“Can I carry my business plan and pitch to a VC during the event”
“Are VCs attending the event, or is it going to be just the entrepreneurs?” – Very frequently asked questions.
VCs are the attraction center of the startup ecosystem – they attract everybody (well, they have the money); and event organizations often use their presence as a tool to attract entrepreneurs (and fill seats).
But we are taking a different standpoint here.
Pretty much all the VC firms (the ones in Bangalore) and angel investors are attending the event, but we won’t be displaying their logo/names anywhere on the site.
No, we do not hate VCs, but we do want to see whether the event can stand on its own with just the Badshahs of the ecosystem, i.e. the entrepreneurs.
And if you are an entrepreneur who attends an event to meet VCs, my candid suggestion would be to meet them one-on-one, i.e. if you are seriously planning a startup (we will do the connection, if you want us to).
You decide.
And if you are a VC firm reading this post, do come over – you will have a great company of serious entrepreneurs and fellow VCs.
We are running out of seats. So book your seat Now!
A great Move, All the best
Thanks & Regards
Sai Pothuri
Ashish,
Am more than a little disappointed to see this…I can appreciate your constraints vis.a.vis. trying to ensure a minimum audience quorum but by including VCs in the mix, you have embarked on a slippery downward slide as the event could degenerate into yet another dog and pony show. No offense intended to any of your VC audience members but perhaps restricting the event to entrepreneurs alone would have facilitated a environment for frank and candid exchange of ideas and experiences rather than encouraging showboating…
Are you saying that having VCs in the event wil degenerate the quality? Why?
Unlike all the events, we aren’t giving away any free passes to any VCs.
THey need to buy the tickets – so they will come only if they ‘want to be’.
The tone and tenor of a conversation within a group of peer entrepreneurs and one between entrepreneurs and VCs is vastly different.
Look at it this way – if I were sharing my experiences with fellow entrepreneurs, I can be as frank and candid as I want to be as my imperatives are largely altruistic and I don’t have any qualms about even talking about my failures and/or mistakes that could be illustrative and helpful to others who are treading the same path as me. But if VCs were involved, it is in an entrepreneur’s DNA to sugarcoat his utterances for obvious reasons…If you don’t believe this to be true, I have a bridge to sell to you!
Don dude – Who you talk to is your imperative. The number of entrepreneurs here will be almost 5x VCs. so take your pick and talk to people you want to.
In case you want to be particularly offensive – order a nice t-shirt which says “I dont talk to VCs – because my business idea sucks” and wear it to the event.
Lastly, and most importantly, I do not understand the insecurity. Sugarcoating is one way of putting it but I think inherently you are trying to avoid the hard questions. I have a suggestion for you – google for Dave McLure and read up a bit on why you should and shouldnt try your hands at entrepreneurship. Its not the Bible – but should give you some confidence to stand up and speak for yourself.
Ashish,
Will there be anything in this event to look forward for job seekers (10+ yrs types senior positions) in Startups in any capacity?
@Venkat
It will be a good place to meetup some of the senior folks/startups/VCs attending the event – am sure chemistry will happen if there is a fit.