Defining Authenticity
By Chris Marks Since launching Blue Note Ventures, the most common question has been, “how will you know an authentic leader when you see one?” While I’m happy to provide some thoughts on the topic, a...
View ArticleThe Power of a Reboot
By Chris Marks Everyone struggles with being authentic. It comes with the territory — not only when you are part of a start-up, but when you are part of the human race. The world of venture capital is...
View ArticleTurnpikers
By Chris Marks If the Colorado start-up world can occasionally feel a bit small, the Boulder world can feel downright tiny. Having worked with Colorado start-ups and officed on Pearl Street for over 15...
View ArticleFighting for Leadership
Over the course of the past winter, I found myself dealing with an issue in my prior fund’s portfolio that tested me as an investor, and as a person. As with most things in the start up world, once the...
View ArticleThis Stuff is Hard (w/ Joshua Hunt)
by Chris Marks When I partner with entrepreneurs who are raising venture capital for the first time, I know that I am going to have to help them adjust to a new, and often difficult, environment. Every...
View ArticleThe Evolution of a Leader
By Chris Marks Founding a start-up and running a large high growth company are two roles that come with completely different job descriptions. They require different skill sets, different temperaments,...
View Article10 Years of Techstars
By Chris Marks I still remember the first time I talked to David Cohen about getting involved in the Techstars program. It was back in 2007. I made the 4 block trek to see him in his small basement...
View ArticleThis is What Disruption Looks Like
By Chris Marks Over the last 25 years, technology has up-ended numerous industries that were long thought to be untouchable. From publishing to retail, from taxis to hospitality, things are starkly...
View ArticleThe Series A Balancing Act
By Chris Marks I recently spoke to a cohort of CEOs at GAN’s Scale School about the process of raising a Series A Financing. Everyone in the group had raised seed financing in the past and was focused...
View ArticleA Merger of Values
A little over 5 years ago, I started Blue Note Ventures with a very clear vision of what I wanted to create – a venture firm that backed leaders who aspired to be authentic, self-aware, transparent,...
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