Last night, I was a guest of the Silicon Flatirons to present a "crash course" on venture capital. Basically, it was a no holds barred town hall-type conversation where I led off with a brief presentation and then opened it up to the 200 or so attendees to ask questions. I encouraged the audience to ask anything they wanted about venture capital, getting funded and "secrets" of the VC ecosystem.
The event was videotaped and hopefully soon, I’ll be able to post it on this blog. Until then, here was the presentation that I gave.
I enjoyed immensely hanging out with a lot of smart people interested in venture capital. Thanks to all who attended.
VC Crash Course – Feb 24 2009
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Thanks for sharing this, Jason. Particularly liked the 'What VC's wont tell you' section, very useful. Looking forward to the follow-up including the video. Thanks!
Comment by David — February 26, 2009 @ 10:25 am
That's brilliant! Bookmarked and much appreciated. Tks
Comment by hymanroth — February 28, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Thanks for sharing, excellent stuff. look forward to the video
Comment by Ali — March 5, 2009 @ 2:39 am
Jason, linked to you thru Dan Caruso's blog http://www.bearonbusiness.com. Enjoyed reviewing your deck and would love to see the video when available. As a sales exec at a local VC backed tech company – very helpful to better understand the VC funding process. Particularly the early/late stage perspective.
Comment by Megan Dietmeier — March 5, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
[...] to my friends at Kendall Media Group, here is the video of my recent Venture Capital Crash Course at the Silicon [...]
Pingback by Crash Course Video | Mendelson's Musings — March 9, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Jason, I am confused about the whole NDA issue. Why is it a rookie mistake to ask for them to sign an NDA? Especially for an idea that most certainly needs to be protected. Is it an integrity issue? Where is the liability if they steal the idea or some associate tells the wrong person?
Comment by 25dl — March 10, 2009 @ 12:10 am
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This might answer your question. Bottom line, we look at way too many business plans to start signing NDAs. As for stealing the idea, VCs really can’t steal ideas. First, they aren’t company runners, they are company investors. I would have to steal the idea and then start a whole new company. Second, our reputations are way too valuable to do any bad acts like this.
Comment by Jason Mendelson — March 10, 2009 @ 12:19 am
http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2006/02/why-most-... />
This might answer your question. Bottom line, we look at way too many business plans to start signing NDAs. As for stealing the idea, VCs really can’t steal ideas. First, they aren’t company runners, they are company investors. I would have to steal the idea and then start a whole new company. Second, our reputations are way too valuable to do any bad acts like this.
Comment by Jason Mendelson — March 10, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Useful info for me.thanks for sharing.
Comment by ManhattanNY — May 13, 2009 @ 8:06 am
Useful info for me.thanks for sharing.Jason.Do u have another blog?It seems I have seen you in some elso.
Comment by NEW York — May 13, 2009 @ 8:09 am
Useful info for me.thanks for sharing.Jason.Do u have another blog?It seems I have seen you in some elso.
Comment by Robert Motherwell — May 13, 2009 @ 8:17 am
http://www.askthevc.com
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Comment by Jason Mendelson — May 13, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Hey,Jason.I come here from askthevc.Both of your blogs are good enough.I will enjoy them so much.
Comment by Essay — May 13, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
how the hell does a guy who comes from nowhere acquire a team???
Comment by jasonspalace — May 30, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
Not easy. There are not magic pills for creating and developing a team. Best bet is getting heavily involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in your area and seeing who is out there.
Comment by Jason Mendelson — May 30, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
i appreciate the response Jason, would love to see a post on this. personally i am a guy who spent 3 years alone in a room with several computers learning everything there is to know about internet, electronic devices, and all the possibilities for its future. now out of that, with several schematics in the brain, putting together the exec summary, biz plan, prototype, etc, find myself with no network. and when you work 14 hours a day getting your dream together, its hard to do anything aside from building your tech . thank you for your brain on the screen. i must figure out the one element i see that you see as a necessity… a team and a network.
- jason nadaf
Comment by jasonspalace — May 31, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Particularly liked the 'What VC's wont tell you' section, very useful. Looking forward to the follow-up including the video.
Comment by club penguin cheats — June 11, 2009 @ 8:16 am
Everything from what makes VCs tick, who are our bosses, what are things that you can do to improve your chances of receiving funding and things that many VCs don’t want to talk about. No question is off limits and I hope that it will be a very interactive forum. Consider this to be a live version of Ask The VC.
Comment by commercial mailboxes — June 15, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Do you need a crash course in how to find venture capital funding for your company? Or perhaps just a refresher course? The deck below was prepared by Jason Mendelson, a VC with the Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital.
Comment by Injury Claims — June 17, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Another find via a venture capitalist blog. This time its Jason Mendelson’s Blog. This course provides a quick intro to venture capital and background on deal making and typical fund structures.
Comment by Electric Train Sets — June 19, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
This course provides a quick intro to venture capital and background on deal making and typical fund structures. VC Crash Course.
Do you need a crash course in how to find venture capital funding for your company? Or perhaps just a refresher course?
Comment by directory submission — June 21, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
Last night Jason Mendelson of the Foundry Group taught a great crash course on venture capital dispelling many and revealing many of the "secrets" of venture capitalists. After the course, Jason answered an hour or more of good questions from the audience.
Comment by Raleigh SEO — June 23, 2009 @ 9:39 am
The deck below was prepared by Jason Mendelson, a VC with the Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital. It provides a good succinct primer on venture capital and echoes many of the themes on this blog.
Comment by healthinsuranceleads — June 26, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Venture capital (also known as VC or Venture) is a type of private equity capital typically provided to early-stage, high-potential, growth companies in the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event such as an IPO or trade sale of the company. Venture capital investments are generally made as cash in exchange for shares in the invested company. It is typical for venture capital investors to identify and back companies in high technology industries such as biotechnology and ICT
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Comment by Markweee — August 5, 2009 @ 6:11 am
Wow, thanks for the amazing guide on Venture Capital =0 Risky business though.
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That's nice post!
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Thank you!
Comment by Jason Mendelson — August 7, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
Great tutorial a few things I did not know.
Comment by Outdoor Pavers — September 4, 2009 @ 6:47 am
Jason, great post! It's really just like marketing and target markets. If you know you're target market (in this case the VC), you'll do much better at obtaining financing.
Thanks for sharing,
Gerrid Smith
Comment by Gerrid Smith — September 4, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks for the crash course on venture capital. Enjoyed the video a lot!
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Comment by victor — September 17, 2009 @ 9:04 am
There are different interests and importances among stakeholders that cause the carsh of capital use and need. The issue can be really big in giant corporations. Thank you.
Comment by concrete sealer — October 3, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
Capital is a scarce object in economy, yet everyone needs it. There are conflicts of interest which are just inevitable. By the way, have you ever heard of RealtyNation.com? I heard it’s a great place to look for Rent To Own House but you never know about sites like this. Please help me with this. I need a credible reference. Thanks!
Comment by Rent To Own House — October 14, 2009 @ 1:24 am
We can not avoid such conflicts of interest in companies. The issues can even grow bigger for corporates which have many stakeholders with different demands.
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Venture capitalism in itself is a very complex situation and is needed as for a number of applicable conditions for finance and economy.
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Venture capital (also known as VC or Venture) is a type of private equity capital typically provided for early-stage, high-potential, growth companies in the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event such as an IPO or trade sale of the company. Venture capital investments are generally made as cash in exchange for shares in the invested company. It is typical for venture capital investors to identify and back companies in high technology industries such as biotechnology and ICT (information and communication technology).
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