StarZero All shows Try the podcast clipper →

Alison Goldberg

Managing Partner, Comcast Ventures · 1 appearance on the record.

computed by AI from the episodes · how this works → · full disclaimer →

investorexecutivecomcastventures.com/team ↗

Alison Goldberg is Managing Partner at Comcast Ventures and SVP of Startup Engagement at Comcast. She previously led Time Warner Investments for over 17 years, investing in companies such as Discord, Bustle Digital Group, and FanDuel.

17statements → 7claims → 5claims resolved → 60%fully supported → 3.76/5average certainty → 2/5average debate potential → ≈4.5/5argument clarity, estimated →

3 supported 1 partly supported 1 contradicted 2 not checkable as stated how the 7 claims stand · each chip opens the sources

1 prediction · 6 assertions · 4 opinions · 3 insights · 3 disclosures · every statement was checked. The prediction and assertions are the 7 claims: statements the public record can support or contradict. 5 are resolved, and 2 name no date, number or outcome precise enough to check. Everything else (opinions, insights, what ifs, disclosures) can never be settled by the record, so it carries no assessment.

The record, in short

What the tape says about how Alison argues and how the claims held up. Everything they said, and everything said about them, is in the tabs below.

Their most notable supported claim

Assertion Supported
Goldberg: Time Warner Investments' initial check size is $3M to $10M
“When we first go into a deal, typically our size is from three to ten million, our first check, but we know we're going to be doing follow-ons”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 14:04 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments

Their most notable contradicted claim

Assertion Contradicted
Goldberg: Bustle is the largest web site for women aged 18-34
“So it's driven our investments in companies like Bustle, which is targeting women, 18 to 34, and they're now the biggest site on the web hitting women, 18 to 34, which is amazing.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 10:16 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments

How they sound: speaking style how? →

257 words/min while actually speaking · 3.9 um and uh per 1k words

No argument clarity score for Alison Goldberg: no usable question→answer exchanges on raw tape (a fair score needs 8+). We do not score a sample that small. Roundtable and news formats yield far fewer direct exchanges than interviews. Their coarse estimate from 16 exchanges on the produced feed is ≈4.5/5, shown at half point precision because the sample is small and produced tape scores higher.

Measured by listening to 3,335 words across 1 episode, but every recording we have of Alison Goldberg is the aired feed, and an editor cleaned that audio before release. Some of the hesitation was cut before we ever heard it, so read these as floors: the true rates are at least this high. These are measurements of speaking style, not scores. How it's measured →

How the interview went all their pushback → series average →

Across 1 rated episode:

host pushback ▾ 2/10
pushed back at the host ▾ 2/10
setup questions received 45%

Everything Alison Goldberg said on 20VC that made the record, most notable first. Filter by type, assessment or year in the ledger →

Opinion
Goldberg: Founders should not have to network their way to VCs
“You know, we want to see a diversity of ideas from a diversity of different kinds of people, and so the whole concept of you have to network your way to us, I don't really believe in that.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 5:05 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Opinion
Goldberg: Corporate VCs are not ideal lead investors for Series A rounds
“So in my view, I don't think corporates are your best lead investor for a series A. If you do that, then I do think you run into those negative signaling issues when you go out to raise the series B, and people are asking sort of, why do you only have a strate…”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 18:04 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Opinion
Goldberg: VCs should accept business plans sent via Twitter DMs
“And if people DM you or try to DM you or at you on Twitter and want to send you a business plan, say yes. You know, it's not that hard.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 6:23 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Insight
Founders should be cautious of CVCs using investments as acquisition pipelines
“So if that is sort of the MO of the strategic group, I'd be cautious if I were an entrepreneur.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 8:53 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Insight
Goldberg: Earlier startup exits yield better dollar returns, not just IRRs
“If you look at any, certainly our portfolio, almost anyone's portfolio, the earlier the exits, usually the better. Not just from an IRR standpoint, because that's just math, but just from a, just dollar over dollar standpoint as well, when we've looked at that…”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 14:55 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Opinion
Goldberg: Esports and VR are overhyped in media
“Overhyped, I think, has been esports and VR, too, but definitely esports.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 19:25 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Disclosure
Time Warner Investments maintains a 50/50 balance between financial and strategic returns
“I think for us, it's definitely both. So we need to make money. You know, we want to be competitive with VC returns and make money for our shareholders and our company. But the strategic piece for us is equally important. So it's sort of a fifty-fifty.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 7:44 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Disclosure
Time Warner Investments does not invest to pipeline early corporate acquisitions
“So, you know, we're very upfront to say that's not why we're doing this. So we're not making these investments to have an early look at a potential business. Acquisition down the road.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 8:44 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Contradicted
Goldberg: Bustle is the largest web site for women aged 18-34
“So it's driven our investments in companies like Bustle, which is targeting women, 18 to 34, and they're now the biggest site on the web hitting women, 18 to 34, which is amazing.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 10:16 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Partly supported
Warner Brothers generates $1.5 billion in top-line gaming revenue
“Warner Brothers has now has around a one and a half billion dollar top line games business, which is amazing.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 11:31 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Insight
Goldberg: Founders should reject special rights like ROFRs from strategic investors
“Ask them if they're going to ask for special rights, like are they asking for a path to control? Are they asking for rights of first offer, rights of first refusal? You don't want to accept any of those things, but those are questions to ask just to make sure.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 16:56 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Goldberg: Esports will expand into mainstream media in accessible formats
“I do think we will, and I think it'll be, it might look a little bit different, so it may not look as hardcore.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 21:22 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Time Warner Investments reviews approximately 600 deals annually
“So we look at around 600 ish deals a year.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 4:58 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Supported
Goldberg: Time Warner Investments' initial check size is $3M to $10M
“When we first go into a deal, typically our size is from three to ten million, our first check, but we know we're going to be doing follow-ons”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 14:04 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Supported
Goldberg: Time Warner Investments does not invest in seed deals
“In reality, we're not typically going super early. So, we're not Doing seed deals.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 15:18 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Disclosure
Time Warner Investments typically leads Series B rounds or co-leads Series A
“That's typically what we do. We've also co-led A's, like we could split an A with another financial investor. Do it also, if it makes sense at that stage to bring in a strategic, you know, it depends on where you are, you know, where your company is, even thou…”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 18:34 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments
Assertion Supported
Time Warner Investments maintained consistent annual deployment since late 1990s
“We invested sort of the same ish amounts every year, starting from the late nineties before I was there through now.”
Alison Goldberg Aug 23, 2017 ▶ 4:04 20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate VCs Are Not Your Best Lead For Series A & Why The "You Have To Network Your Way To Us' Is Wrong with Allison Goldberg, Managing Director @ Time Warner Investments

Appearances (1)

EpisodeDateSpeaking time
20VC: What Are The Big Questions Entrepreneurs & VCs Must Ask Corporate VCs, Why Corporate Aug 23, 2017 14m
Made with StarZero

Turn any episode into a week of clips.

This entire site, over 1,200 episodes transcribed, diarized, checked and made playable, runs on the StarZero media pipeline. Drop in your own episode and the podcast clipper finds the moments worth sharing, cuts them, captions them, and reframes them for every feed.

Try the podcast clipper Learn more