Emerging Enterprise Center Blog - Commentary and Analysis For Entrepreneurs and Startups

I had lunch the other day with an entreprenuer/venture capitalist, Vinit Nijhawan.  One of the things we discussed was the apparent difference in risk appetite between east coast based VCs and west coast based VCs.  We both agreed that there is a popular perception in the Boston entreprenurial community that west coast VCs are more aggressive (in the sense of willing to take more risk on early stage companies) and more patient (in the sense of willing to build lasting companies rather than go for good, if early, exits).  I noted in Vinit's blog that he wonders why more west... More

Sometimes you can't be all things to all people.  I often hear entrepreneurs say that they intend to alter very basic aspects of their business plans to appeal to what they imagine to be the appetite of a particular VC.  One example of this thinking is the often heard "I only need $2 million, but I am going to put together a plan that shows a need for $10 million because that is the only way to interest a VC."  While it is undoubtedly true that there are many VCs who wont invest at "smaller" amounts, it probably means the... More