TiVo Inc.
NASDAQ: TIVO

Background

Mike Ramsay and his partner Jim Barton (now TiVo's CTO) had an idea for the next generation of television. A vision that would ultimately change the way millions of viewers watch TV.

Why We Invested

When Mike left Silicon Graphics, he looked up his former boss, Mark Perry, a General Partner at NEA. Mark listened to Mike’s ideas. Made a few introductions. And provided a bit of guidance. When Mike returned to NEA for funding, the response was to their technology was enthusiastic to say the least – the comment that summed it up best was, "I've always wanted one of those!" NEA's belief in both the technology and the executive team was vital. A strong believer in both, NEA led the investment in TiVo.

Result

Today, TiVo is the undisputed leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs). Their leadership has defined and inspired an entire category, earning the company patents for pioneering inventions associated with DVR software and hardware design. TiVo has built a loyal and passionate subscriber base with over 97% of their customers recommending TiVo to a friend and many seeing the product as a true life-changing event.

Why It Worked

In part, it’s people – knowing the right people, choosing good partners and having faith in the management team. Of course, it’s also about financing – the right investment at the right time. But for TiVo, it’s also about vision – for an entire new category and a true revolution in how television is experienced. Mark Perry continues to sit on TiVo's Board of Directors. His vision for what could be and his solid advice continue to fuel the growth and direction of the company.

What The Entrepreneur Says

One of the cool things about working with NEA is the way they participate at the board level. They are so strategic that the real value-add has become their investment of time and ideas. From the top on down and from the beginning right through today, NEA has been a consistent supporter of TiVo. They're everything we could have ever wanted in a partner, giving time and energy to help make us a success.


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