What's Google Alphabet?

Google recently readjusted their business structure and introduced a parent company that will now house Google and its counterparts, called Alphabet.

Alphabet will be run by Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page; Sundar Pichai, formerly the senior vice president of product, will assume the role as Google’s new CEO. The tech giant’s announcement came as a bit of a surprise as it took news publications by storm but the structural change is well in-tune with Google’s roadmap.

Alphabet’s inception plans to give former Google companies the ability to build their own brands and allows Google to focus on different types of products among their different ventures. This move also helps Google retain top talent because it allows the CEOs of their acquired companies to still hold rank within their entity.

“The whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,” said Page in the announcement.

Seven companies will exist under Alphabet, one of which is Google. Calico – research and biotech development lab, Google Ventures, Google X, Fiber, Google Capital, Nest, and Google itself now live under the new parent company.

Since the announcement of Alphabet, shares rose 6%. A relatively massive increase and a sign of belief from not only Google’s consumers but more importantly, Google’s investors. The public is more than likely going to see a larger plan than Google once actively publicized. It’s said that the creation of Alphabet gives Google a better ability to focus on future innovative products that affect the population on a grander scale. This includes their involvement with life sciences, research through their independent labs, and a few other ventures directed to improve society as a whole.

Alphabet will continue trade under GOOGL and GOOG stock symbols even when the umbrella company change manifests this year.

The Elderly Entrepreneur: It Is Never Too Late

A single narrative tends to dominate the modern entrepreneurship conversation. We tend to love the teenage tech genius who closes deals for billions of dollars while eschewing a suit in favor of flip-flops and a sweatshirt. Now, the image of the internet wunderkind makes for great movies and is partly representative of the boom in startup activity among the younger generations of Americans, but it doesn’t come near to capturing the full picture. For as young as Michael Dell, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg might have been when they started their companies, the advantages of youthful enthusiasm and unlimited energy do eventually give way to something just as (if not more) valuable: experience. (Clifford, Entrepreneur)

You will never be too old to leverage your wisdom and ingenuity into a potentially phenomenal business venture. Having spent more time in the workforce actually provides you with a much clearer perspective. Professionally, you may have developed decades worth of insight into how to do something better and revolutionize a good or service. Personally, the passing years have afforded you the time to stabilize both your finances and relationships. These factors, when combined with a passion for whatever it is to which your business venture pertains, can lead to untold success. And, contrary to what many people may assume, passion is not a resource owned only by the young. If you have a dream, seize it! History repeats itself and you would be joining very good company.

Charles Flint was 61 years old when he founded IBM. That is just one year older than Amadeo Giannini was when he began Bank of America. Just a little bit of digging reveals just how common it is for many of the most influential industry leaders to have built their dream companies once they were “over the hill.” Gordon Bowker of Starbucks, Joseph Campbell of Campbell Soup, Chung Ju-yung of Hyundai Motor, and the eponymous Estée Lauder were all in their fifties before they started businesses that would come to be globally recognizable market leaders. These mavericks illustrate a uniquely inspiring reality: it is never too late for you spring into action.

Are You Secretly an Entrepreneur?

We are born to be different. People often say variety is the spice of life and diversity proves to be a valuable asset in any endeavor. In the workplace, however, one type of personality never seems to fall into line quite as wholly as the rest. Some of us simply march to the beat of our own drums. 

Learning to recognize and embrace certain traits can draw many unhappy office drones away from the monotony of jobs they do not love in favor of starting business about which they are truly, deeply passionate. Are you denying yourself the fulfillment that can come from such a liberating transition? (Rampton, Entrepreneur)

Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of an entrepreneur is a natural knack for leadership. Beyond charisma and charm, a true leader also inspires optimism in his coworkers to see the joy in working hard for change. Your passion has nothing to do with your salary, and it’s not just constant, it’s infectious. Because above all else, an entrepreneur is never satisfied with the status quo. If you always ask questions and look for ways to do something better, then you would make an excellent addition to any team. If you are the first to take action and always willing to work long hours to lead the charge in doing whatever is necessary to create real change, then you may well be an entrepreneur at heart.

An entrepreneur sees opportunities everywhere. If you are happy to let your passion projects consume you, then trading stability and defined work hours for the opportunity to work towards your goal won’t really bother you. When you go out to a café, do you immediately look for which table has access to a power outlet, so you can keep working instead of taking a break? Do you prefer working towards a goal over taking a day off? That kind of drive is insatiable, and it might indicate you have a entrepreneur inside begging to be set free and allowed to pursue his or her ambitions. Starting a company is not for everyone, but those for whom it is meant often agree there is little in this world more rewarding than fighting for your dreams.

Larry Scheinfeld's First Post

Hey there, Larry Scheinfeld here writing my first post on blogger.  I wanted to give you a bit more background information on me and my time in the venture capital industry so here is a brief biography:

Larry Scheinfeld is a partner and co-founder of Zelkova Ventures. Larry works with current portfolio companies, providing hands-on expertise in determining strategic funding strategies and customer acquisition plans. Prior to his time at Zelkova, Larry was a principal and financial advisor for the Quellos Group, which specialized in hedge, private equity and real asset fund of funds, as well as specialty and hybrid offerings. Larry Scheinfeld started Quellos' New York office, and served as a member of its Board of Directors until the company was purchased by Blackrock in the Fall of 2007. Larry currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Starlight Foundation, an organization that provides quality of life programs for both seriously and terminally ill children. Larry is also on the board of the Forman School, and has personally donated to such nonprofit organizations as the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinsons Foundation, the Eagle Hill School and Cornell University. Larry Scheinfeld lives New York City with his wife and three children, where he enjoys the Arts, playing golf, and fitness training.

Please let me know if you have any questions- otherwise have a great day!