This year has been one in which the venture capitalists and their business model have been called into question.
The venture industry is heading into a perfect storm of problems, according to one writer. Union Square Ventures Fred Wilson says there's a venture capital math problem. A number of venture capitalists have chimed in as a chorus, saying it's broken. Many say there are too many venture capitalists, and that it's not good for America and that the industry is undergoing a substantial reduction in size.
Charles Moldow, a venture capitalist at Foundation Capital, weighed in with his thoughts about the venture industry. He doesn't think it's broken, but he doesn't believe it'll change in five years. What will happen between now and then however, is a reduction in the number of active venture capitalists.
If there is a change in the venture business that he'd like to see, it's a change to the approach. He hopes venture capitalists would see the "practice as a craft," a view the financiers of innovation took decades ago when the industry was just emerging.
That was a great interview.