November 2010
1 post
Why Engineers Make the Best Marketers
Engineers make the best marketers because, contrary to conventional wisdom, marketing is not a “soft science.” As a VC, I’ve done due diligence on hundreds of startups and am most impressed with those that run their marketing departments like engineering shops.
Taking an engineering approach to marketing simply means:
Test everything
Make decisions based on numbers
Abide by the rule that the...
October 2010
1 post
Transforming Healthcare through IT – VCs and...
The St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco has hosted hundreds of events over the years but nothing like the group we have here today. I am looking out at a room of 150 people at an event called “DC to VC: Investing in Healthcare IT Summit.” Policy leaders have flown from Washington, D.C to meet with venture capitalists, corporate executives, startup founders and CEOs to figure out ways to...
July 2010
1 post
When Not to Take VC Money, as Told by a VC
This opinion piece first appeared on The Funded.com on July 22, 2010. http://thefunded.com/funds/item/7346
I’m a VC and love what I do. I have the amazing job of working with entrepreneurs everyday to help them grow their businesses. So it might seem odd that I’m giving you reasons for not taking venture money. To be clear, I’m not saying you should never seek venture capital. Some of the...
April 2010
1 post
What's in Your VC Pitch? 11 Slides to Help You...
This contributed article first appeared in CNet on April 20, 2010. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20002881-76.html
Let’s say you have an ingenious new business idea and you’re ready to seek venture capital. Knowing what we VCs look for in a pitch could mean the difference between a term sheet and a rejection. I’ve seen hundreds of pitches. And I can tell you that in today’s environment, the...