If you are a founder who finds himself in a meeting with a VC, try to remember two things:
- Investors are looking for reasons to say “yes”.
- You are the smartest person in the room.
Nevertheless, many entrepreneurs waste this opportunity, often because they point out questions or fail to understand their BATNA (the best option in the deal in question). Kunal Lunawat, the co-founder of Aga Ventures, said, “As the venture landscape evolves into a thriving environment where resume and institutional involvement are less important, these strategies can make the difference between a successful fundraising and a fruitless meeting.
Whether you’re already in the process of raising funds or planning to stay in the future, be sure to read the “A Crash Course on Corporate Development” shared with us by Venrock VP Todd Graham this week. “If you’re going to make an acquisition, you’re likely to spend a lot of time with the corporate development team,” Graham said. “With a hot stock market, a mountain of cash, and cheap debt floating around, the acquisition environment is extremely rich.”
Wednesday, August 24 at 3 p.m. PDT / 6 p.m. EDT / 11 pm GMT, Managing Editor Danny Crichton will host a conversation on Twitter Space with Eric Dean Wilson, author of “After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming and the Terrible Cost of Comfort”. Wilson’s book explores the history of Freon, a common refrigerant that was later banned due to its destructive effects on the ozone layer. After their discussion, they will take questions from the audience.
Apple iPhone, Apple Mail, and Apple iPad account open about half of all emails, but the privacy features included with iOS 15 prevent consumers from seeing marketers tracking data like their physical location, IP address and invisible pixels. Litmus CMO Melissa Sergeant advises that email marketers rely heavily on these and other metrics, which means they should be prepared for changes now.
In a detailed post, he shared a number of action items that will help marketing teams leverage their email analytics so they can “continue to provide consumers with the desired personal experience.” The initiative-backed startups of Todd Graham, vice president of Venrock, have some candid advice for founders: “It would be wise to make a return at some point.” With that in mind, he designed a primer in corporate development that outlines the three most common categories of acquisitions, tips for dealing with bankers, and explaining why partnering with a large company isn’t always the best way.
