Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

On the early side, it's repeat founders coming together again or early runaway traction in an early beta that generates buzz. For later-stage, it’s a high-priced financing round, tipping scales on widespread adoption, rapid hiring, or credible information on successive revenue-growth quarters.

Startup 148

Startup Portfolio Later Stage Hiring 148

Genuine VC

JUNE 28, 2011

Usually you’ve already made a selection of whatever type (hiring a new employee, deciding on a VC, choosing a new vendor), and then the next/final logical step in a “process” is to call a few people just to verify what you’ve already decided. But reference checks don’t need to be a laborious time-sink chore.

Due Diligence 159

Due Diligence Green Conversion Founder 159

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Having a place that a startup calls HQ (even if the majority of employees are physically present elsewhere) is a litmus test for VCs to gauge whether a founder wants to create a small profitable business or a truly transformative one. In fact, hiring is only done when it’s out of necessity.

Estonia 130

Estonia Startup Distribution Chicago 130

Genuine VC

JUNE 12, 2012

But by the end of the month, we’ll have only 5 of our first 10 (including the two founders) employees and 10 of our first 20. No one has ever been promoted onto the management team, only hired in from outside. We’ve been running at 20-30% attrition over the last 9 months.

Vesting 112

Vesting Silicon Valley Startup New York 112

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Having a place that a startup calls HQ (even if the majority of employees are physically present elsewhere) is a litmus test for VCs to gauge whether a founder wants to create a small profitable business or a truly transformative one. In fact, hiring is only done when it’s out of necessity.

Estonia 100

Estonia Startup Distribution Chicago 100

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Plus, VCs often will have met the Founder/CEOs of many of a particular startup’s competitors, so they’ll have an even richer understand of the market landscape. Start-ups hire ahead of growth (or at least predicted growth), which translate into a viable company, a healthy work environment, and future internal opportunities.

Startup 146

Startup Burn Rate Technical Review Down Round 146

Genuine VC

MAY 20, 2013

Otherwise, what I’d call a “credible introduction” is sufficient provided there’s also an additional piece of information (key founder background, specific space, etc.) MYTH: Venture capitalists are looking to replace founders with “their guys.” When a VC backs a founding team, she’s doing just that, backing a founding team.

Venture Capital 244

Venture Capital Cap Table Portfolio Early Stage 244

Genuine VC

OCTOBER 12, 2007

Much is often said about the founders of a company, including on this blog. However, I think that the people often overlooked are those key first hires. Those first five to ten non-management hires in a startup help set the tone for how things get done and how people behave while they’re doing it.

Employee 101

Employee Hiring Founder Management 101