A timely conversation about venture-backed IPOs— is the idea an oxymoron given the disconnect between the companies we’re growing and what the street is looking for?

This Friday, I’m speaking on a panel at the AlwaysOn Venture Summit East titled, “IPOs: A Recovery? How? When? Why?”

This panel could not be timelier (and I’m not just saying this because I’m on it).  This week, after a nine month dry spell, we’ll see two venture-backed IPOs—SolarWinds and OpenTable.

What ever happened to profits?

At last week’s NVCA Annual Meeting, there was a lot of talk about getting the exit market revved up again. The NVCA unveiled their Four Pillar strategy for getting the IPO markets back in action. I agree that regulatory relief would be helpful and it would be really great if we cultivated (once again) relationships with bankers, accountants and advisers whose livelihood is inextricably linked with our business. What was missing at the meeting, however, was a critical discussion of the underlying changes in the industry that are undermining our ability to create a viable crop of IPO candidates.