7/27/2005

Giving VCs a Winning Pitch

"Entrepreneurs are always hungry for advice about how to approach venture capitalists for funding. After more than 25 years in the business -- both as a lawyer who represented entrepreneurs seeking VC funding as well as a VC evaluating pitches -- I've distilled my best advice into what I call the '10 Commandments for Entrepreneurs.' The 10 rules that follow are about how to make a pitch, not about what business idea you should pitch."

1. Target Your Pitch...
2. Be On Time -- or Better Yet, Be Early...
3. Tease, Don't Overwhelm...
4. Know Your Audience...
5. Get to the Point -- Fast!...
6. Pour New Wine in Old Bottles...
7. Limit Yourself to the Baker's Dozen...
8. Know What You Don't Know -- and Admit It...
9. Be Like Goldilocks...
10. Control the Meeting..."

Read more in this businessweek.com article.