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500 Startups moves to rolling admissions instead of cohorts

TechCrunch LA

500 Startups is scrapping its cohort model for accelerating companies and moving to a rolling admissions process, the accelerator said during its latest demo day. “Demo is changing the way it runs its accelerator to be rolling recruitment,” said Aaron Blumenthal , a 500 Startups venture partner.

Startup 177
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Some Reflections on VC Investment Decisions

Both Sides of the Table

I started in 2007 with a thesis that my primary investment decision would be about the team (70%) and only afterward about the market opportunity (30%). But they are also a tax on your time with portfolio companies, looking for new investments, running your shop and honestly they are a tax on your family life. I don’t.

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To Sell Anything You Need to Know What Makes You Unique

Both Sides of the Table

The other worthwhile exercise is to write down what your competitors uses as its USPs – even ones that you don’t think are really valuable to customers. You want to be able to demonstrate your product and the best way I call, “A day in the life of …” where you show the demo as though you’re a user with a problem that needs to be solved.

Sales 336
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Why VCs Should Stop Trying to be Perfect

Both Sides of the Table

Sometimes those motives are positive (they really want the chance to work with you, they think you have unique skills) and sometimes they are less positive (their first-tier of “go to” referrals passed on the deal, they don’t want to write another check themselves, etc.). I seek out great entrepreneurs. End of story.

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The Importance of Proprietary Deal Flow in Early-Stage VC

Both Sides of the Table

There is one source that was always problematic for me – intros from investment bankers. This is no criticism of the investment banking industry (although I’m sure some will read it this way) for which there are very useful purposes. They are venture bankers not investment bankers. It’s a Demo Day thing.

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

Both Sides of the Table

There is one source I never liked and no early-stage VC should – investment bankers. This is no criticism of the investment banking industry (although I’m sure some will read it this way) for which there are very useful purposes. They are venture bankers not investment bankers. It’s a Demo Day thing.

Startup 361
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How to Handle a VC Presentation with No Deck

Both Sides of the Table

I’m comfortable with introductions and then getting into the demo.&#. I talked about this in the TWiVC video but I didn’t do a good enough job of writing it up in the summary notes in the post. If you want to go quickly to the demo – knock yourself out. Just jump into the demo after intros. Mobile app?