SVASE VC Breakfast

I am volunteering at SVASE, the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs, and amongst others I sometimes moderate our VC Breakfast Club sessions. It’s an informal round-table where up to 10 entrepreneurs get to deliver a pitch, then answer questions and get critiqued by a VC Partner. We’ve had VC’s from Draper Fisher, Hummer Winblad, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mohr Davidow, Emergence Capital …etc.

Tomorrow’s featured VC is Paul Holland, General Partner, Foundation Capital. Information and registration here.

I think it’s an incredible opportunity for Entrepreneurs, most of who would probably have a hard time getting through the door to a mainstream VC. Since I’ve been through quite a few of these sessions, both as Entrepreneur and Moderator, let me share a few thoughts:

Yes, it’s a pressure-free environment, with no Powerpoint presentations, Business Plans…etc, just casual conversation, but for God’s sake it does not mean come unprepared!
Bring an Executive Summary, some VC’s like it, others don’t.
Don’t just talk freely about what you would like to do, or even worse, spend all your time describing the problem, without addressing what your solution is.
Follow a structure, and don’t forget “small things” like the Team, Product, Market..etc.
It would not hurt to mention how much you are looking for, and how you would use the funds.
Write down and practice your pitch, and please be aware that whatever your practice time was, when you are on the spot, you will likely take twice as long to deliver your story.
Last, but not least, please be on time!

See you tomorrow … and now I get to show off my cool new Zvents button: