It’s not your typically marketing consultancy armed with a $20 million investment fund for good measure. NYC based Consigliere is being launched by 2 time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Michael Duda of Deutsch. Early backers include VC fund Zig Capital, Interpublic and Donny Deutsch.

NBA’s Nash, Deutsch’s Duda Team to Launch Startup – Advertising Age – Agency News.

This month, Gotham Media launched its GreenTECH series with a panel on the business of GreenTECH. Among the topics discussed by a panel of innovators and investors was the importance of creating a business plan (and a business) not dependent on government subsidies. The business has to stand on its own.

Moderator

Richard Nachmias Audit Partner, Technology Sports Media Practice, Eisner LLP

Panelists

Ron Gonen Founder and Chairman, RecycleBank

Howard Morgan Partner, First Round Capital

Micah Kotch Director of Operations NYC Acre

Nilda Mesa Assistant VP, Environmental Stewardship, Adjunct Professor Columbia University

Pat Sapinsley Principal, Good Earth, Inc.

Uri Zucker Manager, GreenDesk

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Last week’s VC Forecast was a fount of insight and counsel for entrepreneurs and investors a lot. The panel delved deep into the way that efficiencies in technologies are changing not only the way they invest but also the size of their funds and their expected returns. First Round’s Howard Morgan and David Pakman of Venrock discussed how it costs much less than even a few years ago to get a start up off the ground. Larry Lenihan of FirstMark identified the “perfect” startup (tongue firmly in cheek). Charlie Federman of Crossbar addressed the dangers of taking in too much money in later financing rounds. And Danny Schultz of DFJ Gotham questioned the meaning and the value of “proprietary” technologies. Panel moderator Gene DeRose of House Party offered his own insights into the changing marketplace from his vantage point as an entrepreneur.

This week’s VC Forecast 2010 highlighted the difference between 2009 and 2010. Last year’s panel, held in the depths of the Great Recession, was appropriately downbeat and downcast. It was not a barrel of laughs. This year the mood was brighter and more optimistic, but cautiously so. Investments are being made but in a way that highlights the uncertainty of the economy and the fragility of new ventures. VC’s are spreading their bets, making lots of smaller investments across a range of companies. This also reflects the reality that these days it’s cheaper to start many if not most tech companies. There’s so much available in terms of open source and infrastructure that start ups don’t have to pay for and reinvent the wheel every time.

We will offer several highlight segments. This first one is an overview with panelists:

Moderator

Gene DeRose Co-Founder and Chairman, House Party

Panelists

Charlie Federman Managing Partner, Crossbar Capital

Howard Morgan Partner, First Round Capital

Lawrence Lenihan Jr, Founder, CEO, Managing Director, FirstMark Capital

David Pakman Partner, Venrock

Daniel Schultz Co-Founder and Managing Director, DFJ Gotham Ventures