A VC coming to a school is not looking for plans so much as people. Unless he has specifically asked for formal presentations, you're better off just talking informally and intelligently about possible startup ideas, rather than making the conversation be about stuff you're probably bad at, like business plans and slide decks. Just seem smart and energetic.
Thanks for the reply! I see what you mean, but at the same time, it isn't recommended to talk about our own idea? (versus other possible startup ideas) In my mind, this doesn't make too much sense, since we have already committed ourselves to one idea.
And, not sure if you meant it this way, but I wouldn't say business plans and slide decks are something I'm bad at. I actually prefer business over CS, but figured CS was a more worthwhile degree to pursue. I know in general CS majors are probably viewed as just coders that lack business acumen, but there are always exceptions! =]
And yes, thinking about it some more, I agree a slide deck is probably overkill to this type of meeting. Writing the business plan has allowed me to really know my idea in depth, so hopefully this will come through in conversation. Thanks again.
Sure, talk about ideas you're interested in. I didn't mean talk about random ideas. I meant talk about stuff at the level of ideas, i.e. what problem the world needs solved and how you might do it, rather than at the level of financial projections.
I don't think its a necessarily question of your business acumen.
Since the VC has a strong technical background (M.S. in CS), I would guess that they would probably be more interested in the course of a conversation in the "intellectual" / technical side of things rather than the mundane financial boring stuff.
Also, probably better than seed funding would be to connect with this VC, and see if you would like him to mentor you. If you're throwing a business plan and slide deck out it might seem like you are just another opportunistic gold-digger, whereas if you can just show how passionate and energetic you are, as pg suggested, its much more likely to lead to a longer term relationship.
Comments
A VC coming to a school is not looking for plans so much as people. Unless he has specifically asked for formal presentations, you're better off just talking informally and intelligently about possible startup ideas, rather than making the conversation be about stuff you're probably bad at, like business plans and slide decks. Just seem smart and energetic.
Thanks for the reply! I see what you mean, but at the same time, it isn't recommended to talk about our own idea? (versus other possible startup ideas) In my mind, this doesn't make too much sense, since we have already committed ourselves to one idea.
And, not sure if you meant it this way, but I wouldn't say business plans and slide decks are something I'm bad at. I actually prefer business over CS, but figured CS was a more worthwhile degree to pursue. I know in general CS majors are probably viewed as just coders that lack business acumen, but there are always exceptions! =]
And yes, thinking about it some more, I agree a slide deck is probably overkill to this type of meeting. Writing the business plan has allowed me to really know my idea in depth, so hopefully this will come through in conversation. Thanks again.
Sure, talk about ideas you're interested in. I didn't mean talk about random ideas. I meant talk about stuff at the level of ideas, i.e. what problem the world needs solved and how you might do it, rather than at the level of financial projections.
I don't think its a necessarily question of your business acumen.
Since the VC has a strong technical background (M.S. in CS), I would guess that they would probably be more interested in the course of a conversation in the "intellectual" / technical side of things rather than the mundane financial boring stuff.
Also, probably better than seed funding would be to connect with this VC, and see if you would like him to mentor you. If you're throwing a business plan and slide deck out it might seem like you are just another opportunistic gold-digger, whereas if you can just show how passionate and energetic you are, as pg suggested, its much more likely to lead to a longer term relationship.