Welcome to Mba School
Fund: Hyde Park Angels
Posted by Anonymous about 17 hours ago
Well like many funds, this one uses associates to vet out potential deals. The additional part is that they are all MBA students at The Booth School of Business at the Univeristy of Chicago. It can take 4-6 months to get conference call with the screening committee, and even then you feel like your more the topic of a classroom discussion than that your are talking with investors.
Can't say what they are like if they fund you, or their terms, on paper they look quite impressive with their membership and expertise, but it did feel unprofessional dealing with MBA students that couldn't keep appointments, or keep us abreast of where we stood.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyGood Luck
Fund: NEW Capital Management Inc.
Posted by Anonymous about 17 hours ago
Finding money in NE Wisconsin is tough. NEW Capital is the only organizaed angel group in the area. I believe they are pretty much done at this time, and that they may have one deal left to fund.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyMidwest Style Investors
Fund: Silicon Pastures
Posted by Anonymous about 17 hours ago
Pitched screening committee. Good group, they get involved and ask the tough questions, and will give you extra time if your of interest.
Tough part is they are only one of less than maybe 5-6 active investment groups in Wisconsin, so they get to cherry pick best deals. Not their fault, but if you are early stage, pre-revenue it will be tough getting their money, when they can pick from many other deals that have finished products, sales channels, and revenue.
Rated them average as i didn't get funded by them, so can't say they are good or bad.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyStartup Law Firm Referal Dealing with China
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous about 18 hours ago
Founder Friendly Closing Docs
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous about 18 hours ago
How to Chose the Right VC Partner What are the Questions to Ask ?
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous 1 day ago
Is It a Good Idea to Involve a Sales Person at a Very Early Stage of Startup?
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-07
CEO Mbos and Compensation
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-06
A Pitch Too Far
Fund: Austin Ventures
Posted by WyattEarp on 2010-02-06
Was introduced by a "player" with some heavy influence in Texas.... Had a meeting with John Thornton scheduled; then re-scheduled; then re-scheduled again; then they said they would get back to me when the schedule cleared up. Never happened. I have no comment other to say that I expected better from a group of people that supposedly prides itself on helping Texas entrepreneurs.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyHow L Ps in Venture Have Been Fooled, Many Times Over
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-06
Lack of Attention, Total Lack of Communication
Fund: Steamboat Ventures
Posted by philippeb on 2010-02-06
We pitched Steamboat and it is the first time that someone actually almost nodded off during my presentation. I am a fairly animated and by all accounts a good presenter so I could only deduce that they really were not interested. I never heard back from them which frustrates me. I don't mind being turned down but I do mind investing time and not getting the courtesy of a call back to explain the reasons why I was turned down. At least if you won't fund us, give us the opportunity to learn from the experience !!
I would not waste my time approaching them again.
Attentive for VC's, Fast Response
Fund: GRP Partners
Posted by philippeb on 2010-02-06
I was approached by Dave Lin who has a fair amount of experience in media and technology although the company's typical focus has been retail. I sent my exec summary and we scheduled a meeting which Yves Sisteron (The managing partner) was supposed to attend. He never made the meeting and I never got the opportunity to formally present. Instead Dave and I went to lunch, Yves did join us later and we got to chat informally. They passed on the deal a few weeks later. I believe they are competent and by VC standard, fairly attentive although they did not really get into the detail of my company before turning us down. Perhaps just not a good fit.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyGreat Experience with L. Donohue and the Folks at 406
Fund: 406 Ventures
Posted by Hale-Bopp on 2010-02-05
I have been working for a number of years with Liam Donohue at 406 (and his predecessor fund) through 2 rounds of funding, and can say first hand that he and his partners are sophisticated, pragmatic and constructive in dealing with early and mid-stage companies. The difference between these folks and other VC's we've worked and had exposure to is stark to say the least.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyUS West Software/B2B First Round Terms
TheFunded.com Terms
Posted by System on 2010-02-04
A Rare and Good Exmaple for VC Integrity
Fund: Sequoia Capital Israel
Posted by Alon on 2010-02-04
Just heard the guys have advised Visual Tao entrepreneurs to go for a quick <$25M exit less than a year after Sequoia invested. This was a very pro entrepreneur decision, way to go Sequoia..
PRIVATE: Members OnlyNeed Advise: to Pitch or Not to Pitch if There is a Competing Portfolio Company
Fund: Greycroft
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-04
Please read private post
PRIVATE: Members Only (481 Characters)Great to Work With
Fund: Insight Venture Partners
Posted by Nick1 on 2010-02-04
I found Insight great to work with - they have an excellent knowledge of the software business and can help bring your company to the next level.
Most importantly i found that Insight was flexible and responsive when doing the deal. In addition, after the deal, they would stick to the 'gentlemans agreement'. Even though certain things had not been agreed in writing, or for example when there were minor accounting mistakes on my part - they would be understanding and give me the benefit of the doubt. On the whole i found them very fair during and after the deal.
Within Insight, I worked with Jeff Horing, Mike Triplett and Alex Crisses all of whom are honest and dependable guys.
I highly recommend doing business with Insight!
PRIVATE: Members Only (91 Characters)Nice Story, Entreprenurial Smart Team
Fund: OpenView Venture Partners
Posted by mcob337 on 2010-02-04
We got the standard email and had a 15 minute call. Kept in touch with them as our business expanded, mainly a phone call every quarter or so. We happened to be in Boston and they invited us to visit.
We found them to be straightforward and invest in high growth companies. They were very clear about next steps, typical term sheets etc.
PRIVATE: Members Only
How to Protect Ip in Preliminary Discussions with Angels?
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-03
Founder/CEO Compensation Strategies
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous 1 day ago
Proposed Deal Terms for Seed Partnering
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-03
How Many is Too Many in a VC Pitch?
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-03
Exceptional Understanding of an Indepth Plan Graham Dwells in to It.
Fund: 406 Ventures
Posted by Patel, Faruk A on 2010-02-03
Over the past month or so I have been pitching greenyogi.com to Investors (over dozen of them) on the east coast.
Because of the complexity of our strategy, our approach is a bit unconventional and lengthy. Even then Graham took the time to understand our approach. He asked candid questions which would have real world and implementation cost implications. All this conversation was over a few lengthy emails.
The entire process was to the point, quick and meaningful. At the end of the dialogue, I/we learnt more from Graham alone than from all the other investors put together.
Because of Grahams belief that "Complex strategies, which are delivered in a simple manner - are very hard to replicate", his apt insight of the marketplace and candid attitude towards getting things done - I would work with him and his organization even if I have to give up a few pennies here or there.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyInternational Opportunities for Funding
TheFunded.com Discussion
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-02-03
Always a Good Partner
Fund: Triangle Venture Capital Group
Posted by tmaier on 2010-02-03
We have been working with Triangle for a while now, and are finalizing a second funding round at the moment. The people of Triangle have always been a pleasure to partner with, honest, down-to-earth, straight-forward, highly experienced and always working for the good of the company. Uli, Wiebke and Bernd are sharing their experience with the companies and at the same time are well listening to the ideas and plans of their CEOs and managing directors. Triangle sincerley believes in fairness and mutual benefits of partnerships and that's what made and makes working with them so valuable.
PRIVATE: Members Only
