3 ms·

By the way, these guys don't require a formal introduction. So networking is not too important too them. They profess that they are pro-underdog. So take a look

By the way, these guys don't require a formal introduction. So networking is not too important too them. They profess that they are pro-underdog. So take a look! But don't ask them for the money that we will be getting from them or we will send you nasty emails every Thanksgiving!

rms 19y ago
I've definitely seen them say that they read every submission: http://sequoiacap.com/ideas/ http://sequoiacap.com/ideas/ These guys are friendly too: http://www.tandementrepreneurs.com/ http://www.tandementrepreneurs.com/
- mattmaroon 19y ago
  Lol. They might read every submission, but only a very tiny fraction of their deals come from that. Maybe one or two percent tops. No matter what they say, an introduction is the only real shot of success.
  - rms 19y ago
    Right, but mainly because someone that can't get an introduction is very unlikely to be what they want for their portfolio.
    - mattmaroon 19y ago
      I think its more because old habits, like Silicon Valley's gentleman's club, die hard. There are tons of excellent hackers who couldn't get an introduction, including a large number of the Y C companies that went on to get VC funding.
      - rms 19y ago
        Did anyone that couldn't get an introduction try cold submitting to Sequoia?
        mattmaroon 19y ago
        I know from a talk that one of the VCs at Sequoia gave that almost nobody gets funded by them without having been introduced. He said that they were meaning to pay more attention to stuff that comes in over the transom, but it sounded much like I do when I say that I want to work out more.
  - GammaStats 19y ago
    It takes a lot of skill to identify the emerging companies of the future. Why would they say something they do not mean? You see VC's are very competitive. The really good ones realize that there is untapped potential out there that are likely to be missed by the "traditional VC's". Closed mindedness never innovates and this innovation creates the true leaders in any field. It's a lot like Ivy League universities. They are under enormous pressure to perform and house the next great research endeavors. Have you ever noticed that Ivy League universities never set strict requirements on admission whereas public universities do. This is because they recognize that many innovative minds would be passed over if they set strict criteria. Einstein, the great genious that he was, made lousy grades and was told by his early teachers that he would never make it in school. In fact he was told he should drop out. Einstein was actually told he did not belong in school. Thats the product of closed mindedness. It was not until Einstein recognized his true passions in life that he became the "genious" that he is considered today. Quite frankly, it takes genious to recognize genious. And traditional VC's don't have this genious. That is why they would set more limits on who they fund. We are all told how ruthless VC's can be and how they will take your company from you. Michael Moritz of Sequoia capital invested a little over 12 million for a 10% stake in Google. In fact, founders in these leading VC backed firms end up being recognized as the most powerful forces in the companies. This is because the truly revolutionary VC's recognize that they do not have the vision of the founders. They are willing to relinquish some control. But I guess my point here is the leaders in any field are willing to listen to new ideas from new people because they must, to stay ahead in their game. And that is what they want most of all.
  - jsjenkins168 19y ago
    Start small. I've already met a great contact locally due to this forum who is in turn helping me to meet others. You wont be referred to Sequoia right away, but the point is you meet people through people. It is a gradual process. As my mother used to tell me: "Thin threads". Sometimes a random introduction can turn into something significant.
chaostheory 19y ago
I'm not so sure about that. VC's are the car salesman of the startup world... if you're not careful you'll get screwed. There are plenty of stories... That's one of the main things that has attracted me to YC. It's very transparent and they seem fair and trustworthy. (too bad we got rejected - o well we're still releasing this year regardless)

rms 19y ago

I've definitely seen them say that they read every submission: http://sequoiacap.com/ideas/ http://sequoiacap.com/ideas/ These guys are friendly too: http://www.tandementrepreneurs.com/ http://www.tandementrepreneurs.com/

mattmaroon 19y ago
Lol. They might read every submission, but only a very tiny fraction of their deals come from that. Maybe one or two percent tops. No matter what they say, an introduction is the only real shot of success.
- rms 19y ago
  Right, but mainly because someone that can't get an introduction is very unlikely to be what they want for their portfolio.
  - mattmaroon 19y ago
    I think its more because old habits, like Silicon Valley's gentleman's club, die hard. There are tons of excellent hackers who couldn't get an introduction, including a large number of the Y C companies that went on to get VC funding.
    - rms 19y ago
      Did anyone that couldn't get an introduction try cold submitting to Sequoia?
      - mattmaroon 19y ago
        I know from a talk that one of the VCs at Sequoia gave that almost nobody gets funded by them without having been introduced. He said that they were meaning to pay more attention to stuff that comes in over the transom, but it sounded much like I do when I say that I want to work out more.
- GammaStats 19y ago
  It takes a lot of skill to identify the emerging companies of the future. Why would they say something they do not mean? You see VC's are very competitive. The really good ones realize that there is untapped potential out there that are likely to be missed by the "traditional VC's". Closed mindedness never innovates and this innovation creates the true leaders in any field. It's a lot like Ivy League universities. They are under enormous pressure to perform and house the next great research endeavors. Have you ever noticed that Ivy League universities never set strict requirements on admission whereas public universities do. This is because they recognize that many innovative minds would be passed over if they set strict criteria. Einstein, the great genious that he was, made lousy grades and was told by his early teachers that he would never make it in school. In fact he was told he should drop out. Einstein was actually told he did not belong in school. Thats the product of closed mindedness. It was not until Einstein recognized his true passions in life that he became the "genious" that he is considered today. Quite frankly, it takes genious to recognize genious. And traditional VC's don't have this genious. That is why they would set more limits on who they fund. We are all told how ruthless VC's can be and how they will take your company from you. Michael Moritz of Sequoia capital invested a little over 12 million for a 10% stake in Google. In fact, founders in these leading VC backed firms end up being recognized as the most powerful forces in the companies. This is because the truly revolutionary VC's recognize that they do not have the vision of the founders. They are willing to relinquish some control. But I guess my point here is the leaders in any field are willing to listen to new ideas from new people because they must, to stay ahead in their game. And that is what they want most of all.
- jsjenkins168 19y ago
  Start small. I've already met a great contact locally due to this forum who is in turn helping me to meet others. You wont be referred to Sequoia right away, but the point is you meet people through people. It is a gradual process. As my mother used to tell me: "Thin threads". Sometimes a random introduction can turn into something significant.

chaostheory 19y ago

I'm not so sure about that. VC's are the car salesman of the startup world... if you're not careful you'll get screwed. There are plenty of stories... That's one of the main things that has attracted me to YC. It's very transparent and they seem fair and trustworthy. (too bad we got rejected - o well we're still releasing this year regardless)