One of our founders called me. “An analyst just called me. He works for a VC fund tied to an investment bank. He’s interested in our company and is keen to know more. How much information should I share? “ CEOs need to know what they’re getting into when they talk with VCs, particularly if...
[Continue Reading]Turning the Tables: How to Make Venture Capitalists Pitch You
I’m returning to Capital on Stage this fall in New York. Last year, 19 other VC fund Partners and I pitched to 170 attendees; this year the conference organizers expect a similar turnout. You can see online my own pitch and all the other VCs pitching last year in NY . To attend, apply via the CapitalonStage.com website. I...
[Continue Reading]How To Present So People will Hear
You probably have to make presentations, but does the audience hear what you’re saying? And do they believe it? Based on my experience in investment banking and strategy consulting, I’ve put together a 3-part series on how to prepare memos and presentations that people will read and believe. Part 1 was How to Write a Memo...
[Continue Reading]How to Write a Memo That People Will Actually Read
I spent many late nights as an investment banker and strategy consultant early in my career. My #1 learning from that experience (besides financial modeling) was how to communicate in an effective way, particularly with senior executives. As training now for my team at ff Venture Capital, I’ve written a three-part series on communications. And...
[Continue Reading]Should Your Startup Pivot, Persevere, or Plank?
(I originally published this in Forbes.) It’s a cliché of the startup world that successful entrepreneurs persevere even when everyone else thinks their idea is doomed (see: Pandora). It’s a cliché of the startup world that successful entrepreneurs pivot when appropriate (see: Paypal, Apple opening an app store, etc.) Unfortunately, these two clichés are both...
[Continue Reading]Teach your computer to read your mind
InteraXon, a leader in thought controlled computing and a ffVC portfolio company, launched an Indiegogo campaign today to support production of Muse, a multi-sensor brainwave measuring headband. For the last year, InteraXon has been deep in development of Muse, which will allow users to see how their brain is performing in real time, to play games with...
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