!!MUST READ - Venture Capital Submissions

**Fanatik** · 09-26-2008 07:39 AM

Plenty of you wonder how to approach a venture capital firm. Well, yesterday I read all about Google and their start-up - to - present formation. Very impressive and very REASONABLE! If you don't know about their history, do some research. They started like all of us -- with an idea and a passion for doing what they know and love. Then they were Google. The place we all visit to conduct searches.

But they also have venture capitalist funding. One of their biggest sources? Sequoia Capital. If you've ever wondered how the big dogs do it -- check here: Elements of Sustainable Companies - Writing A Business Plan - Submit A Business Plan

You don't need anything other than these basic principals and outlines to make a submission for capital. If you're going to submit an idea for a mom and pop donut making shop, you're going to get shot down. But if you have a genuinely novel idea, that will accomodate the masses... well... you may be what they're looking for. MODS -- I'm posting this in General Business and Investment forums for wider dissemination, as I feel this is one of the most-asked questions on YE.

-Jay

**akula** · 09-27-2008 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by Fanatik

You don't need anything other than these basic principals and outlines to make a submission for capital. If you're going to submit an idea for a mom and pop donut making shop, you're going to get shot down. But if you have a genuinely novel idea, that will accomodate the masses... well... you may be what they're looking for. MODS -- I'm posting this in General Business and Investment forums for wider dissemination, as I feel this is one of the most-asked questions on YE.

jay, vc is very different to what it seems

**Fanatik** · 09-27-2008 07:56 PM

It's subjective, as the link I posted is for those aiming big. Normally, if you're seeking vc, you'll have a large idea that you think applies to a VC's prospectus. Hopefully this will shed some light on those always asked questions about what vc's are looking for.

**akula** · 09-27-2008 11:47 PM

sure..good point..i've worked in vc and i've raised $1m+ for a series a. over this time, i've learnt some stuff. for example, one thing that's often understated is that venture managers don't fund ideas. they fund successful teams of people (who can come up with ideas, when their original ones don't work out). that's really one of the keys: vc is a team sport. ideas are a secondary concern, and the most important thing to focus on is bringing together a great team if you wanna get to a second meeting with some one like mike moritz. the hardest thing of course, is defining what is a great team, which is why this critical due diligence item doesn't usually get listed on websites. that's just how vc works. there's little time for sole operators.

so i think, on balance, the defining quality that is common for all entrepreneurs who are able to close venture funding is not their ability to come up with ideas, but their ability to come up with teams. putting together a team, and the making the guys stick together is really the most important thing when it comes to vc and business in general.