This is going to be BIG.

JANUARY 22, 2018

The responses I got came at a time when I've been having a lot of conversations with female founders as well about their fundraising experiences. At this moment, I'm in the process of backing three companies that have at least one female founder and I just finished a round for a black female founder in December. Ducks head.]

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Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. It goes something like this … VC: “How much money are you raising?” Founder: “$8–10 million” VC: “What’s your current burn rate?” Founder: “Um.

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This is going to be BIG.

MARCH 14, 2024

Over a decade ago, when I was working for First Round Capital, we opened our doors for “Open Office Hours”—a series of open meetings where any founder could come in and chat with us for 20 minutes each. I’m not sure we backed any of the founders—but that wasn’t the point. We met quite a few smart folks. We had 70 investors sign up!

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communities consulting creativity advice 316

TechCrunch

MARCH 17, 2023

Not a scientific sampling, but I noticed that several investors signaled this week on Twitter that they remain interested in talking to founders who are still at the idea stage. If you’re an investor who wants to be included in future columns, email guestcolumns@techcrunch.com with “How to pitch me” in the subject line. Más o menos.

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pitching frameworks advice strategy 92

This is going to be BIG.

JULY 23, 2018

I've seen this so many times over: A founder pitches a VC, or several of them, and then they come back from that process with all sorts of new strategy goals or worries that they need to be doing something differently. Any advice they have for you is going to be a bit broken. If it was, you'd run it very differently.

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TechCrunch

MARCH 15, 2023

Friday in tech vs Sunday in tech pic.twitter.com/NsuzK5fqty — Yuri Sagalov (@yuris) March 13, 2023 Not a scientific sampling, but several investors signaled this week on Twitter that they remain interested in talking to founders who are still at the idea stage. We do that to prevent an issue with VC investors called “network bias.”

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Jason Malki

MARCH 9, 2023

I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Sheffield, the Founder & Managing Partner of Pachamama Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in US early-stage climate tech companies. Then, I stumbled upon PE/VC after chatting with a good college buddy of mine. What is your advice for someone trying to break into tech investing?

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Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

If you haven’t yet heard about Female Founder Office Hours it is an initiative you should be aware of whether you’re male, female or any other gender identify. For the LA event, for example, they will not only have a selection of great LA VCs but also 10+ senior VC women from the SF Bay Area will be coming down for it.

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founder peer-to-peer mentorship VC 256

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 23, 2012

I'm often the last one to leave an event, held back by the most persistant of entrepreneurs trying to squeeze as much advice as they can out of me. I have one failed attempt at a startup under my belt as a founder and I don't have any particularly usable skills that anyone would pay for like selling, designing, building, etc.

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advice startup VC strategy 401

TechCrunch

JULY 14, 2021

Pitching is perhaps the single most important skill that any founder needs to hone, so not surprisingly, we kicked off our TechCrunch Early Stage 2021 — Marketing & Fundraising event with a deep dive on all the tips and tricks required to get the most out of pitching and slide decks. Don’t be that founder.

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Entrepreneurs' Organization

DECEMBER 15, 2023

Raising funding is no easy feat, especially for first-time founders. You need a solid business plan, traction to demonstrate market fit, and the skills to pitch effectively. Yet founders often trip up when it comes to investor relations — the ongoing communication and relationship building after that first check clears.

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pitching consulting advice communities 221

TechCrunch

MAY 15, 2023

If a VC has experience in a different field, it may not translate well — if at all — to a startup, and advice around certain business decisions could quickly become outdated. There is a growing group of VC funds led by folks who think they might be better suited to back companies because they are currently startup founders themselves.

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founder VC venture capital advice 98

AsiaTechDaily

MARCH 6, 2023

Register Startup founders wanting to pitch to investors to raise money should not get into the “sell now” part of the conversation immediately but must instead lay the groundwork first, according to James Walker, Associate Counsel and Investor at Draper Associates. What mistakes do you see founders make when raising money?

