Comments on: Where Do Venture Capitalists Find Their Companies?

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:40:03 +0000

Once a VC is looking for companies there are endless options to consider. Obviously their first choice would be their personal network but this practice is old and no longer attractive since the communication networks expanded dramatically for the past years. I must say that I speak from experience; more and more VC's ask to be included in certain lists or databases of investors (http://www.vcgate.com), especially those databases that entrepreneurs pay for. It is easier for them from several reasons, people actually bother in order to get to their attention, they are already classified after their industry stages, capital, geographical location and other preferences. This way they only get interesting and more realistic proposals.
Soon the VC's will probably pay larger fees than the entrepreneurs in order to be part of a top list.

By: Jason Mendelson

Jason Mendelson — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:03:05 +0000

Sure. if the team is excellent and they are doing things in areas that I’m interested in, no issues.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:07:16 +0000

As a VC, would you consider a company with a driven team even and great idea even though their resumes don't show a track record for starting companies? If say their idea was in the right niche market at a crucial time when other companies in the same market where looking to find themselves.

By: Jason Mendelson

Jason Mendelson — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:59:05 +0000

I consider that cold- no intro – just email / blog / cold call.

By: teamlram

teamlram — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:51:19 +0000

Is Email / Blog / Cold Calling outbound sourcing? Or is that when an entrepreneur cold calls the VC? Where does outbound sourcing fit into these division?

By: Jason Mendelson

Jason Mendelson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:06:04 +0000

I don’t really care what the media says in evaluating companies. Most of them find us through our blogs or other outreach activities.

Formal reports are helpful to weed out “noise” but it’s not what drives me. It’s being immersed all day / every day in the themes that I’m interested in investing in and having my own thoughts as to what might be a good investment.

By: keiko

keiko — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:04:20 +0000

Follow up question to your post: How do VCs research the companies they find? In particular, do they get any value from reading trade or business press? Does a strong media presence help a company trying to gain traction with the VC community? And if so, where is the most useful place to be seen? What kind of media provides the most valuable "validation?"

By: Jason Mendelson

Jason Mendelson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:42:04 +0000

Awesome!

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Jason Mendelson

Sent from my iPhone
- please forgive iTypos.

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:40:51 +0000

My favorite: Craigslist. I sourced a deal searching it one time.

By: Jason Mendelson

Jason Mendelson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:31:06 +0000

Good post as well. Thanks for the support.