This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

I can't think of a single time when a white man came to pitch me and I told him his fundraising plans weren't aggressive enough. Yet, for some reason, the goals for her pitch were incremental--despite being in an extremely hot space. So why are so many diverse entrepreneurs shortchanging themselves? Something else is at play.

advice 418

advice founder pitching VC 418

The Seraf Compass

JUNE 19, 2024

We sent out a survey to our Seraf Compass subscribers to ask for tips and advice for first-time entrepreneurs. We asked the question: "What advice do you have for entrepreneurs seeking angel investment and how can they best prepare for pitching investors?” Here are some answers we found to be helpful!

angel investing 279

angel investing entrepreneurs investment investing 279

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

I use George Bush vs. Al Gore as allegory and I’ve been using it with entrepreneurs for years to sink in a simple point about how to communicate with the market. Most Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs I know are more like Al Gore. In a VC pitch this type of messaging will do just fine. It is election season.

entrepreneurs 370

entrepreneurs pitching startup education 370

Dream It

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Many of these new red flags that occur during virtual pitching are easy to fix. In this Dreamit Dose, Healthtech MD Adam Dakin provides 5 simple rules to avoid giving investors the wrong impression when pitching remotely. We hear startups pitch everyday and far too often founders end up joining the meeting late.

pitching 285

pitching advice health founder 285

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

After seeing Chamillionaire interact with several entrepreneurs both at events and as an investor I started introducing him to startups in an advisory capacity. And after one meeting they started asking for his advice about marketing, customer engagement, product design, monetization – whatever.

ventures 420

ventures pitching entrepreneurship advice 420

This is going to be BIG.

JUNE 26, 2012

I want your pitch to be the one I say yes to--and I want you to solve the inherent problems in your business model. We only fund top entrepreneurs." "We What's weird to me is that a few times I've spoke, people were surprised that I hung around after to hear what the entrepreneurs in the crowd had to say. Take pitches?

VC 371

VC pitching venture capital creativity 371

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

The best entrepreneurs in our industry focus on it year-round as opposed to just once every 18 months. Sure, you need to learn what the common theme of the no’s are and be willing to make adjustments to your pitch. the most counter-intuitive fund-raising advice you’ll get 8. Let me give you an example. Confidence sells 10.

advice 236

advice VC entrepreneurs SaaS 236

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2013

I’m very excited to be finally be able to announce that this week we’ve added Sam Rosen to our ranks at GRP Partners in the role of entrepreneurs-in-residence – EIR. Of course he pitched me the entire ride down. I thought Sam might know some talented young entrepreneurs to apply. Come to entrepreneur pitches.

pitching 372

pitching advice VC entrepreneurs 372

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2014

I often talk about what I’m looking for when I meet with an entrepreneur. Above all else I’m looking for a genuine passion for what the entrepreneur is doing. You can sense when it is a “mission” for this entrepreneur to succeed and she will continue the journey even if success isn’t easy or immediate.

peer-to-peer 373

peer-to-peer VC pitching entrepreneurs 373

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 7, 2015

One of my favorite entrepreneur-Twitterer weighed in, “You want to keep tapping into their collective intelligence so you keep saying ‘Thank you for the feedback’ and they keep sending it,” Ms. I know because I have been the beneficiary of their advice for years and have appreciated it. Morrill said. All of my partners at Upfront do.

startup 323

startup advice pitching VC 323

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

This was evident at the Twiistup pre-event company pitch last week at UCLA. – OK, I already said above that you can ask if people are entrepreneurs, investors, etc. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. Usually you can tell when it does and when it doesn’t.

advice 362

advice VC entrepreneurs education 362

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 11, 2016

Over the weekend, Rent the Runway held an event for its Project Entrepreneur initiative, which brought together over 100 female entrepreneurs looking to get education and advice on how to take their businesses to the next step. Yes, straight white males are getting most of the funding, but they're also most of the pitches.

