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Why it’s Critical That you Reference Check Your VC

Both Sides of the Table

They had received a term sheet from a VC and were wondering whether to work with this firm. You’re tied at the hip to your VC. Get to know VCs over a long period of time so that when you’re ready to get engaged you feel you know their character. But what was the VC like when the chips were down?

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What I Would Look for When Choosing a VC – Knowing What I Know Now?

Both Sides of the Table

Picking a VC is hard. So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. Most VCs are book smart. In fact, book smart can be a negative. I call them “ VCs Seagulls.” VCs should be more of a coach than proscriptively telling you what to do.

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In 15 Years From Now Half of US Universities May Be in Bankruptcy. My Surprise Discussion with @ClayChristensen

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Back to Mr. Christensen, “We subsidize their education in fields for which there are no jobs” he said in referring to the fact that many courses at universities are still taught with skills that aren’t relevant to the 21st century needs of the US workforce. We spoke about the disruption of VC through crowd funding.

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My Pal Dave: A Triumph of Substance Over Style

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I knew him well before he became a VC. I knew his as he considered becoming a VC and we talked a lot about how it was going for me in my early years. These engagements went well and he came highly referred by my friend Gary Swart who runs oDesk. I don’t know an entrepreneur or a VC who wouldn’t cut him in on any deal.”

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Steven Blank Kills It at Greycroft CEO Summit

Both Sides of the Table

My favorite two quotes of the weekend were: “Never trade your cat for somebody else’s dog” (referring to selling your company for stock to another privately held company – quote was from Alan. And awesome to get to spend time with Ian Sigalow “comparing notes” (VC speak ). I’m going to save that for a future blog post.

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Don’t Cede Control: Why You Need to Cut out Middle Men in Negotiations

Both Sides of the Table

And yes, VC’s, too. One thing I learned from the book is that real estate agents always sell their personal property at higher relative prices than their clients’ properties. Often recruiters want to handle the final negotiations on package and/or do the reference calls. VCs often do this for reference checking.

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The Power of Getting the Band Back Together

Both Sides of the Table

.” Strangely, the best I’ve ever heard this exemplified is in Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential - which is really a book about startups as told through kitchen stories. When you’re hiring most reference checkers focus on the person’s former bosses. Writing a book will be fun. But he knows it.

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