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The Five "Ups" of Getting Early Stage VC Deal Flow

This is going to be BIG.

Deal flow is your lifebloodbut not all deal flow is created equal. After 20 years of doing this, I have some thoughts Finding great deals is hard. Youre at a firm that writes checks, your name and e-mail wind up in investor databases and BAM , Inbox 22,821. Youre working with a set of partners at a brand name firm.

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How to Not Suck at a Group Presentation

Both Sides of the Table

– No great presentation can be delivered like a conversation. Get out of your comfort zone. Project your voice. Use your hands. Go join your local Toastmasters. Tell a story – Every great presentation tells a story. The bring your product to life. Show some energy! Don’t mumble.

advice 362
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Pitch me!

This is going to be BIG.

One time, I spoke at a meetup that was divided into my talk and demos--and the organizer assumed I wanted to go on before the demos. I didn''t understand why it would matter, but she told me that most of the investors like going before so they could skip out after the demos and not get bombared at the end of the event.

pitching 368
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Startup Business Funding: 5 Business-Breaking Misconceptions

Dream It

With some tough-learned lessons, it was clear to me that my new (and current) business Slidebean would not make the same mistakes. The press enhances this misconception around YCombinator demo days, where the 3-day pitch event is perceived like an auction, with investors fighting each other for the best deals. It did for me, at least.

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Learn to code? How about learn to sell!

This is going to be BIG.

That alone is enough to make a lot of VCs throw up a little in their mouths. And what percent of your time have you spent on it?". It was enough to make anyone who didn't love the space realize that she had cracked the code of breaking into government sales--and once you're in, you're in forever. Slow sales cycles.

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Some Reflections on VC Investment Decisions

Both Sides of the Table

Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, Don’t even get me started on Demo Days. You could spent 20 days / year at Demo Days now. You have to deal with CEOs who resign.

VC 374
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The Audacious Plan to Make Electricity as Easy as WiFi

Both Sides of the Table

They had been introduced by my friend Brian Garrett, a partner at Crosscut Ventures and the ambition outlined in their deck seemed almost unbelievable, “to make wireless charging of phones (and other devices) as easy as WiFi” that I had to see it for myself. The goal is straightforward. Was it safe? Was there consumer demand?

VC 418