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pitching founder advice venture capital 52

TechCrunch

JANUARY 29, 2021

Edtech needs to reach beyond underfunded public school systems to become more sustainable, which is why more investors and founders are focusing on lifelong learning. Jan Lynn-Matern , founder and partner, Emerge Education (a leading edtech seed fund in Europe with portfolio companies like Aula, Unibuddy and BibliU).

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VC founder media education 107

Startup Grind

AUGUST 15, 2018

He has worked with several startups, invested in companies like Mayvenn, Gimlet Media, Blavity, Airspace Technologies, Codeverse, and many others Pitch your startup for a chance to meet with Cross Culture VC Q&A: What is your / your fund's mission? Who is one your founders you think we should watch? BUILD and EXECUTE!

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culture VC pitching media 111

Entrepreneur's Handbook

APRIL 13, 2022

A Very Honest Guide to Writing Your Fundraise Pitch Deck How to optimise yours for success Congratulations! You’ve started a company, assembled a super squad of founders, and built out the MVP of your product. You know you need a pitch deck to do this and so fire up your slide software of choice and crack your knuckles, ready to wow.

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pitching advice accelerator investing 79

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

the most counter-intuitive fund-raising advice you’ll ever get I’m about to offer you some fund-raising advice that flies directly in the face of what most conventional wisdom will tell you. So what does a VC do when he or she isn’t ready to say “no” or perhaps might like to talk with you in a year but not now?

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advice VC entrepreneurs investing 336

TechCrunch

MARCH 31, 2022

After winning the 2013 TechCrunch Meetup and Pitch-off , I decided to drop out of business school to pursue my startup full time. A great VC will do so much more for you than just write a check. VCs should never give armchair product advice nor cross the line into micromanagement.

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founder venture capital construction advice 87

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 16, 2022

If you’ve read anything about pitching your company, you’ve probably come across advice that says that you need a warm introduction to an investor. Without a doubt, a good, friendly introduction — ideally from a founder they’ve already invested in — is the best way to get on the radar of an investor.

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TechCrunch

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

The crew here at TechCrunch has done a lot of writing about making amazing pitch decks over the years, and I figured it was time that I put together a collection of all of it in one handy spot. Are you VC-investable? Before you start pitching. As a startup founder, you really need to understand how venture capital works.

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pitching startup venture capital ventures 102

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 16, 2021

In the scuffle, VCs are turning to scouts to do the legwork, but that has meant being yet another step removed from their founders. I’ve sat at both sides of the table as a founder and a VC, and I understand how difficult it is to get them on the same page. Techstars Equitech Accelerator ) and women founders (e.g.,

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TechCrunch

MARCH 1, 2021

.” Before the world changed so fundamentally, VCs and founders alike believed they needed to meet in person to build trust before signing paperwork that would financially and emotionally bond them together for years and years. Founders can now take 30+ meetings in a single day, but are they making the most of those meetings?

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TechCrunch

JUNE 10, 2022

In my experience, founders and investors usually come out unscathed on the other side of events like these. As I’ve said previously, if your name doesn’t appear on the team slide of your company’s pitch deck, this is a time to be cautious: Update your resume, dial back your summer vacation plans and start adding more to your rainy day fund.

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VC real estate advice pitching 81

StartupNation

MAY 5, 2021

These 11 entrepreneurs share the number one piece of advice their closest mentor ever gave them: Time is the most valuable thing you have. I vividly remember his best advice: He asked about my goals, and I replied, “To earn $250,000 in commissions.” ” — Danae Ringelmann , founder and chief development officer of Indiegogo.

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advice entrepreneurs real estate energy 105

TechCrunch

AUGUST 18, 2023

Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription “Starting a tech company today costs 99% less than it did 18 years ago when Y Combinator was started,” says Brett Calhoun, managing director and general partner at Redbud VC.

