Facebook Seeks Insights Into Startups by Investing in VC Funds

Facebook in recent weeks has approached a handful of small venture capital firms to discuss becoming an investor in their funds, The Information reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The VC strategy, which also includes direct investments in startups, aims to give the social network early, valuable insight into a wider swath of companies. From a report: To run the new investing initiative, Facebook recently appointed Sunita Parasuraman, a nine-year veteran of the company who previously ran the treasury for its embattled Libra cryptocurrency project. Former Kleiner Perkins general partner Eric Feng, now a Facebook employee, is helping approach funds, sources say. The moves come as Facebook fends off antitrust scrutiny of its acquisitions and attempts to find new ways to counter growing competitive threats like TikTok. While Microsoft, Intel and others for years have taken stakes in startups through VC subsidiaries, Facebook has shied away from adopting a formal investing program until recently. Instead, it has made one-off investments, such as its recent $5.7 billion investment in Indian tech conglomerate Jio Platforms. Google, in contrast, has multiple, long-running venture arms, including GV, which has backed big-name companies like Slack and Uber.

Facebook account

[EzInKy]

Every time I've tried to sign up for one they ask for personally identifying information. Would a throwaway phone work? I have no interest in being tracked.

Zero Mover Advantage

[Geodesy99]

I guess that 'First Mover' advantage maybe enjoyed by a startup, lasting until the giants replicate their offering, now closes off.

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[jimcooncat]

And will the relationship with FB hasten the giant's replication? From what I can see, Amazon's been doing quite well with their own similar scheme.

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[LClarck007]

I guess that this can be a very good idea for investing. You know now everyone is making money using social media and why not invest in this as a business?! I think that people like bloggers or something like that from the beginning, they are investing a lot of money in order to give people good content and after that, they become known and their money is coming back. I think that this is logical. You know, now I'm thinking of investing some money too. I would like to have a passive income. I even found a s