Genuine VC

APRIL 29, 2013

Posts in the blogosphere, conversation on panels of/about VCs, etc. all talk about the best way for entrepreneurs to optimize their fundraising process with the end-goal of receiving a term sheet. It’s often spoken as if the second that magical term sheet document is in hand, the process is over.

Term Sheet 150

Term Sheet Valuation Partner Conversion 150

Genuine VC

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

It’s not until you have had a broad array of conversations are you able to tease out the profile of (and subsequently specific) firm(s) which will be attracted to your company. There is a challenge with the “believer approach” mindset, however. I’ve seen both outcomes in a prolonged “believer” search.

Search 143

Search Seed Stage Forecast .Net 143

Genuine VC

JUNE 27, 2012

But breakfast for venture capitalists is an open free-for-all for all sorts of networking meetings and conversations. And “doing lunch” doesn’t happen that often because VCs don’t like going out of the office mid-day much. Along the way, I’ve noticed that there’s a pattern to what VCs order which shows what kind of VC he is.

Portfolio 248

Portfolio Venture Capital Networking Conversion 248

Genuine VC

MARCH 25, 2010

I had coffee with an entrepreneur friend the other day who is in the early stages of putting a company together, and he recounted how his informal conversations with a venture capitalist had quickly escalated into a full partner pitch in just a few weeks. Make connections to people who will be able to improve your business in some way.

Early Stage 123

Early Stage Venture Capital Term Sheet Conversion 123

Genuine VC

MARCH 25, 2010

I had coffee with an entrepreneur friend the other day who is in the early stages of putting a company together, and he recounted how his informal conversations with a venture capitalist had quickly escalated into a full partner pitch in just a few weeks. Make connections to people who will be able to improve your business in some way.

Early Stage 121

Early Stage Venture Capital Term Sheet Conversion 121

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

They do it merely for the entertainment-value of participating and care very little if their investments actually yield a return (though that would make for even better conversation fodder). PROS: Sometimes these individuals are well-connected or have a public persona which could be helpful to the business.

Angel Investor 257

Angel Investor Syndicate Syndication Early Stage 257

Genuine VC

JULY 30, 2012

Sharing these expectations early in potential lead investor discussions fundamentally qualifies the conversations, but it also runs the risk of prematurely losing a potential financing partner or reducing options to maximize a financing process outcome.

Valuation 136

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Syndicate 136

Genuine VC

JANUARY 31, 2012

Along those lines, I think the proverbial 12-slide deck helps provide structure to a conversation where a multitude of information needs to be communicated in a short (often an hour or less) period. (In that corpus, a while ago I blogged about seven mistakes that entrepreneurs often make during a pitch session.)

Forecast 100

Forecast Framework Conversion Entrepreneur 100

Genuine VC

MARCH 8, 2012

Some entrepreneurs view a conversation about feedback as another opportunity to pitch rather than listen. Good entrepreneurs may either try to re-convince a VC who has passed given another conversation, or view the “no” as a transactional and move on. Ask any VC and they’ll share a horror story.

Venture Capital 167

Venture Capital Portfolio Conversion Founder 167

Genuine VC

AUGUST 14, 2012

Introductions to customers, long-term advisors, business development partners can result from the fundraising process, as those early conversations turn into real relationships. Sometimes these people don’t become investors, but rather than quickly moving on, these people can be co-opted into useful allies to help in other ways.

Seed Capital 163

Seed Capital Customer Development Partner Developer 163

Genuine VC

APRIL 24, 2012

The point is that some of the above factors are within an entrepreneur’s locus of control and some of them are certainly not. (At

Syndicate 224

Syndicate Syndication PR Portfolio 224

Genuine VC

MARCH 25, 2014

For those who have followed the NextView story as we’ve built our firm over the past few years, we’re continually striving to advance the broader local startup community by fostering conversation and direct participation. Lastly, please join us in welcoming Jay to NextView on Twitter!'

Boston 123

Boston Early Stage Portfolio Cofounder 123

Genuine VC

JULY 17, 2012

As a tactical matter, I try to end each networking conversation with “How can I specifically help you?” With any potentially valuable relationship, it’s just best to do something for the other person first and not worry about reciprocity initially.

Networking 136

Networking Seed Stage Early Stage Mobile 136

Genuine VC

JUNE 28, 2011

Once a couple conversations start to paint the same story, it’s time to quit. Even if you heard “mixed” things and decide to proceed anyway, the diligence conversation(s) empower you to go into a new situation eyes-wide-open to the risks associated with any new relationship. ?.

Due Diligence 159

Due Diligence Green Conversion Founder 159

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 11, 2013

Allow for customer / partner / advisor / employee conversations. Additional information about the market sizing, competitive dynamics, potential acquirers, etc. can help educate an investor about a space where s/he is less familiar.

