Riptides: An ABS Ventures Blog

September 30, 2009

Is IT Spending Ready to Bounce?

Sanger 70x70At the Dow Jones PEA Conference a couple weeks ago, Jim Breyer gave an interview in which he questioned the short-term optimism that has swept up many observers of the current economic recovery. But Jim also noted that, over the longer term, pent up demand will lead to a surge in IT infrastructure spending, as corporate IT budgets loosen again. Jim felt that this surge, starting perhaps as soon as next year, will be particularly good for those mid-stage venture-backed companies positioned to take advantage of it.

My sense of what’s happening with our own portfolio companies suggests a similar perspective. (more…)

August 27, 2009

Outlook Increasingly Cloud-y: Salesforce Blows Out Its Numbers, But that’s Not the Big Story

Sanger 70x70I am still a little uncertain why the news didn’t cause a bigger stir in the financial press or tech blogosphere. Maybe it’s the time of year. August market doldrums, end of summer languor. But last Thursday, Salesforce.com reported that it had crushed its numbers for its Second Fiscal Quarter ending in July. And not just in terms of one or two key financial reporting items. No, the company had exceeded consensus expectations for nearly every major financial metric.

(more…)

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