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Browse: Home / Raising Venture Capital / Page 2

Raising Venture Capital

A Guide to Using Authority & Social Proof in Fund Raising

A Guide to Using Authority & Social Proof in Fund Raising

By Mark Suster on July 26, 2010

I recently read a book I’d highly recommend to every reader of this blog called “Yes, 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive” by Robert B. Cialdini who is also author of a very well received book called “Influence” (which I plan to read). “Yes” was given to me by one of my favorite angel […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Raising Venture Capital, Startup Advice

Startups and VCs Should Avoid “Pier” Funding

Startups and VCs Should Avoid “Pier” Funding

By Mark Suster on May 25, 2010

Often when startups who have raised venture capital need another round of financing they will turn to their existing investors to give them money before raising from outsiders.  This happens when the company has been making steady progress but hasn’t built enough “proof” to raise its next round of financing from external investors. The traditional […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, Startup Advice

Want to Raise Venture Capital More Easily? Clean Up Your Own Shite First

Want to Raise Venture Capital More Easily? Clean Up Your Own Shite First

By Mark Suster on April 14, 2010

Clean up your own shite.  Ok.  I know that the tone of the title and post will seem a bit aggressive for a post from a venture capitalist on fund raising.  It’s meant to be a bit provocative but the reality is that I give this advice to entrepreneurs all the the time and I […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Entrepreneurship, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, Startup Advice, startups

Can VC’s Invest Across Two Funds?

Can VC’s Invest Across Two Funds?

By Mark Suster on April 5, 2010

This is part of a series that I’ve been working on called Understanding Venture Capital. In one of the posts I spoke about how the size and vintage of funds might affect you when you’re raising money.   This led Roy Rodenstein (whose company Going.com was sold to AOL) and others to discuss, what happens when […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, understanding vcs, VC Industry

Understanding the Risks of VC Signaling

Understanding the Risks of VC Signaling

By Mark Suster on April 4, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Understanding Venture Capital. I recently wrote a blog post on understanding how the size and age of a venture capital fund might affect you when you’re raising money.  Because it is a “series” I plan to get into some of the deeper complexities of funds such as […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, understanding vcs, VC Industry | 1 Response

Does the Size of a VC Fund Matter?

Does the Size of a VC Fund Matter?

By Mark Suster on April 2, 2010

This is part of my series on Understanding Venture Capital.  I’m writing this series because if you better understand how VC firms work you can better target which firms make sense for you to speak with. It in not uncommon to see a VC talk about “total assets under management” as in “We have $1.5 […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, startups, understanding vcs, VC Industry

Understanding VCs – Where Are You on the Flightpath?

Understanding VCs – Where Are You on the Flightpath?

By Mark Suster on April 1, 2010

In the past I’ve written on the topic of “Raising Venture Capital” but today I’m starting a new series called “Understanding VC’s.”  My goal is writing this series of to make it easier for you as a startup needing to raise money to understand how venture capital firms work so you can be more efficient […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, VC Industry

What is the Right Amount of Money to Raise at a Startup?

What is the Right Amount of Money to Raise at a Startup?

By Mark Suster on March 11, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Raising Venture Capital. Recently I’ve been debating with a number of young startup companies that are raising money in the next few months, “what is the right about of capital to raise at a startup?” It’s a tricky question with no clear answer.  There are trade offs. […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Entrepreneurship, failure, Raising Venture Capital, Startup Advice, startups, Strategy, vc funding

Making The Most out of Sitting on Panels

Making The Most out of Sitting on Panels

By Mark Suster on March 3, 2010

Many of us in the technology, media and VC world sit on panels at lot.  Many of them are painfully boring.  It’s a shame since it’s such a golden opportunity for you to build awareness with your audience for who you are and what you do.  And it’s a surprisingly great way to meet people […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Entrepreneurship, marketing, panels, public speaking, Raising Venture Capital, sales, Startup Advice, startups

Time is the Enemy of All Deals

Time is the Enemy of All Deals

By Mark Suster on February 25, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series with Startup Advice (although this also applies tightly with Raising Venture Capital) You all know this intuitively.  But on a scale of ABC (always be closing) there is a wide degree of urgency that entrepreneurs show.  As as I’ve said before, I believe that getting things done is […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged entrepeneurshiip, Entrepreneur Advice, Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, sales, Startup Advice, startups

How to Present at Big Meetings without Going Down a Rat Hole

How to Present at Big Meetings without Going Down a Rat Hole

By Mark Suster on January 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. Congratulations.  You’ve found a VC partner or principal who has invited you to the Monday partners’ meeting.  Or on a sales campaign you’ve finally […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, Startup Advice | 1 Response

Is Strategic Money an Oxymoron?

Is Strategic Money an Oxymoron?

By Mark Suster on December 4, 2009

This is part of my ongoing Raising Venture Capital (VC) series Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round.  The topic of  ”strategic” investors came up.  It felt like Groundhog Day because I have this conversation again and again – literally dozens of times each […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, Entrepreneurship, Pitching VCs, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, Startup Advice, startups, vc funding

Save Your Spin for Someone Who Cares

Save Your Spin for Someone Who Cares

By Mark Suster on November 30, 2009

Handling PR with VCs This is part of my series on How to Raise VC but could equally be filed under Startup Advice more generally. I recently got a phone call from an entrepreneur whom I respect and who runs a company that I hope will do great things one day.  He had pitched me […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneur Advice, pr, Raising Venture Capital, startup, Startup Advice, Technology, VC | 1 Response

How to Deal with Skeletons in your Closet

How to Deal with Skeletons in your Closet

By Mark Suster on November 12, 2009

This is part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital. I recently wrote a post on how to Deal with your Elephants in the Room during your VC meetings.  Elephants being big issues that the VC will be thinking whether you bring it to his/her attention or not. My advice with Elephants was […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneurship, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, startups, vc funding

Deal with Your Elephant in the Room

Deal with Your Elephant in the Room

By Mark Suster on November 10, 2009

This is part of my series on Raising Venture Capital. There’s an old saying that if I’m talking with you and I start the conversation by saying, “whatever you do, DO NOT think about Elephants” then you can’t help but thinking about elephants while we’re speaking.  It’s called “The Elephant in the Room” and there’s […]

Posted in Entrepreneurship | Tagged Entrepreneurship, Raising Venture Capital, Start-up Advice, startups | 1 Response

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