For my startup, I went to hundreds of VC Web sites, saw their stated interests in leading edge, disruptive, etc. technology. I sent hundreds of pitch decks, po

For my startup, I went to hundreds of VC Web sites, saw their stated interests in leading edge, disruptive, etc. technology. I sent hundreds of pitch decks, polished to close to perfection, following lots of rules, e.g., only 10 foils, large fonts, total of only about 300 words and other alternatives, etc. My foil decks promised everything short of Pluto in the solar system. From the VCs I heard back next to nothing. Net, I wasted huge amounts of time. So, I had to ask, what was missing from my pitch? It became clear: The VCs want most of all traction, significant and growing rapidly. They want more, but traction is the biggie. So, they want at least real users, hopefully real revenue, hopefully real after tax earnings. Basically the VCs want to buy part of an airplane already at 5000 feet up and at Mach 0.5 and gaining altitude quickly. They wouldn't buy into a Boeing 787 still on the ground. But for information technology startups, the world has changed a LOT since the start of Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Cisco, Apple, etc. Now, for lots of startup opportunities, by the time you have the traction the VCs want, you can very well no longer need the VCs check and certainly not want the VCs term sheet, BoD seats, or much of anything else. VCs are not for all startups. My joke is that the VCs are looking for traction significantly high and growing rapidly where there are five co-founders, each with credit cards maxed out, and each with a pregnant wife. True, some startups will need a big shot of equity capital, but that's nearly impossible since such a startup will have a tough time getting the traction for an equity check for even 10 cents. IMHO, at this point, information technology VC is a goofy thing that has to find some really strange situations. Instead of strange situations, now often or usually, a startup with the required traction won't need or want a VC equity check. One way to handle VCs at low effort is to follow the Hollywood advice, "Don't call us. We'll call you.". Really, if your startup has the traction the VCs want to see, then they might notice you and call you. So, get on with your work. If some VC calls, maybe listen. Otherwise waste no time contacting VCs.