Customer Review
| So, I will say this about Something Ventured: You certainly will learn the 101 textbook lesson about America's first true "venture capitalists" in this movie. And, yes, it is startling to learn that the red-hot vocation of the digital age is only a few decades old. The original "venture capitalists" are still around and are happy to reflect on what they got right--and what they got wrong... Even with that code of conduct, you're still going to make mistakes. You'll absolutely groan when you meet the investor who turned thumbs down to a desperate young Steve Jobs when Jobs was willing to hand this guy one third of Apple's shares for just $50,000. Believe me, the guy who rejected that deal is still beating his head against a wall. At the time, though, he just couldn't understand why anyone would want a home computer and he didn't like the over-confident young Jobs. 15 of 16 people found the following review helpful  An Amazing Lesson in Thriving in Tumultuous Times,May 17, 2012By This review is from: Something Ventured (DVD) Now, we're talking about the real reason to get this new Zeigeist release and watch it soon with your spouse, with friends, with your teen-aged and 20-something kids or with friends at work- Fascinating tips and techniques these super-smart and super-adaptive investors reveal about what makes them so successful; These capitalists are featured in this film as success stories: There's a whale of a lot more wisdom in this documentary. Don't miss IT! It was great and this product was as expected I love it. Totally recommended 100% Awesome insight into the world of Venture Capital... ByTimothy W. Dickon February 17, 2014 Told by the pioneers who found and invested in Silicon Valley's original legendary companies that invented entire industries: Intel, Genentech, Apple Computer, etc. Fascinating, fun, humorous and, at times, moving when you consider the impact that these few people have had on the planet in just 30 short years. Hats off to the film makers and the (real) film stars; PS - I am a VC in "the Valley." They called themselves venture capital and this is still the way "the valley" works! Story about home computers ... No one could envision that, soon, everyone would want a computer within easy reach. But, the new Zeitgeist film also tells the painful story of Atari. Currently, home gaming represents one third of all of the billions of dollars spent each year on entertainment. But, back when Atari was first hawking a home game console--every smart venture capitalist in the country shot down the idea. No one would want to play electronic games at home, these smart investors reasoned. Not worth risking a dime on home gaming. Boy, were they wrong! ByJim Estillon February 17, 2013 This is a highly inspirational documentary about the start of Silicon Valley. It features interviews with the who's who in the valley and follows their successes and speaks of their failure. It may have more interest to me since I was in the computer business at the time so recognize the companies and some of the people. I loved the VCs telling about the ones they missed (like not buying 30% of Apple for $50,000 because the founders were too dirty). It tells of the sometimes uncomfortable relationship between entrepreneurs and venture capitalists - including profiling the ousting of a founder. Great DVD. Highly recommended ByProgressiveon November 25, 2012 So many deservedly dark films abound about Capitalism: bank and credit failures, market crashes, layoffs, corporate thieves, bailouts of billionaires while their workers languish...... This film is different. With humor, wisdom, and surprising candor, the now old men who built the Silicon Valley and the biotech industry reflect on how they did it and why. The history of Apple Computers is a lesson in how business acumen can combine with raw talent and narcissism, and how, when the 'chips' are down, bet on the business men.....and Tom Perkins' reflections on making money while changing the world for the better is a touching, funny, wise tribute to an economic system that can transform lives for the better.......we have a lot of reminders about Capitalism's dark side. Something Ventured is just great fun, and a deservedly admiring view of those who gave computers and new medicines to the world, while enriching themselves. ==> |
as a journalist for more than 30 years, I know this truth: Ask your audience to tell you what they want to learn about and they will sound like high school students filling out their college-bound lesson plans. But, instead, actually watch them open their newspaper and we discover that what they really want is their favorite comic strip, maybe a new recipe, perhaps the employment listings and especially advertisements for their real interests, such as movies, new restaurants, the latest electronic gadgets or maybe a reliable used car.