pitching 285

pitching finance financing entrepreneurship 285

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JUNE 19, 2024

Yet, as most seasoned entrepreneurs will attest, the reality is far more complex and challenging, particularly when you decide to bootstrap your business. Instead, it began with 15 years of hands-on learning in capital markets, working closely with entrepreneurs, investors, and bankers. I also did not have a business partner.

finance 255

finance financing entrepreneurship mentorship 255

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 8, 2014

a really wide angle view of the tech industry since you see so many concepts / so many pitches and REAL data points on how startups perform financially. Great networking skills, which are critical when you want to be about to reference entrepreneurs & concepts and bounce your ideas off of other people in the industry.

investment 365

investment investing VC board 365

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. I asked for intro’s from entrepreneur friends. I spent time on college campuses.

advice 361

advice VC pitching entrepreneurs 361

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2011

In the past I’ve given some tips for handling meetings effectively, covering topics like: - How not to let your meeting go down a rat hole ; - Dealing with the elephant in the room ; - Dealing with skeletons in your closet ; - How to make meetings discussions, not “pitches&#. - Tactical advice for meetings.

pitching 392

pitching advice culture VC 392

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 24, 2021

The problem is even worse when it comes to turn downs, for two big reasons: VCs don’t like giving flat out “no” because entrepreneurs have a nasty habit of pivoting and eventually figuring things out. The ecosystem is full of bad advice from founders that couldn’t raise. Something you did really irked the people you pitched.

founder 317

founder pitching VC advice 317

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. I asked for intro’s from entrepreneur friends. I spent time on college campuses.

VC 347

VC advice pitching entrepreneurs 347

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2013

The one word the best entrepreneurs never accept. I’ve been pitched by hundreds of entrepreneurs who never actually asked me whether I would invest. It’s a skill you’re going to need as an entrepreneur. Startup Advice' Stay with me. She was a natural leader. Very few people do.

advice 416

advice entrepreneurs entrepreneurship leadership 416

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. I’ve experienced this in many sales meetings I’ve made and unfortunately in many VC pitches I made. Congratulations. Sometimes that works.

advice 318

advice VC pitching venture capital 318

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2010

If you don’t already read Chris’s blog you should – it’s very well written, often takes a strong POV and speaks from an entrepreneur’s perspective but with a huge knowledge of the technology investors as well. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. He is both.

advice 348

advice entrepreneurs sustainability pitching 348

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

You may feel as I did in 1999 that the more smart people around the table the more intros you’ll have, the more sage advice you’ll receive and the more impressive you’ll seem to outsiders. And I always encourage entrepreneurs to do reference checking. Always Pitch Outsiders for Follow Ons.

VC 314

VC advice pitching investment 314

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

It was surprising, because I thought I had built a great relationship with the entrepreneur and I know we can add a ton of value, but, it happens. Josh gave me great advice. I replayed each pitch that I saw in my mind, thought about my swing, and made adjustments. It's kind of like dating.

pitching 321

pitching venture capital advice entrepreneurs 321

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 16, 2024

World Entrepreneurs’ Day, celebrated each 21 August, honors the innovators, risk-takers, and trailblazers who shape industries, drive economic growth, and inspire others. At EO, we celebrate and support entrepreneurs on World Entrepreneurs’ Day—and every day! EO supports entrepreneurs at every age and stage.

accelerator 227

accelerator peer-to-peer leadership entrepreneurs 227

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Now, I’m pretty on the record that being an entrepreneur is about being great at The Do. I have written about the need for entrepreneurs to take inventory in themselves before deciding whom to hire as the rest of the team. Board Meetings. Conferences. I get sucked up in “Do” mode. Startups Are for Doers.

creativity 400

creativity venture capital entrepreneurs board 400

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 27, 2011

I was meeting regularly with entrepreneurs and offering (for better or for worse) advice on how to run a startup and how to raise venture capital from my experience in doing so at two companies. Or “I’m a new entrepreneur, why would I offer advice on how to run a startup?&#. It really started simply enough.

