@SnoopJ @freakboy3742 @jacob Regarding revenue streams and business plans - I can't speak for the VCs or who they are funding, but these are small investments compared to their overall portfolios. Many have orgs building tools that benefit from it. I heard from several people (no one under the UV umbrella) that they had no pressure to work on the business or revenue side. Their work was advancing other businesses they owned which paid for itself.
@webology @SnoopJ @jacob If that *is* the play, then it’s a master stroke of getting VC money to do what *we* need, not what *they* want. I just find it hard to believe that “we’ll be a loss leader so your other investments succeed” is an actual investment pitch. Or, they’re pitching a services business, which traditionally VC’s get bored with because they can’t 1000x.
@freakboy3742 @SnoopJ @jacob The US changed our R&D budgets, which are expensed and amortized, with more changes coming next year (depending on what expires, what gets renewed, and what passes, aka it's confusing AF.)
I was told that's why there was a shift in fellowship funding and other more creative ventures like this. You can use some of that tax money to reinvest but it doesn't look the same as saying everyone who builds your product is taxed (aka not taxed) as R&D.
@freakboy3742 @SnoopJ @jacob I am not an accountant and this is not legal advice. I'm just passing along how it was explained to me when I asked and what we have seen from companies I have *not* signed any agreements with.