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-Land of the Free
Obama hints at a future in VC
2016-07-03
In seven months, Barack Obama will leave the White House as president of the United States. He's going to need a job. In an interview with Bloomberg on June 13, he hinted at the possibility of joining entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.

Obama said "had I not gone into politics, I'd probably be starting some kind of business," said Obama. "The skill set of starting my presidential campaigns‐and building the kinds of teams that we did and marketing ideas‐I think would be the same kinds of skills that I would enjoy exercising in the private sector. … The conversations I have with Silicon Valley and with venture capital pull together my interests in science and organization in a way I find really satisfying."
No doubt he does.
On hearing the news, Valley investors were quick to save the president a spot on Sand Hill Road.

With Obama as investor-in-chief a possibility, we asked prominent venture capitalists if the president had what it takes to do well in the hyper-competitive venture world. Without exception, every firm said Obama would be a natural fit (several extended job offers and invites to "grab coffee"). A few gave some good-natured pointers on what Obama could to do to up his game before his first day.

Few can motivate and mobilize people better than Obama.

The Republic has rarely seen an orator like Obama.
So true. But I note the distinct lack of adjectives in that sentence.
Obama's first campaign raised an unprecedented coalition that powers the Democratic party to this day.
And his second campaign?
Startups demand those same skills to rally founders and employees. Obama's presidential experience building alliances and inspiring entrepreneurs could be invaluable, says Beebe at Obvious Ventures.
I could also regain the body and energy I had at 25. It isn't likely, but that miracle might yet happen.
"He's kind of perfect for the job," says Ari Bloom, an investor and CEO of the fashion technology firm Avametric. "He's got experience sitting through presentations that require a translator, he meets with people every day that nobody expects him to remember, and he's kissed a lot of crying babies, so he can definitely work well with founders."
That is about the most impressive damning with faint praise I've ever seen.
Pascal Finette at Singularity University also said Obama's decision to finally ditch the Blackberry in favor of a new smartphone was also a sign that he's ready for the Valley.
That's up there, too.
Posted by:KBK

#29  And mom jeans.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2016-07-03 22:23  

#28  Besoeker - I am impressed. Still, in my mind's eye I picture him with a cyclist helmet and dark glasses to score the safe cool points.
Posted by: Tennessee   2016-07-03 21:18  

#27  He's just practicing in his spare time.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-07-03 21:13  

#26  That dumbazz Obama couldn't get a job as a mall security officer. Picture him as the Mall Cop not trusted with a weapon driving around on a Segway...
Posted by: Tennessee   2016-07-03 21:09  

#25  I suspect some short term success on the lecture circuit; perhaps a year; then his drivel will fail to motivate even those ardent leftists; and he will be Joneses for any sort of gig: look at me, I am still relevant....
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2016-07-03 21:02  

#24  Unelet, taxes are for little people.

I actually can visualize him joining the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Well, not joining as one of them, joining as overseer. After all, they make too many mistakes--businesses go broke all the time. They need someone smarter to guide them, and make sure the appropriate social factors are properly taken into account.
Posted by: james   2016-07-03 18:23  

#23  This from a man who has never done an honest day's work in his life.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2016-07-03 17:20  

#22  Sticker shock when he gets the payroll tax bill, property tax bill, corporate excize tax bill, tax on sales, on and on. And late penalties just before hitting the bong again for relief. His Obamacare system rollout crash spoke volumns regarding his deploable conception to market life cycle and performance capabilities.
Posted by: Unelet Protector of the Sith2424   2016-07-03 16:23  

#21  He wants the feelings and trappings of success.

That is so much 'whiteness'. Then again, hypocrisy is something the other guys should be ashamed of as far as the Left is concerned.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-07-03 15:02  

#20  Someone should tell him the Viet Cong won and don't need his help.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2016-07-03 14:42  

#19  Wasted and dissipated in a penthouse suite with styrofoam greek columns?
Posted by: Frank G   2016-07-03 14:08  

#18  His future is not what we see or what he wishes us to see. I firmly believe he will go down the road of addiction and waste away money as any junkie would. Marion Barry all over again. He wants to be up. He wants the feelings and trappings of success. This craving will be overwhelming in my opinion. Media and Democrats will protect and cover thus enabling him and so making his addiction more powerful. In my opinion, he is an addictive personality type.
Posted by: Dale   2016-07-03 13:59  

#17  He wouldn't have built this
Posted by: European Conservative   2016-07-03 13:23  

#16  Contrian advisor. Get his advise and do the exact opposite.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2016-07-03 13:23  

#15  BrerRabbit, he'll have to give a few $250000 speeches to raise capital, just like Bill and Hillary.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2016-07-03 13:12  

#14  Where'd he get all the capital to venture. Public service must pay really good.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2016-07-03 12:50  

#13  He'll likely be a glad-handler; a VC version of a booth babe. Show up, shake a few hands, nod a lot during the presentation, then let the adults make the decision.

And get paid handsomely for his effort.
Posted by: Pappy   2016-07-03 12:39  

#12  If he does get into a business... don't invest. It will go bankrupt almost immediately.
Posted by: DarthVader   2016-07-03 11:53  

#11  he's as much of a businessman as he is a Constitutional Scholar™
Posted by: Frank G   2016-07-03 11:37  

#10  The Republic has rarely seen an orator like Obama.

You know who else was a good orator? Just sayin'...
Posted by: Raj   2016-07-03 11:34  

#9  had I not gone into politics, I'd probably be starting some kind of business,

...till I discovered it was hard work and ultimately required you to pay off politicians in order to just keep what you had toiled for.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-07-03 09:17  

#8  This guy spent far too much time with his Choom Gang smoking dope. He is given to delusions of grandeur--his reach is way beyond his grasp.
Posted by: JohnQC   2016-07-03 07:30  

#7  I would rather he seek his future as a VC than as any position in the UN. I figured that was his end goal. This article may be just smoke.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2016-07-03 07:18  

#6  Obama said "had I not gone into politics, I'd probably be starting some kind of business,
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-07-03 06:56  

#5  He's better suited for some 3rd world banana republic, Venezuela, or some failed African state.
Posted by: JohnQC   2016-07-03 06:40  

#4  True politician, work both sides of the crony capitalism ripping off America. And swimming in stock options while doing it.
Posted by: Airandee   2016-07-03 06:24  

#3  I thought he was on the board of S&W ??
Posted by: Classer   2016-07-03 05:13  

#2  Shouldn't he go for Nobel in Physics?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2016-07-03 01:53  

#1  Faint praise, indeed. To be fair, our soon to be ex-POTUS does have remarkable skill at selling vaporware. Plus a Rolodex of rich and influential contacts.
Posted by: SteveS   2016-07-03 01:26  

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