What kind of Bitcoin startup will be the first to raise a Series A from a VC?

[ripper234]

http://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-Bitcoin-startup-will-be-the-first-to-raise-a-Series-A-investment-from-a-VC

(Some believe that) odds are that Bitcoin based companies will succeed, and perhaps some will be backed by VC money.

What kind of Bitcoin company is mostly likely to score an investment round by a VC? An e-wallet? Social site with integrated Bitcoin features? A B2B2C company?

(Of course that if this happens the value of Bitcoin will either skyrocket just because of this investment, or will have already skyrockted prior to the investment)

[Shuai]

What constitutes a "bitcoin startup"?

If it's any business that accepts bitcoins as a method of payment, then I guess the answer will be pretty random, because bitcoin will be useful to pretty much any type of business, and doesn't require a tweak of their business model or similar (you don't generalize credit card businesses either, right?). If it's a business that provides vital bitcoin infrastructure, then I guess an exchange, but then again exchanges are the only infrastructure that's really needed. If it's a business whose business model depends on bitcoin's attributes for their success I have no idea, but I think it will take 5-10 years before such a business gets any sort of funding because the amount of people who use bitcoins is still diminutive.

[cbeast]

It will be something new. Maybe it will be a micropayment or sms based mobile payment system. Due to bitcoin phobia in the USA, it will probably be China or some other country that attracts VC investment.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

Um, hello  

We already raised a Series A seed round, and working on a second round with Care Capital based in New York

Article:

www.betabeat.com/2011/12/13/brooklyn-based-bitcoin-startup-bitinstant-raises-seed-round/

- Charlie

[MemoryDealers]

I'm also aware of several other Bitcoin centric companies that have raised substantial amounts of venture capital.

[cbeast]

There are so many unique properties in Bitcoin to exploit. What would it take to get VC funding?

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

There are so many unique properties in Bitcoin to exploit. What would it take to get VC funding?

Definitely the hardest part, I've seen at least, is the legally issue.

Since its stilla grey area, or so the VC's think, they are reluctant to inject real money into a company that may be borderline illegal in a year or two

[Nefario]

Who needs funding from VC's, when we've already got a bitcoin stock exchange (GLBSE.com)?

Sure right now it's on the small side of funding, but GLBSE is already responsible for dozens of new ventures.

Check this article.
http://bitcoinmedia.com/crowdfunding-gets-some-back/

[cbeast]

Who needs funding from VC's, when we've already got a bitcoin stock exchange (GLBSE.com)?

Sure right now it's on the small side of funding, but GLBSE is already responsible for dozens of new ventures.

Check this article.
http://bitcoinmedia.com/crowdfunding-gets-some-back/

I'm sure it's great, but I lost my Bitcoin account on GLBSE because there is not adequate instruction about backing up the private keys. I am not sure if folks are educated enough about key management to use it. I would like to see more instruction on the website on this and a warning about the risk of not backing up all your account information.

[Nefario]

Who needs funding from VC's, when we've already got a bitcoin stock exchange (GLBSE.com)?

Sure right now it's on the small side of funding, but GLBSE is already responsible for dozens of new ventures.

Check this article.
http://bitcoinmedia.com/crowdfunding-gets-some-back/

I'm sure it's great, but I lost my Bitcoin account on GLBSE because there is not adequate instruction about backing up the private keys. I am not sure if folks are educated enough about key management to use it. I would like to see more instruction on the website on this and a warning about the risk of not backing up all your account information.

Were moving away from key based auth in the next release. And if you have anything in your account, give me whatever information you can (addresses for bitcoin deposits, shares held etc.) and I'll transfer them to a new account for you.

Nefario.

[finway]

Who needs funding from VC's, when we've already got a bitcoin stock exchange (GLBSE.com)?

^This.   You just need to make it more serious_business_looking, like MtGox and Bitcoinica.

And maybe make two classes:

personal, enterprise