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TechCrunch

APRIL 26, 2022

Most founders are not experienced entrepreneurs, which means they tend to repeat the same mistakes as they try to overcome universal challenges. According to Klaviyo co-founder and chief product Ed Hallen , luck was a contributing factor to his marketing automation company’s success. Why a16z pitched Deel to lead its Series A.

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pitching mix-use advice entrepreneurship 90

TechCrunch

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Lisa Wu, a partner at Norwest with investments like Calm, Plaid, Opendoor and Grove Collaborative, has a message for founders: Think like a VC during your pitch presentation. She’ll discuss ways that founders can read the virtual room, how to take advice and how to talk big-picture ideas to convey market size and competition.

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pitching advice collaboration VC 76

Hunter Walk

AUGUST 23, 2023

Our participation in Anchor ( later acquired by Spotify ) generated both a return and a friendship between us and the founders. Specifically I’ve had the chance to spend meaningful time over the years with Michael Mignano as he went from startup CEO to Executive/Angel Investor and now VC Partner at Lightspeed. Was I right?

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VC founder ventures culture 73

TechCrunch

JULY 15, 2021

At the TechCrunch Early Stage: Marketing and Fundraising event last week, Norwest Venture Partners ‘ Lisa Wu took the stage to discuss how founders can think like venture capitalists in all facets of their business. Pitch deck or pitch blurb? And so, it’s just up to the founders to really just tell the story to us.

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VC pitching advice ventures 102

Entrepreneur's Handbook

MAY 23, 2022

You’ll receive the best practical startup advice straight to your inbox every week. He is the founder of Octopus Energy which has $6 billion in revenue after just 6 years. She realized how poorly many companies were at crafting a good pitch and has been helping them ever since. Pitch when it’s fresh?—? Often, it’s not.

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VC pitching advice media 52

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

In order to understand how to “get to yes” with a VC you first need to understand how VC partnerships make decisions and then you can understand how to increase your odds of closing a deal. VC Partnerships Start by understanding how many partners are at the firm you are approaching. Reciprocity is equally destructive.

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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 you don’t live in a major VC zone, I have some tips for how to make it easier to raise Venture Capital. ” Most VCs view it as their responsibility to mentor, debate, cajole and generally assist with investments they make.

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TechCrunch

MARCH 10, 2023

I’m not a market watcher or a financial expert, but here’s some advice: Panic is a luxury. Fast-paced Founder Dear Sophie, Can I improve my portfolio of accomplishments to establish my qualifications for an O-1A extraordinary ability visa and later an EB-1A self-petitioned green card if I am in the U.S. Take a walk.

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TechCrunch

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Do not miss meeting and connecting with these impressive early-stage founders, nominated by our partner founder organizations, Black Female Founders , Latinx Startup Alliance , Startout and the Female Founders Alliance. Tune in a get ready to take notes — the advice you hear could help you improve your pitch deck.

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mentorship founder startup pitching 93

This is going to be BIG.

DECEMBER 5, 2012

Most conversations don't end in funding or even a follow up meeting, so your aim should be to get specific, helpful advice that moves you forward. What is it about me that makes you want to pitch me? 5) Aim for me to hear about you before you pitch. 7) When being introduced to a VC, you follow up first, not them.

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TechCrunch

MARCH 29, 2022

The pitch — it’s the single most important step you’ll take to get your startup where you want it to go. The challenge is saying enough to grab investor attention, yet being concise enough to turn the pitch into a conversation. That’s as true for a pitch deck as it is for a verbal pitch.

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pitching founder venture capital creativity 87

TechCrunch

JULY 16, 2021

Because their conversation contains a lot of strategic advice for startups that haven’t yet made a marketing hire, we made it available on TechCrunch. India poised for record VC year as unicorns head for decisive IPOs. India poised for record VC year as unicorns head for decisive IPOs. Where is suptech heading?

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