Greg Battle

Internet Svengali. Ignoble Mogul. Entreprenerd. Hotshot Guitarist. Bit Fiddler. Push Up Lover. Dad. PHIL/NJ/NYC

Profile

Experienced Serial Entrepreneur and Product Lead with Proven Vision and Execution Skills
Internet | Greater New York City Area, US

Summary

Accomplished, entrepreneurial executive with over 15 years of progressive experience in formulating financial and internet strategy and vision, securing angel and venture funding, and architecting growth trajectories and infrastructures for early-stage start-ups. Recognized as intelligent, resourceful professional and tireless researcher with proven ability to identify and develop effective solutions. Insightful leader and staff advocate skilled in role modeling, building well-rounded cross-functional teams, defining performance metrics, and establishing standard of excellence. Available for relocation.
Specialties: Early-stage startups, internet strategy and vision, community tools, software architecture, behavioral modeling, reputation systems, discovery tools, search technologies, music technology, financial modeling, statistical methods, decision modeling, peer networks, competitive analysis, cross-functional leadership

Experience

  • Dec 2009 - Present
    Consultant at bit.ly / bit.ly
    Guided the product launch of and revenue discovery for bit.ly Pro and bit.ly Enterprise, the free and premium versions of branded URL shortening service resulting in over 14,000 requests and 2,500 customers including many large brands, publishers, retailers, campaigns and personalities. Branding, messaging, customer discovery and on-boarding process.
  • Jan 2009 - Present
    Digital Media Consultant / Self Employed
    - Takkle (High School Sports Social Network): Active advisor from 2006 to acquisition by Alloy in Q1 2009. - ServNation (Enterprise Software): Business plan, financials, investor and marketing materials review - Selerity Corporation (Financial Technology): Advised on go-to-market strategy, candidate search, due diligence, authored marketing strategy for web and print materials - PopTok (Online Video): Advised on corporate restructuring, rebranding, refocus of strategy resulting in the birth of AnyClip.com, TechCrunch 50 2009 Audience Award Winners. - Vibe (Print and Digital Magazine): Advised on the redevelopment of digital strategy including online/print convergence, content aggregation, audience segmentation/engagement, partnership and revenue optimization.
  • Sept 2006 - Present
    Co-founder and Chief Software Architect / Global Grind Digital Inc., LLC
    (http://globalgrind.com) Hip-hop automated and social news site combining multi-media aggregation, community and cultural relevancy funded by Russell Simmons and Accel Partners.
  • Jun 2005 - Present
    Hedge Fund Associate / Trigram Capital Management, LP
  • Aug 2003 - Present
    MBA Candidate 2005 / The Wharton School
  • Feb 2000 - Present
    Lead Developer / BET Interactive, LLC
  • Dec 1995 - Present
    Vice President / Donaldson, Lufkin, Jenrette
  • May 1995 - Present
    Consultant / Chemical Bank
  • Sept 1992 - Present
    Senior Programming Analyst / Sanwa Securities

Education

  • 2003 - 2005
    University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School
    MBA in Finance
  • 1988 - 1992
    Princeton University
    BSE in Computer Science

Additional Information

Websites:
Interests:
investing, guitar, music production, reading, cooking comfort food

My Resume

Posts

That time in *Philmont Scout Ranch* when the bear destroyed the thunderbox.. Share a memory from a place you’ve been.

Less than three days before Facebook Inc.’s initial public offering, Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman decided to boost the number of shares the company would offer investors by 25%…That decision by the 41-year-old Facebook executive may have doomed any real chance the social-networking company had that its stock would jump on its first day of trading—a hallmark of successful IPOs.

Inside Fumbled Facebook Offering, by SHAYNDI RAICE, ANUPREETA DAS and GINA CHON

This is like saying that if you sold your house today and the person you sold it to could not flip it that same day for 2x what you sold it for that you would be a idiot.

Leaving money on the table for the public markets to go crazy is not in the companies best interest and certainly does not mark a successful IPO.  These writers are idiots, dangerous and should be fired.

