This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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. No one ever thinks about VCs having to pitch, who they pitch to, or how it works.

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ventures pitching VC startup ecosystem 280

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 24, 2021

It was a clearly hot space and they felt like they had missed out on an opportunity to place their bet in it—and worst of all, they lost the deal to what they considered a rival firm. Sorry buddy, but no, I don’t have any other VC friends whose thesis is trying to lose money as fast as possible.

founder 317

founder pitching VC advice 317

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 22, 2017

Do you think there is more money out there looking for good opportunities, or more fantastic opportunities? There was a time not too long ago when VC bios read "Fab investor", "Quirky investor", and "Gilt investor". Even if you're not one of the worst, and you strive to do your best everyday, a VC isn't perfect.

VC 332

VC advice pitching opportunity 332

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

It’s a shame because the ability to nail these presentations at key conferences can be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to influence journalists, business partners, potential employees, customers and VCs. This was evident at the Twiistup pre-event company pitch last week at UCLA. People say this all the time.

advice 362

advice VC entrepreneurs education 362

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. You’ve found a VC partner or principal who has invited you to the Monday partners’ meeting. This happens often is sales meetings or VC meetings.

advice 318

advice VC pitching venture capital 318

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2014

I got three calls from another big name, big check VC. I work on relationships for years and wait patiently for the opportunity to potentially work together. I read the pitch they had sent my friend. I got an email recently from a VC who had invested in a company a small amount in a seed round. Startup Advice'

advice 333

advice VC pitching investing 333

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 15, 2010

Yet many would-be entrepreneurs feel that they don’t have enough access to investors and that the opportunity to present to a group will help them short circuit the fund raising process. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Pitching VCs Start-up Advice Startup Advice VC Industry. They deserve more credit.

advice 254

advice angel investing entrepreneurs pitching 254

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? What is one piece of advice you’d give every founder? BUILD and EXECUTE!

culture 111

culture VC pitching investing 111

This is going to be BIG.

MARCH 14, 2024

We made connections, hopefully made a good impression, and potentially helped founders along their journeys with some advice or connections. If you wanted to interview me somewhere for an open audience, I’d say yes to just about every opportunity. I’m not sure we backed any of the founders—but that wasn’t the point.

communities 339

communities consulting creativity advice 339

TechCrunch

APRIL 25, 2023

After attending TechCrunch Early Stage last week, I was cheered to meet so many first-time founders and experienced investors who are looking for opportunities. Based on my conversations, VCs are very open to working with novices who can show that they understand the market in which they hope to compete.

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pitching incubation board opportunity 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

They have totally changed the way you run a VC firm, investing heavily in systems & events for their founders that are pushing the boundaries of the way our industry works. It is clear that he is simply passionate about being a VC and participating in this industry. What are the most common mistakes in first pitch?

capital 284

capital board VC pitching 284

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

Many businesses that pitch to me have White Elephant issues and I’d like to tell you how to deal with these when you’re raising venture capital. But the VC is thinking about the issue whether you address it or not. Know in advance what you’re going to say and don’t wait for the VC to bring it up.

VC 264

VC venture capital advice leadership 264

TechCrunch

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

You’ll hear from iconic founders, unicorn makers, boundary-benders — all of it served up with a gigantic side of DIY tips, actionable advice, encouragement and inspiration. And, because Disrupt is highly interactive, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to engage, ask questions and receive answers. Who’s ready for Startup Battlefield?

disruption 85

disruption opportunity pitching advice 85

David Teten VC

JULY 27, 2021

We have collected a wide range of freebies, contests, accelerators, online communities, and VCs designed for student tech founders. I have been researching this both to support Versatile VC ’s portfolio companies and also as part of research for my new book, To University and Beyond: Launch Your Career in High Gear. 1) Your school.

founder 144

founder mentorship peer-to-peer pitching 144

TechCrunch

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Mentors are immensely helpful, but they’re not a requirement: We run articles regularly that explain how to create pitch decks and reach out to investors. I surveyed six seed- and early-stage investors to get their tactical advice for laid-off tech workers who are thinking about starting up. “IP is important to us.

advice 91

advice pitching startup ventures 91

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

It’s the one bit of advice I find myself giving most frequently these days, “raise money at the top end of normal.&#. It is highly dependent upon many factors: experience of the team, type of opportunity (a big biotech or semi-conductor A round is likely to look different from an Internet A round), geography, etc.

startup 336

startup advice pitching investing 336

Startup Grind

AUGUST 13, 2018

Pitch your startup for an opportunity to meet with Floodgate. When evaluating opportunities, great leaders can articulate the risks of a given bet and the reasons why they can be overcome. What is one piece of advice you’d give every founder? Pitch your startup for an opportunity to meet with Floodgate.

VC 111

VC entrepreneurship pitching strategy 111

Jason Malki

MARCH 9, 2023

A self-described operator turned investor, Karen began angel investing 3 years ago and, ever since then, has dedicated much of her time to uncovering opportunities in unlikely places. 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?

