Serving as an EIR: The Inside Scoop

http://bostonvcblog.typepad.com/vc/2007/12/serving-as-an-e.html

From the Jeff Bussgang’s IDG Ventures blog, Nitzan Shaer gives his thoughts on being an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR).

Being an EIR is something I’ve been thinking a lot about as a potential next step. Like Nitzan I seem to be thinking about 3 possibilities — joining an early stage company, starting my own company or joining a venture firm as an EIR.

In the end I just don’t thinking being an EIR is really for me, in the same way I don’t think being a venture partner would be a “dream job”. I want to build, not just invest. I’d rather pursue my own ideas and opportunities across the breadth of my personal network and when appropriate, be able to shop my idea for funding across all the possible partners. 

I’m sure being an EIR is a great opportunity for some folks, and I have HBS classmates and former RealNetworks colleagues doing it right now. It’s just not for me.

Now the question is build a company myself or join something in progress. Ahh the possibilities.