Questions VCs Will Ask and What They Mean

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46 points·biznickman··9 comments

It's a great list of questions, but don't take the translations too literally. Usually when VCs ask "what's your exit strategy" they're just checking to see whether you've been thinking about, not looking to take you out as CEO. If you go into every conversation expecting the person you're talking with to be evil, it will really warp your experience.

That's true. Don't be too paranoid, otherwise that'll come across to the VC as "this might be interesting but too adversarial to invest in."

But also, don't overlook the prospect that the person you're talking to is evil. Happens more than we'd like to think; lot of sharks in these waters.

Yes, it definitely isn't literal. I think it's more of a tongue and cheek post.

When I hear pitches by startups, I always despise the TAM slide. I'm more interested in markets that are too new to calculate.

I worry that VCs who ask what the size of the market is are looking for evidence where there isn't any.

"Start-ups CREATE markets" - Kai Huang

Need is infinite. All markets already exist and successful start ups just create products and services that capitalize on novel approaches to old problems. There are no blue oceans.

If you idea stage startup - don't put numbers on your slides!

VCs are better in numbers, than you.

Speak in narratives, not numbers.

"1. Where did you get your idea? Translation: if your simple idea is so great, why hasn’t anyone else done it?"

I assume every idea I think up has already been thought of, in fact, I'm almost certain they have been. A better question to ask would be "How are you going to successfully execute your idea?"

Sorry I'm late. Translation: I'm not sorry I'm late. Did you park in my space?

I kid, I kid. I love VC's.

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