Affiliate 236

Affiliate Partner Entrepreneur Customer 236

Genuine VC

MARCH 8, 2012

Some entrepreneurs view a conversation about feedback as another opportunity to pitch rather than listen. Good entrepreneurs may either try to re-convince a VC who has passed given another conversation, or view the “no” as a transactional and move on. Ask any VC and they’ll share a horror story.

Venture Capital 103

Venture Capital Portfolio Conversion Partner 103

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

They do it merely for the entertainment-value of participating and care very little if their investments actually yield a return (though that would make for even better conversation fodder). PROS: Sometimes these individuals are well-connected or have a public persona which could be helpful to the business.

Angel Investor 128

Angel Investor Syndicate Syndication Early Stage 128

Genuine VC

JANUARY 15, 2015

Of key importance, which we emphasize with our NextView portfolio companies when they’re out raising their Series A, is to run the conversations in parallel rather than serially.

Lead Investor 100

Lead Investor Term Sheet Venture Capital Portfolio 100

Genuine VC

MAY 29, 2014

Conversely, if the company already has established some early success metrics and is on a trajectory to look Series A-ready within 18 months, then eschewing a larger firm for now so that a competitive-run process then is likely a better route. Better to be safe than sorry.

Syndicate 166

Syndicate Syndication Seed Stage Valuation 166

Genuine VC

OCTOBER 23, 2012

At that time, you may not have as much leverage (with the company or whatever their current/future investors) to meaningfully increase that amount to the same level where you would have come in if you started the conversation today about equity comp commensurate with a start working part-time yet with a specific path to full-time.

Equity 116

Equity Cofounder Early Stage Framework 116

Genuine VC

APRIL 24, 2012

The point is that some of the above factors are within an entrepreneur’s locus of control and some of them are certainly not. (At

Syndicate 114

Syndicate Syndication PR Portfolio 114

Genuine VC

JANUARY 5, 2010

Yet the reasons discussed in these conversations are always different. That they’re bad for the business and should get out. It’s funny, but it’s always remarked that the present company is undoubtedly excluded.).

Boston 150

Boston Early Stage Venture Capital Operations 150

Genuine VC

OCTOBER 12, 2007

Regardless, conferences are for conversations. By last year, the conference had grown up to become an extravaganza, for lack of a better descriptive term. And this year's elevation of the moniker to a "Summit" should continue with that trend.

Conversion 100

Conversion 100

Genuine VC

MAY 5, 2015

Additionally, we’re hoping this starts a broader conversation about what we as venture investors can be doing to systematically help startups succeed in their hiring. Just like my mentor’s advice, our Talent Exchange is beginning to bring together more and more exceptional people, and I’m excited to see what they do next.

Portfolio 100

Portfolio Startup Boston Seed Stage 100

Genuine VC

JANUARY 15, 2010

But I think adding content gives them something to talk about, something to hang a hat on for an initial conversation with a new acquaintance or an old friend. People attend events because they want to meet and see other people.

Silicon Valley 208

Silicon Valley Boston DC Cofounder 208

Genuine VC

JANUARY 5, 2010

Yet the reasons discussed in these conversations are always different. That they’re bad for the business and should get out. It’s funny, but it’s always remarked that the present company is undoubtedly excluded.)

Boston 101

Boston Early Stage Venture Capital Operations 101

Genuine VC

AUGUST 3, 2010

During the seed stage where Micro VCs invest, there are three primary diligence factors: Team and individuals – The information discovery here involves conversations with former coworkers, cofounders, partners, investors, and customers.

Seed Stage 123

Seed Stage Cofounder Metrics Forecast 123

Genuine VC

OCTOBER 3, 2007

I've seen a number of conversations about universal search in the SEO trade circles (e.g. Increasingly we're seeing video as included results for terms which a consumer wouldn't necessarily think to search for on at a dedicated site or search engine, but she will find incredibly useful nonetheless.

Search 100

Search San Jose SEO Engineer 100

Genuine VC

JANUARY 15, 2010

But I think adding content gives them something to talk about, something to hang a hat on for an initial conversation with a new acquaintance or an old friend. People attend events because they want to meet and see other people.

Silicon Valley 103

Silicon Valley Boston DC Cofounder 103

Genuine VC

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

” Or that “you shouldn’t begin fundraising prior to the winter holidays because they interrupt the flow too much that the conversations will lose momentum.” I hear all of the time that “you shouldn’t fundraise in the summer (especially August) because VCs are all on vacation.”

Warrant 132

Warrant Valuation Conversion Entrepreneur 132