startup 373

startup advice communities VC 373

Entrepreneurs' Organization

APRIL 9, 2019

Pascal was a tech entrepreneur before there was even a web browser. So, it follows that—like many EO members—he believes the problems of the world will only be solved by social entrepreneurs: Individuals tackling age-old challenges with fundamentally new innovations and different perspectives. Words to live—and learn—by.

entrepreneurs 130

entrepreneurs leadership media entrepreneurship 130

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

And I am often approached by entrepreneurs in cities which don’t have a vibrant VC community. If these people work for reputable firms and have the right industry knowledge they ought to be on your pitch list. Importantly … I would pitch investors in SF, NY, Boston, LA, etc. “ Startup Advice'

VC 365

VC board communities pitching 365

StartupNation

JUNE 1, 2021

Oftentimes, I read articles offering tips for entrepreneurs that revolve around generic advice on getting started. As part of my role as a partner of HealthInc, I sit on the jury for the startup competition in which 20 finalists pitch their ventures, with 10 then selected to enter the program. Keep it simple, stupid (KISS).

entrepreneurs 109

entrepreneurs pitching construction accelerator 109

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 8, 2011

Any success as an entrepreneur? He hasn't founded or built either a successful, let alone innovative company, and he hasn't raised $ to invest in those entrepreneurs. Facing live pitching is a new thing, but that's no excuse for not having an approach to hitting and studying up to face this particular pitcher. How about as a VC?

VC 275

VC peer-to-peer board advice 275

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2015

I rarely talk to any startup entrepreneur or VC who doesn’t feel it and somehow long for simpler times despite the benefits we all enjoy from increased enthusiasm for our sector. For entrepreneurs there’s too much money sloshing around. My general advice is to do less. We are experiencing a frenetic time.

advice 398

advice VC entrepreneurs transportation 398

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Many of you entrepreneurs know that feeling. Back when I was pitching my previous startup to investors, it had never really dawned on me that they had experienced what I was going through--and that a VC firm was essentially a startup. VCs pitch for money, too. It wouldn't be the last time I had to call on that approach.

ventures 280

ventures pitching VC startup ecosystem 280

This is going to be BIG.

JULY 30, 2012

Given the proliferation of accelerators and incubators that pre-vet entrepreneurs, roll up their sleeves to help companies, and dress them up for demo days, the best and brightest are being showcased to look better than ever. Are you waiting for them to pitch you? It's happening on their side, too.

VC 272

VC incubation construction networking 272

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

They pitched on a Wednesday. She was everything I was looking for in an entrepreneur to back. So we have the pleasure of working with Dana Settle at Greycroft, whom I have a blanket offer with that any entrepreneur that wants to create room for Dana in a deal that I’m involved with has a free pass. Startup Advice'

startup 398

startup creativity advice entrepreneurs 398

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Then there is the EIR (entrepreneur in residence) who is usually at a VC for a temporary period of time and other individuals such as venture partners or operating partners. While this post is written about raising venture capital (which I always remind entrepreneurs IS a sales process) the lessons can be applied to any sale or biz dev deal.

VC 308

VC pitching entrepreneurs advice 308

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 29, 2013

I love foreign-born entrepreneurs precisely because many of them don’t grow up with the sense of entitlement that comes from winning the birth lottery. Startup Advice' If I could work with 10x more IIT or Polytechnique grads I would in a nanosecond. They know how much opportunity we afford them. Thank you, Om. For reminding us.

innovation 391

innovation culture advice education 391

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2010

But in my experience as an entrepreneur and now spending my time amongst investors I can generalize that almost all VC investments in early stage technology & Internet investments come down to just four key factors. This post was prompted by an email exchange I had with a young entrepreneur. I was interested in learning more.

startup 360

startup VC advice entrepreneurs 360