What Do VCs Look for in Startups? Venture Capitalist Secrets:
Who are venture capitalists? And what do they want from startups? The first question is easy – venture capitalists are investors who invest in private companies. They take a percentage of ownership in the company and help it grow by providing money, experience, and resources needed by growing startups. Most early-stage investments are made through funds run by professional VCs. These people usually have at least ten years of experience working with startups, so when you’re talking to one of them (in the context of funding round), remember that you’re talking to someone who has a decade or two worth of advice they can share with you about how to succeed as a startup. That should be motivating enough to impress VCs – if any of this sounds like “a challenge,” remember that VCs see thousands of startups a year, and they’re not just going to throw money at everyone. If you impress them enough with your team, product, traction, and overall potential, it should be obvious why they would wa