Comments on: A Glimpse Into The Suffering of Venture Capitalists

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Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:40:36 +0000

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By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:33:59 +0000

Hi David – Thanks for commenting. Your perspective is a good one, there can't be any successful VCs without successful entrepreneurs. The reverse isn't quite as true…

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:33:59 +0000

Hi David – Thanks for commenting. Your perspective is a good one, there can’t be any successful VCs without successful entrepreneurs. The reverse isn’t quite as true…

By: David Dufresne

David Dufresne — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:09:01 +0000

Great post. I went to AO last year and back in 2003. Very cool event and a nice opportunity for some “Valley immersion”. You're right that some entrepreneurs are rude in forcing their pitches down the VCs' throats .

But as a VC we need not forget that it is our job to listen to pitches and I tend to feel that hearing a pitch is a privilege, not a favour I'm granting someone. Like it or not, entrepreneurs and their ideas are the “raw material” of our trade and should be respected as such… even if the investment is very clearly not for my firm.

But then again, I'm not in the Valley and I don't get pitched to every time I ride the elevator…

By: David Dufresne

David Dufresne — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:09:01 +0000

Great post. I went to AO last year and back in 2003. Very cool event and a nice opportunity for some “Valley immersion”. You’re right that some entrepreneurs are rude in forcing their pitches down the VCs’ throats .

But as a VC we need not forget that it is our job to listen to pitches and I tend to feel that hearing a pitch is a privilege, not a favour I’m granting someone. Like it or not, entrepreneurs and their ideas are the “raw material” of our trade and should be respected as such… even if the investment is very clearly not for my firm.

But then again, I’m not in the Valley and I don’t get pitched to every time I ride the elevator…

By: Creative Financing

Creative Financing — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:39:31 +0000

I appreciate your comments about people who practice and deliver those annoying “elevator pitches” at every seeming opportunity. Back around 99 dotcom wannabes spent hundreds of dollars for weekend workshops on perfecting them. My feeling was always that if someone isn't willing to grant you five minutes to present your case then they are not really interested. Don't try to shove your elevator pitch down their throats without permission.

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:58:57 +0000

@Jonathan – I don't think you got that defensive. A lot of people might think the folks in Silicon Valley aren't friendly, or maybe they're ruthless…or something negative. Generally I didn't find that to be the case at all.

By: Creative Financing

Creative Financing — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:39:31 +0000

I appreciate your comments about people who practice and deliver those annoying “elevator pitches” at every seeming opportunity. Back around 99 dotcom wannabes spent hundreds of dollars for weekend workshops on perfecting them. My feeling was always that if someone isn’t willing to grant you five minutes to present your case then they are not really interested. Don’t try to shove your elevator pitch down their throats without permission.

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:58:57 +0000

@Jonathan – I don’t think you got that defensive. A lot of people might think the folks in Silicon Valley aren’t friendly, or maybe they’re ruthless…or something negative. Generally I didn’t find that to be the case at all.

By: Jonathan Crow

Jonathan Crow — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:58:43 +0000

Ok, maybe I got a bit defensive;)