Laid-off Wall Street techs offered work at Silicon Alley startups

Buy low, sell high, as they say on Wall Street. And right now, there's a flow tide of technical talent from shuttered financial firms flooding the New York Area available at rock-bottom prices. Fred Wilson at Union Square Ventures says why not take a pay cut and work longer hours at a Web startup? The "quant jocks" Wilson describes could also bank their savings and some unemployment checks and spend six months pitching a business plan — I bet they could convince Wilson to throw some money your way. The entrepreneurial route worked for former finance techie Jeff Bezos, an early adopter who worked at a hedge fund before hedge funds were cool. First Round Capital has a list of jobs in and around New York for those who would rather continue collecting a paycheck. Though the fund did sneak in email startup Xobni, which is on the left coast. "[H]ey, why not consider a move. The weather is better and winter is coming!!!" That said, so is Julia Allison. (Photo by AP/Mary Altaffer)

MyYearbook scores $13 million to cater to more 13 year olds

MyYearbook, a social network for teens turned off by the old people thronging Facebook and MySpace, has raised an additional $13 million in venture capital. The social-network startup wooed by Barry Diller's IAC last year, but a deal never happened. The site claims to be the third biggest social network in the U.S. More »

VC freaks out Yahoos with "shocking" Facebook ad

Yesterday, First Round Capital VC Jeff Kopelman posted to his blog what he thought was clear evidence that Yahoo employees are planning a mass exodus. Through his venture firm, he bought Facebook ads with the message "Leaving Yahoo?" in November and again this week after Microsoft announced its intentions to buy the company. Clickthrough rates on the ads were up 300 percent this time over last, Kopelman said. What Kopelman didn't say was that this time the ads included Facebook profile pictures of current Yahoo employees. The pictures appeared because the Yahoos had joined First Round Capital's Facebook group — not because they'd left the company. More »

The moneymen at The Lobby

The venture capitalists spotted at this week's Lobby conference in Hawaii are not, we've noted, the Sand Hill Road dwellers who inflated bubbles past or present. No sign of anyone from Sequoia or Kleiner Perkins. So who is enjoying the tropical sun? Well, conference host and August Capital partner David Hornik, of course. Also photographed on the scene: Greylock's David Sze, SoftTech's Jeff Clavier, Foundation Capital's Mike Brown, Panorama Capital's Mike Jung, and Bay Partner's Eric Chin. Hats off to First Round Capital's Josh Kopelman, who is using his entrepreneurial skills to cash in during the scavenger hunt. (Photo by: bradley23)

Much love to Web 2.0

The week of Web 2.0 Summit, with the industry converging on San Francisco, seems like as good time as any to throw a shindig. Everyone's in town for the schmoozefest, so you might get to meet quality people who normally avoid the party scene. While my boss hit the Reddit party, I hopped around town to some of the other events. Three, in fact. VC firm True Ventures held a gathering at their offices on Pier 38, a tech industry jam session — for charity, naturally — occurred across town at the Rickshaw Stop, and VCs Eric Chin and Mike Jung held a private party at Fluid for attendees of their intimate Alpha dinners in Woodside. Who needs sleep this week? More »

Email startup takes on filmmaking

A note to venture capitalist Rob Hayes of First Round Capital. Remember the cash you plunked down on Xobni, the party-throwing email startup? This is where your money's going. More »

Josh Kopelman's bad break

If you were wondering why First Round Capital VC Josh Kopelman has been walking around in a sling, here's your explanation. Embedded, above, is the video Kopelman posted of him breaking his shoulder trying to indoor skydive in Las Vegas. Beware: The mishap occurs around :90 seconds in, and it's totally not for the squeamish. But if you can stand it, it's as good a demonstration of the downside of the Valley's macho, testosterone-driven, thrill-seeking culture as you'll ever need.

Bow down and worship Xobni's party-throwing skills

On the left, beatific investor Rob Hayes of First Round Capital. On the right, worshipful Xobni cofounder Adam Smith, genuflecting before the man who graced his startup with the tall dollars, and helped fund a night of excess last Friday. More »