StartupList: The first startup gets funded | Hacker News Reader

StartupList: The first startup gets funded

venturehacks.com

28 pointstdedecko10 comments

I'm on the list and have seen some interesting companies.

However, I also put my email address in the AngelList part, figuring, how bad could it be? ... pretty bad. I am now thinking of making a "how to pitch me via email" post.

Let me know if you write that post and I'll link to it. Thomas Korte (AngelList member) has his take here: http://thomaskorte.com/archive/how-to-cold-email

I've been surveying people on AngelList to see if they want to remove their e-mail address. So far, about 5 people have said "keep it" and 1 asked me to take it off.

I've also seen some interesting stuff, too. Nothing actionable.

I guess I want to see screenshots and actually get a hint of what they're doing and why it's interesting.

I get:

- request to come meet so they can tell me the Big Secret (can you just tell me so I can figure out if it's interesting?)

- no screenshots or link to prototype

- an understanding of what angels do (stop asking for a million dollars)

- pitching ideas very far away from what I invest in (multiple pet product pitches already)

Thomas's "catch me in person" via 4sq etc scares me. I even find referencing a joke I made on twitter somewhat creepy (it smashes the register frame.)

Can you guys put together a few basic questions (to filter) you would want answered? Or link to a best practice guide somewhere on the web and make it required reading prior to email pitching? Or a slide deck template? Something like Guy Kawasaki's 10 slide presentation?

Perhaps get VH to tell e mailers to use this?

Well, a bunch of things are specific to me. I care more about screenshots than pitch decks.

OTOH, a "I'm a high school student and entrepreneur, and I've got an idea that is going to change the world! Let's meet to discuss" gets tired pretty quickly. Given that I have an enormous load already (day job, plus the other incoming requests) anyone who can't figure out that lowering, rather than raising, other people's transaction burden is necessary is probably someone I wouldn't invest in anyway.

Perhaps ask VH to create an 'email requirements' section? In which you could state "Meeting in person probably won't happen, let's start by you sending me screen shots"

Nivi, above, is part of VH.

Just to be super-clear, in his first sentence ("interesting companies"), Josh is talking about StartupList where we send hand-picked startups to investors.

In the second sentence ("pretty bad"), Josh is talking about AngelList where anyone can contact him directly.

Yeah, though I got one possibly good one from direct contact.

I wonder how we can circulate the good ones back into StartupList… can you let me know if you get past a first meeting?

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