VC 98

VC ventures angel investing venture capital 98

TechCrunch

AUGUST 27, 2021

You gotta pay to play: Buy your pass to Disrupt 2021 here and open a door to opportunity. Partners in well-known VC firms spoke, they were accessible, and they shared smart, insightful nuggets. Korea Pavilion Pitch Session – Hosted by KOTRA. Let’s talk about the special breakout sessions, which are hosted by our partners.

disruption 100

disruption advice leadership energy 100

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 5, 2012

The problem is that there are fantastic opportunities out there with completely trustworthy managers. Maybe the reason why venture capital as an asset class has underperformed is because the overriding criteria for having a fund in the first place is the ability to to raise one--not giving good advice, sourcing good deals.

venture capital 244

venture capital VC capital networking 244

TechCrunch

MARCH 17, 2023

I shy away from sharing hot takes, but here’s one: With contagion contained, the VC community feels good about writing smallish checks for pre-revenue startups, but Series A and up? 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.

pitching 92

pitching frameworks advice strategy 92

StartupNation

MAY 24, 2021

Part of this could be the result of the pitch. That pitch needs to be on point, with a clear and concise executive summary, a detailed business plan and a killer pitch deck that makes a compelling case to invest. While we’ve been strongly supported by our VC backers during the pandemic, the same can’t be said for every startup.

VC 76

VC pitching networking venture capital 76

TechCrunch

JUNE 10, 2022

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. Pitch Deck Teardown: Lunchbox’s $50 million Series B deck. This might take a little time.”.

VC 81

VC real estate advice pitching 81

TechCrunch

MARCH 15, 2023

My hot take: With contagion contained, the VC community feels good about writing smallish checks for pre-revenue startups, but Series A and up? If you’re an early-stage 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.

pitching 97

pitching VC advice venture capital 97

TechCrunch

NOVEMBER 9, 2020

There has been little movement in the amount of VC dollars going to women-founded companies since 2012. Though by no means does this mean that women aren’t doing incredible work in the field and it’s only right that women founders receive their fair share of VC investment. Venture capital is far from a level playing field.

VC 123

VC startup leadership communities 123

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. It’s also helpful to think about the order of slides in your pitch deck.

pitching 102

pitching startup venture capital ventures 102

This is going to be BIG.

JULY 30, 2010

Each day, hundreds of people stuff themselves into my inbox--pitches, career advice pleas, introduction requests. So, one would assume, then, if someone had the opportunity to a) put me in a position where I'd really owe them a favor. Listen to your pitch? that is my job. Provide some useful biz dev intros after?

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opportunity networking VC pitching 244

Hunter Walk

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The common VC passes are pretty cliche. As is the case with startups like Ethena, that first opportunity would have given us a larger ownership stake than all subsequent checks combined. Checks I’ve Written The Company Since Saying “No,” Never Bought Me As Much As Saying “YES!” Would Have In The First Place.

VC 107

VC SaaS culture advice 107

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 16, 2018

When said to a VC, this is one of the biggest BS lines out there. Is this a missed opportunity or just insurance that they're going to put their best foot forward in an organized process? My advice is to work with your current investors, if you have any, to pick out a short list--maybe three or four investors--and gauge their interest.

pitching 201

pitching strategy founder advice 201

TechCrunch

MARCH 6, 2021

A fintech and music collaboration might not seem that obvious, but the music economy remains one of the most under-tapped (and under-innovated) opportunities that remains out there. In this week’s Equity Wednesday episode , we brought on TC’s climate tech editor, Jonathan Shieber, to talk about the opportunities within agtech right now.

pitching 109

pitching advice education collaboration 109

David Teten VC

AUGUST 21, 2019

Most founders who are raising capital look first to traditional equity VCs. Revenue-Based Investing (“RBI”) is a new form of VC financing, distinct from the preferred equity structure most VCs use. Who are the major Revenue-Based Investing VCs? Should your new VC fund use Revenue-Based Investing? Optionality.

VC 69

VC investing investment venture capital 69

Gust

JULY 23, 2014

So even if my own mother asked me to meet with you, and you were pitching me a biotech opportunity for a $10 million investment at a $90 million valuation, I might take the meeting, but it wouldn’t be particularly useful for either of us. In this case, it’s not a lack of interest, just a lack of time and efficiency.

pitching 153

pitching angel investing investing investment 153

NZ Entrepreneur

MARCH 16, 2025

Read the interview: Richard Liew: For those who may not know who Ministry of Awesome is – let’s just assume there might be some – can you give us your elevator pitch? We’ve got some really incredible people that have joined our team to provide that one-to-one mentorship and advice.

startup ecosystem 52

startup ecosystem mix-use advice incubation 52

TechCrunch

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

March 3 is your opportunity to hear from and engage with the people who, through entrepreneurship, venture capital, labor organizing and advocacy, are both using and challenging tech to disrupt the status quo for the betterment of all. Tune in a get ready to take notes — the advice you hear could help you improve your pitch deck.

mentorship 93

mentorship founder startup pitching 93

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

I have figured out the ultimate VC fund strategy. I know, because those people all used to pitch me as an institutional LP back in the day. Sure, it might be a good buying opportunity, but if that's not what you do, then that's not what you do. You know what most VCs aren't good at? Do what you're good at.

strategy 247

strategy VC ventures financing 247

TechCrunch

JANUARY 21, 2022

500 Global’s Christine Tsai shares her 2022 VC predictions. All signs point to a continued abundance of opportunities for startup founders and investors in the year ahead.”. 500 Global’s Christine Tsai shares her 2022 VC predictions. Will quantum computing remain the domain of the specialist VC?

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VC incubation angel investing investing 80

TechCrunch

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Today, pitch competitions, incubators, accelerators, VCs and angel groups proliferate. Olaf Hannemann, partner, CV VC AG. What are some overlooked opportunities right now? How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city? Andreas Iten , partner, F10.

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startup ecology education ventures 144