(via siminoff)

gbattle sez:

However, you have more stakeholders in Facebook than pre-IPO investors, employees and underwriters. 900 million users invested their time & effort in creating Facebook and want/deserve some ROI.  Greed, via “fair” pricing, killed any chance of retail ROI (strange that Facebook offered more shares at a rumored lower evaluation among insiders). To continue your analogy, Facebook didn’t build or own the house alone.  It’s a coop, not a private residence.  The CFO was effectively offering 25% more land with the “property” while private independent assessment of the “property” repriced it at a 25% discount.

Leaving money on the table isn’t bad maximization of financing.  It is a matter of risk management to engineer a successful IPO to give the right signal to the market regarding value going forward.  By not managing that risk by taking a discount on fair pricing, Facebook vastly underestimated the greed of retail investors, the very stakeholders who co-developed their service.

Jonathan Kreisberg - “Summertime”.  Live solo guitar at USC Masterclass in February.  So much talent.

@workmajj and @aweissman loved the Scroll To Top Button, but worried about unwanted tracking.  See John’s solution here on GitHub.  Click and Drag the below bookmarklet to your browser bar:

Scroll To Top

[If reading this in Tumblr’s Dashboard, you’ll need to do an edit on the bookmarklet and remove “denied:” at the front.  Tumblr inserts this to prevent javascript tomfoolery.  If reading on Leftover Takeout, you’re peachy.]

Thanks to @workmajj for the buttery javascript.

D’Angelo plugs in for GQ.  Interview here.

Best hand job in Jersey City. No contest.

My man, Charles, getting his eat on at #betaday. It’s good to be the king.

@chartbeat big board and Patch.com on WPIX /cc @arctictony

Stanton Moore - “Stanton Hits The Bottle” - All Kooked Out!  He’s literally hitting the bottle.  Fresh drummer grooves.

Pinterest Marketing Platform

Look Out: Pinterest Marketing Platform Curalate Lands $750k Seed From NEA, First Round, MentorTech | TechCrunch

Rafer sez:
Three very smart words to put together. 

(via rafer)

gbattle sez:

Apu Gupta and the crew are a great crew.  He and I had a few pre-pivot discussions.  However, it’s not a pivot.  It’s a reboot.

Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos - “The Time Is Right For Love” - This is Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos.  Grit-n-soul.

I dress to kill, but tastefully.” - Freddie Mercury

section9:

Tonight’s dinner: Chicken and waffles with maple syrup.

Or, as radiantmeatball put it, I really am kinda southern.

I also made kale, but who cares about that?

Things that you can’t see, blues playing in the background and my buzz.

gbattle sez:

The best thing about living 5 minutes away from section9 is that I can see his food posts and roll over there quickly.  The worst thing about living 5 minutes away from section9?  Ummm, his other posts, and knowing I can’t move farther away fast enough.

Fried chicken won this time.  Pray for me.

Happy Mothers’ Day.  I miss you.  We all do.

Kylie Auldist - “Everybody Here Wants You” - Just Say.  Jeff Buckley cover is the weekender-ender.

“I’m only here for this moment …”

Walking and texting is now banned in Fort Lee, NJ. $85 fine. Wow.

“The fact of the matter is, you don’t give up what’s natural. Anything I’ve fantasized about, I’ve done.” - Ray Charles

