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The Importance of Proprietary Deal Flow in Early-Stage VC

Both Sides of the Table

What price? I think the issue I have always had with investment bank pitches was best summed up in this article about Y Combinator in which Paul Graham apparently made the following quotes. The only way for a company to be overvalued is if there’s someone willing to pay that price. What kind of deals should I be doing?

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Why Early-Stage VCs Should Be Careful About Intros from Bankers

Both Sides of the Table

What price? I think my mentality to banker pitches was best summed up in this article about Y Combinator in which Paul Graham apparently made the following quotes. The only way for a company to be overvalued is if there’s someone willing to pay that price. We are judging how well you are coached on stage. What stage?

Startup 361
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Improving Sales: The Excuse Departement is Closed

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This article originally appeared on TechCrunch. So I did want any rational person who wants to improve does – I hired a coach. Whenever I heard why we didn’t feel a sales process at an important customer was going well (or if we lost) I would get involved myself. Customers buy solutions to solve their problems.

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Be Careful About Being a Meddling Startup CEO

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In practice it can be a fine line between sparring partner / coach and stepping over the line to brute-force persuasion. So he would allocate say – 20% to sales, 15% to marketing, 20% to eng priorities, 10% to customer support, 10% to ops, 20% to ‘platinum customers’ and maybe 5% directly to me as the CEO.

Startup 150
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Don’t Let Your Startup O.D. On Cash

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. If you haven''t already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly JohnGreathouse.com articles! For many years after Microsoft became highly successful, its executives (yes, including Mr. Gates) flew coach. Encourage your team to ask, “Is that your best price?”

Startup 100
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Every Dollar Spent At A Startup Should Yield A Return

InfoChachkie

If you haven’t already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly Infochachkie articles! If there happens to be a gas station along the way where you can fill up for a reasonable price, great. One way to combat reckless spending is to instill a sense of pride in your employees to never pay full price. Mayday Mayday.

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Get Free Drinks, Upgrades And Smiles When You Travel

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared Forbes. If you haven't already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly JohnGreathouse.com articles! Then engage your would-be Bro as a peer, a courtesy they may seldom experience from most of their harried, self-absorbed customers. It’s Kool To Be Kind.

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