Mark Bivens
Did Apple just hobble Criteo's achilles heel ?
Apple caused some reverberations last week among ad-tech companies when it revealed that iOS 9 will permit “Content Blocking Safari Extensions”. In other words, the next release of iOS will allow users to install ad-blockers on its mobile browser, according to the documentation provided to developers at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Criteo’s stock plunged more […]
France labor law: the cliff of 50
People that read this space regularly know that I’m not one to shy away from criticizing the French government’s policies when I believe they’re anti-startup or anti-innovation. So it’s only fair that I applaud the government when it acts to reform antiquated rules. In my opinion, Prime Minister Manuel Valls’ announcement this week of some […]
An idea ahead of its time
Yesterday Fred Wilson penned a nostalgic post about Kozmo. it was a poignant piece for me, because I remember the Kozmo era well. But before I get to that, I encourage you to read Fred’s post because it carries some important lessons, such as carrying scars from your failures and recognizing when an idea is […]
10 takeaways from Meeker's Internet Trends deck
If you work in tech you’ve probably already come across last week’s publication of Mary Meeker’s annual Internet Trends presentation. Meeker — formerly of Morgan Stanley and now with storied VC firm Kleiner Perkins since 2010 — presents a curated set of data reflecting what she sees as the major trends in internet usage. The […]
Calling all cars: Please return to base immediately
On Friday France’s Conseil Constitutionnel, the country’s judicial authority, announced its long-awaited ruling on Uber’s objections to the Loi Thévenoud. For a quick recap, the Thévenoud Law (named after Thomas Thévenoud, former secretary of state who left the cabinet in a tax scandal last year) aims to handicap innovative on-demand transport companies like Uber and […]
Four false friends for French startup lingo
I greatly admire French entrepreneurs who step outside their comfort zone to pitch me in English. Regardless of your mastery of second languages, pitching in your native tongue is usually far easier. Your reflexes are more instinctive; it’s easier to think on your feet; and you control the tone and the cadence of the pitch […]
Italy on the Pacific: How Airbnb can alter Japan's trajectory
When Japanese Prime Minister Abe visited the San Francisco Bay Area last week, he spoke about the need for Japan to foster its own version of Silicon Valley. His rationale makes sense. Many governments here in Europe have launched initiatives to encourage startup ecosystems and boost innovation (LaFrenchTech, London TechCity, Finland’s Startup Sauna, Enterprise Ireland, […]
Hamon, Ham-off. How the Loi Hamon hurts startups
If you believe (like many Canadians I know) that everything is better with bacon, the Loi Hamon will disappoint you. Despite its shared namesake with the Filipino word for ham, France’s Hamon law feels more like eggs benedict without the bacon… and with rotten eggs for that matter. I finally had my first direct brush […]
I have not invested a second reading about you. Now can you give me an hour of your time?
Robert Shrimsley’s column in the FT this past weekend with advice for journalism job seekers (Dear millennials: a few interview tips . . .) resonated with me. Shrimsley laments how every Spring he witnesses newly-minted journalism graduates aspiring to work at the Financial Times who seem to have so much to offer — degrees from elite universities, a […]
Time to invest in Japan?
I would posit that Japan is “the ultimate contrarian bet.” For entrepreneurs and investors in the West alike, the world’s third largest economy strikes me as being unfairly dismissed. Don’t get me wrong. At the macro level, the Japanese economy faces its share of challenges. The demographic trend is not moving in the country’s favor, […]