Friday, March 13, 2015

Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers: PEUtocracy


High finance has highs and lows.  One such drama is playing out in court.  Blue Al Gore and Red Colin Powell's serve as advisors to investment firm Kleiner-Perkins-Caulfied-Byers.  NYT described the company:

"as a place where, whatever its undoubted excellence, the loudest people win, the most aggressive win, and those who can find a mentor by sucking up win. This does not sound like a family, a meritocracy or even a place that is a successful investor over the long term."

"The key thing was to be a little more self-centered and a little more willing to hype yourself."

Greed, image, hype, these are signature features of private equity underwriters (PEU) and the billionaire investor class.  Kleiner Perkins broadened its bipartisan side, investing in Alien Vault which has General Peter Pace as a board member.

Politicians Red and Blue love PEU.  It looks like America's Royal Family Presidential fight in 2016 will feature two PEU politicians, Hillary Clinton vs. Jeb Bush. They clearly are a little more self-centered and willing to hype themselves.