Company
Joker Deck
Joker Deck, as described on the show by Collette Tibbetts.
Episodes (1)
Collette Tibbetts, founder of the angel syndicate Joker Deck, explains why music tech investing is risky and why smaller checks work better.
Questions these episodes answer
Why is music tech considered a risky investment?
Tibbetts says the return on investment in music tech has been abysmal compared with other tech sectors over the last 20 years, and unlike gross revenue or donations, you cannot quantify the emotional impact a song has on a listener, which makes the case for investing much harder to build.
From: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It
Why does Collette Tibbetts prefer smaller angel checks over large VC rounds?
She argues a big check too early puts unproven pressure on an artist or founder before they have shown what they can do, while a smaller check paired with access to relationships and expertise nurtures a company properly and carries much lower risk for everyone involved.
From: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It
Why don't more investors understand music tech?
Tibbetts says there is a cultural gap between old-industry veterans, who understand royalty and licensing splits but not new technology, and new-industry entrants, who understand the tech but not the nuance of the business, leaving few people equipped to properly evaluate a deal.
From: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It
What is the biggest thing music tech gets wrong about expectations?
The host argues that expectation management is the industry's core problem, bigger than funding levels: founders and investors keep imagining outcomes the size of a stadium show when the realistic opportunity is closer to an intimate jazz club, and failing to adjust for that mismatch causes lasting disappointment.
From: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It
Why does Tibbetts say you need to love music to work in music tech?
She says the human spirit is the only real basis behind music, and once you remove that and chase profit alone the whole thing falls apart, so an investor or founder needs a genuine love of music to justify staying in an industry with a much smaller opportunity than most of tech.
From: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It