re: Mark Floyd Lands at EntrisphereIsn't this another way of VC's saying "We like your product but not your management, so kindly accept our own management if you want more funding"?
re: Mark Floyd Lands at EntrisphereNot really - it's a person who is working for the VC, possibly even within their office who is paid by them to consider ideas, think of new solutions to common problems, consider business models ... whatever, they are locked in by the VC. Either they come up with an idea the VC will fund, or the VC finds a plan they like and puts the guy on the management team to give it credibility, often at the earliest funding stage.
It keeps good talent in-house rather than let them wander the streets where they might be picked up by a stranger :-)
re: Mark Floyd Lands at EntrisphereThe answer is D: all of the above.
An EIR ideally keeps a bit of pressure on the portfolios' CEO's, gives them a place to get operational ideas and review, etc. It's also a place to put good ol' boys between ideas, you name it.
I have not seen an EIR get a CEO position, except for very first funding round with a group that would not get it otherwise. A condition of funding that you can either accept or keep looking.
99% of the time they try to work themselves out of a hard job and get back to EIR status.
It keeps good talent in-house rather than let them wander the streets where they might be picked up by a stranger :-)
An EIR ideally keeps a bit of pressure on the portfolios' CEO's, gives them a place to get operational ideas and review, etc. It's also a place to put good ol' boys between ideas, you name it.
I have not seen an EIR get a CEO position, except for very first funding round with a group that would not get it otherwise. A condition of funding that you can either accept or keep looking.
99% of the time they try to work themselves out of a hard job and get back to EIR status.
-Whyiswhy