“I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.” - Ray Charles

Posts

May 22, 07:59 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/scrolltotop
Source: http://leftovertakeout.com/post/23574116188/workmajj-and-aweissman-loved-the-scroll-to-top
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May 08, 10:44 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/JbiE2y
Source: http://eccololtd.com/UI/Journals-The-Essentials-Blk-Ideas-Journal.aspx?ptype=3&mcid=137&pcid=137&ccid=158&pid=65717&ind=1
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May 08, 10:41 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/IMWfGT
Source: http://eccololtd.com/UI/Journals-The-Essentials-Red-Create-Journal.aspx?ptype=3&mcid=137&pcid=137&ccid=158&pid=65715&ind=1
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May 08, 10:40 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/IMW4Lu
Source: http://eccololtd.com/UI/Journals-The-Essentials-Journal-Allover-Print.aspx?ptype=3&mcid=137&pcid=137&ccid=158&pid=65960&ind=1
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May 08, 10:39 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/JcoPzz
Source: http://eccololtd.com/UI/Journals-The-Essentials-Thoughts.aspx?ptype=3&mcid=137&pcid=137&ccid=158&pid=65959&ind=1
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April 01, 05:51 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/H2FwvS
Source: http://sciencefiction.com/2012/04/01/game-of-thrones-season-one-recap/
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March 03, 10:55 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/socialengagementfunnel
Source: http://leftovertakeout.com/post/18658831911/the-social-engagement-funnel
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February 20, 11:08 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/AtgJNU
Source: http://leftovertakeout.com/post/17948667028/mummy-and-daddy-take-weston-for-his-first-haircut
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February 20, 11:06 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/WestonFirstHaircut
Source: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1218470/Files/Weston Haircut.zip
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February 14, 10:33 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/xHGkgT
Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wgY0P_Bl_I/Th-ybOdFfKI/AAAAAAAAANQ/5ImyAGOaP4k/s400/610x.jpg
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February 13, 12:24 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/yICoL0
Source: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_2?rh=n:672123011,k:converse+kids,n:!672124011,n:679182011&bbn=672124011&keywords=converse+kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1329153631&rnid=672124011#/ref=sr_hi_4?rh=n:672123011,n:!672124011,n:679182011,p_n_feature_fifteen_browse-bin:3491822011,p_n_shoe_width_browse-vebin:1285064011&bbn=679182011&ie=UTF8&qid=1329153740
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February 13, 12:19 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/AFmFcm
Source: http://www.zappos.com/boys-shoes~8W#!/converse-kids-boys-shoes/CK_XAVoC3AN6AtoEggECsBaQAQLAAQTiAgUYARIPCw.zso?s=goliveRecentSalesStyle/desc/
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November 27, 09:45 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/t5amfu
Source: http://leftovertakeout.com/post/6488164479/cmon-cnn-enough-already
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October 07, 12:40 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/qbuNtC
Source: http://jenbee.tumblr.com/post/11143290143/hilary-and-kati-in-the-november-2011-issue-of
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August 11, 08:32 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/ttfmproduct
Source: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1218470/Files/TurningTheTables.pdf
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August 11, 08:21 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/qg0JvF
Source: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1218470/Files/TurningTheTables.key
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August 11, 08:17 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/jukeboxhero
Source: http://leftovertakeout.com/post/7304606310/turntable-fm-revenue-model-jukebox-hero
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April 03, 08:12 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/h75nKd
Source: http://rickwebb.tumblr.com/post/4291795712/on-the-bubble
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March 30, 11:02 PM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/hBtcrz
Source: http://www.facebook.com/careers/puzzles.php
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March 29, 09:33 AM

gbattle shortened a link to this page on bitly: http://lfto.tk/gbattlecv
Source: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1218470/Files/Greg%20Battle%20CV.pdf
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Posts

May 23, 12:44 PM

I knew you had some of the dark side in your past Master Jedi, but I did not know it was of the Sith Lord variety. Respect. I was at DLJ from '95-'00, so indeed, I too know a few of the ways. Ignore PR/IR at your peril, but yeah, Zuck and Co. don't really give a $#!%.

Do I agree with you re: a post-Christmas bump for $FB? That's probably accurate too. If they can optimize revenue growth apart from user growth, which I have to believe is abating, then yes. The user growth story going forward may not be going from 900mm to 1.5b (3/4 of internet denizens today), but how many networks and commensurate interest graphs can be built upon that 900mm powered by their APIs. If they increase the most valuable data store, perhaps they'll continue on this trajectory and beyond. Big perhaps.

May 23, 12:24 PM

True, the number of retail investors in Facebook (at least directly, not via funds for now) is relatively small compared to the 900mm registered users.  If Facebook lost the disgruntled retail investors as users, so be it - 30mm users won't make them blink, posted losses or no.  If the IPO had been priced correctly, all tomfoolery aside, this would have been a moot point.

However, the greater point I'm making is one of issuing an IPO using the theoretical fair price (max financing) vs. one with some risk management baked into it.  The greater fear is sending the wrong signal to the market via the wrong launch day optics which we're seeing to an insane degree today.  Mitigating that downside risk has a cost, which is leaving money on the table for retail/first suckers by pricing at a discount.

