How VCs Make Decisions Internally

While no two VC firms make decisions the same way, there are a few models which have developed based upon several constraining factors.

In an ideal world every partner at a VC fund would spend considerable time evaluating each startup that they…

Doing Due Diligence On The VC

Managing a startup is a tremendous undertaking in itself. Managing a startup, while raising money, is typically a Herculean task. By the time that the due diligence is complete, an entrepreneur is usually pretty exhausted and eager to be done with the fundraising process…

Consider Available Capital When Selecting VCs

It is important to consider a VC’s available capital when deciding whether to contact them. Most VCs advertise their assets under management (“AUM”) on their website. However, it is worthwhile to note that while AUM is a decent indicator of capital…

Ask Questions At The End Of The Meeting

In my opinion the end of the meeting is a great opportunity for an entrepreneur to learn a bit about a potential future partner. While you should be sensitive to the time constraints of the VC (as they should be to yours), feel free to spend some time asking…

The End Of Meeting VC Pitch

In my experience, when a VC is done asking questions about your company they will often offer to tell you a bit about their fund. They usually provide a relatively canned pitch that should give you an overview of their:

1. investment criteria and thesis,

Why VC Websites Stink

Most VC websites stink. To be honest, this is a phenomenon that I don’t fully understand. However, I will do my best to rationalize it.

First, with regard to the poor aesthetics of the sites, I am sure that part of the story is tied to laziness or cheapness…

Your Company Is Who It Hires

I use a phrase that attempts to highlight the importance of hiring decisions in a company: You are what you eat and your company is who it hires. This observation has important implications for your company’s internal operations and appearance.

Why VCs Don’t Always Cut You Loose

One reader wrote:

It’d be nice if they’d just say no and cut that company loose instead of giving them false hope they might get funded if the investor can be convinced. I see a lot of wasted time by companies spent in this murky area — time…