firm -- co-founded by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz -- had been scouting for a San Francisco locale ever since it hired Amy Errett as a partner in August 2008. Errett, who was previously CEO and owner of lifestyle and travel company Olivia, will lead the San Francisco office. Since joining the firm, Errett has focused on Web enabled consumer trends, e-commerce social shopping and online education, according to the Maveron website.

Some big news from the Emerald City was posted just a few minutes ago. TechFlash is reporting that Frazier Technology Ventures has agreed to dissolve. The firm will not make any new investments as it winds down its current portfolio. (Update: A Madrona rep writes in to say that FTV will continue to manage its existing investments, rather than "dissolve" the firm) The Seattle-based early stage tech investor, affiliated with Frazier Healthcare Ventures, raised $104 million for its second fund in 2004 from LPs like the Wisconsin State Investment Board, and was reportedly trying to raise a successor fund vehicle earlier this year.

Liran Eshel jokes that he has managed two startups in the last year. For one, Eshel is CEO and co-founder of CTERA Networks, a provider of a cloud computing storage device, which raised an undisclosed amount of capital from Benchmark Capital last year. For his other startup, Eshel is “co-CEO” with his wife, who gave […]