May 23, 08:44 AM

I understand your point as well of course. It's tricky because yours is theoretically the fair way, but mine is the practical way. Sent via G-Mobile

May 21, 04:06 AM

This song is so 80s, I had visions of trickle down economics. Well done.

May 19, 09:04 AM

100%!
Sent via G-Mobile

May 18, 03:02 PM

Is there an online version of this game? An app?  I used to *love* this game!

May 15, 11:18 AM

I love Charles and Nate too, but there's just so many other things to talk about.

I think you might be surprised to learn just how many people may be interested in traffic analysis software. As entrepreneurs get that much more serious about data as it relates to growth, or publishers rethink how to reward journalists based upon customer acquisition rather than word count, or ecommerce sites think about split testing funnel optimizations to maximize gross merchandise sales, they're going to need better tools that offer actionable output over Y.A.D. (yet another dashboard).

May 15, 10:26 AM

You guys are addicted to talking about PictureLife. (Not a bad thing)

May 15, 10:18 AM

Protocol != Interface != API.  Not sure who is teaching these things to folks today.  Protocols are definitions, not implementations.  There are no TCP/IP, HTTP, SMTP, XMPP, SSH "provider", simply implementations of a protocol/data definition.  Read up on RFCs.  By definition, protocols are open standards.

An easy analogy.  Socket wrenches.  1/2 inch socket is a definition, but every tool manufacturer can put out their own set and have it function properly by adhering to a standard or protocol.

Twitter, Facebook, Twilio all have APIs which are openly available but privately owned and centrally controlled.

May 15, 09:58 AM

That's the best line ever. It never gets old!

May 14, 07:52 PM

Word!
Sent via G-Mobile

May 09, 11:03 PM

Post doctorate!

May 02, 01:10 PM

+1.

There must be depth behind your rationale to pivot, beyond the quantitative analyses, beyond a time horizon, beyond your iteration turns left at your current burn rate.

Oddly, too many entrepreneurs are thinking that investor capital offers them the right to pivot ad infinitum.  Let's get technical here: in basketball, a pivot is where, after you've stopped dribbling, you keep one foot on the ground and rotate around with the other one.  A lot of these so called pivots are hops or worse, traveling fouls where they start dribbling again.

Let's call the game like it we see it folks.

April 30, 04:40 PM

That is awesome.  Wow!

April 30, 04:39 PM

I think about this often, but know a few who've done some work on this.  Fascinating space and approach.  A reverse Turing for identity.

April 26, 05:23 PM

I question how many people get the quote?  Hmmm.  Long live the WU!

April 24, 07:50 AM

In essence Bryce, you are speaking of a classical Benjamin Graham value investing method, namely, that the price I pay is less than my pro-rata share of the liquidation value of the company.  Liquidation preference effectively locks in the necessary floor and, like Mr. Graham, it is wise to consider the worst case scenario and let Mr. Market control the upper end.

However, I would love to hear more thinking about the liquidation value of an Instagram, Pinterest, Path or Quora.  What assets/inventory could each sell in a fire sale and how much are they worth?  This is where things get very, very interesting/illuminating, in a world of leased cloud computing, ephemeral users in a creator/attention economy, patent/IP avoidance, and low headcount lean startups, what's if any assets are there?  There's a compelling argument that the liquidation value of say Instagram is far below the money they raised, but I'll defer to you and and cohorts for an answer.

April 22, 09:20 AM

:-)
Sent via G-Mobile

April 22, 03:49 AM

100%.
Sent via G-Mobile

April 21, 07:55 AM

one of each please.

April 20, 05:08 PM

Word!!!
Sent via G-Mobile

April 19, 12:32 PM

Breaking bread is a realtime, interactive, social, hyperlocal and narrative platform.

The power of story and oral tradition will never be supplanted.

April 19, 04:57 AM

I know right? There's a lot of wisdom and insight in that. So much.

April 16, 12:14 PM

actually, i think the average vc backed acquisition was about $46mm a couple years ago when i researched it.  but still, that's average.  one instagram can certainly blow the average outward. i'm sure the median is closer to the ~$10mm that you said.

April 13, 10:24 AM

Thank you! I forgot about this post.
Sent via G-Mobile

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