Comments on: Entrepreneurs are Not Hors D’oeuvres and Other Random Thoughts http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/ Business + Technology in the Exponential Economy Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:14:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: rem http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-898 rem Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:24:14 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-898 One of my observations going through the 2001 downturn, was that the best VC's quickly and ruthlessly killed their newest deals. Even when the team was top caliber and 2nd or 3rd timers. Lesser VC's threw good money after bad and tried to hang on longer. One of my observations going through the 2001 downturn, was that the best VC’s quickly and ruthlessly killed their newest deals. Even when the team was top caliber and 2nd or 3rd timers. Lesser VC’s threw good money after bad and tried to hang on longer.

]]> By: Venture Insider http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-874 Venture Insider Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:40:55 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-874 Rem, that is a great question: are there traits that unite top tier versus all the rest? I will take a first stab at this... Leader vs. follower. This is an obvious one but it's sometimes surprising how few are willing to do something that is out of fashion. Being a mensch: some of the concepts we've been discussing here. This can get lost on the next generation just like any offspring that didn't need to work too much for what they have. Creativity. Sometimes not as well developed in those who have spent their lives learning the Right way to do things, in other words: how not to make mistakes and how to be good followers. Hard work. The problem is that the older generation who had all these traits is now (as they should be) enjoying life. Most (not all) of the younger guys who are hard working and super smart of course, are not as creative yet more arrogant than their predecessors. Hopefully others will add to this list... Rem, that is a great question: are there traits that unite top tier versus all the rest? I will take a first stab at this…

Leader vs. follower. This is an obvious one but it’s sometimes surprising how few are willing to do something that is out of fashion.

Being a mensch: some of the concepts we’ve been discussing here. This can get lost on the next generation just like any offspring that didn’t need to work too much for what they have.

Creativity. Sometimes not as well developed in those who have spent their lives learning the Right way to do things, in other words: how not to make mistakes and how to be good followers.

Hard work. The problem is that the older generation who had all these traits is now (as they should be) enjoying life. Most (not all) of the younger guys who are hard working and super smart of course, are not as creative yet more arrogant than their predecessors.

Hopefully others will add to this list…

]]> By: rem http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-868 rem Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:12:16 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-868 I like this column. reminds me a little of Stanley Bing. Why not just go ahead and create a psuedonym: Carry Huge or something. Would like to hear comparisons on how the top tier VC's differ from the lower 90%. BTW which are you? Keep up the good content. I like this column. reminds me a little of Stanley Bing. Why not just go ahead and create a psuedonym: Carry Huge or something. Would like to hear comparisons on how the top tier VC’s differ from the lower 90%. BTW which are you? Keep up the good content.

]]> By: Venture Insider http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Venture Insider Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:35:32 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-833 I agree and am not advocating that sort of behavior. I was half joking with the "he's not that into you" reference but the concept is the same. The entrepreneur, knowing this, can assume that silence is an answer and keep pride intact just like the young lady who might be wondering why that guy hasn't called. She would save herself some heartache and embarassment by moving on. With that said, my perspective is that the avoidance behavior is driven by fear or some other personality defect and a quick "we won't be moving forward" with an honest reason is easier than to endlessly avoid and obscure the situation. BTW a good honest reason is not: it's too early, we have another deal in this space, bandwidth, we aren't really investing from this fund or any other reason we should know before taking the meeting. On honest feedback we start getting into shaky territory but I think as long as you are honest with the intention of being helpful the entrepreneur will take it well. I do think that depending on the amount of time investment on the part of the company an in person meeting or at least a call so that they can clarify and use the feedback constructively is preferable. Any examples of other really bad behavior venture investors are sometimes guilty of? I agree and am not advocating that sort of behavior. I was half joking with the “he’s not that into you” reference but the concept is the same. The entrepreneur, knowing this, can assume that silence is an answer and keep pride intact just like the young lady who might be wondering why that guy hasn’t called. She would save herself some heartache and embarassment by moving on. With that said, my perspective is that the avoidance behavior is driven by fear or some other personality defect and a quick “we won’t be moving forward” with an honest reason is easier than to endlessly avoid and obscure the situation. BTW a good honest reason is not: it’s too early, we have another deal in this space, bandwidth, we aren’t really investing from this fund or any other reason we should know before taking the meeting. On honest feedback we start getting into shaky territory but I think as long as you are honest with the intention of being helpful the entrepreneur will take it well. I do think that depending on the amount of time investment on the part of the company an in person meeting or at least a call so that they can clarify and use the feedback constructively is preferable.

Any examples of other really bad behavior venture investors are sometimes guilty of?

]]> By: Jumpin' Jack http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-830 Jumpin' Jack Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:40:53 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-830 Etiquette is a lost art form these days. Having control over the purse strings is not an excuse for bad manners. Your comment about "not that into you" is interesting when many an entrepreneur has been left wondering if they did ok. What might help the entrepreneur is a call to action question such as "When can we expect to hear from you?" While there is no particular obligation, the VC is being done a favor as well by having a potential investment opportunity put in front of them. That deserves something - like a willingness to communicate and be polite, not just a meeting. In my experience, the best VCs are human and they demonstrate it in their words and deeds. They communicate in a timely fashion in a constructive way. Etiquette is a lost art form these days. Having control over the purse strings is not an excuse for bad manners.
Your comment about “not that into you” is interesting when many an entrepreneur has been left wondering if they did ok. What might help the entrepreneur is a call to action question such as “When can we expect to hear from you?” While there is no particular obligation, the VC is being done a favor as well by having a potential investment opportunity put in front of them. That deserves something – like a willingness to communicate and be polite, not just a meeting.
In my experience, the best VCs are human and they demonstrate it in their words and deeds. They communicate in a timely fashion in a constructive way.

]]> By: Myriad Missives http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Myriad Missives Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:13:25 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-766 [...] Insider’s first (as best I can tell) article is entitled Entrepreneurs are Not Hors D’oeuvres and Other Random Thoughts . On the whole, it is a rational, helpful piece for VCs and entrepreneurs alike, stressing that the [...] [...] Insider’s first (as best I can tell) article is entitled Entrepreneurs are Not Hors D’oeuvres and Other Random Thoughts . On the whole, it is a rational, helpful piece for VCs and entrepreneurs alike, stressing that the [...]

]]> By: Chris Sheehan http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Chris Sheehan Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:16:17 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/2007/08/27/entrepreneurs-are-not-hors-doeuvres-and-other-random-thoughts/#comment-666 Agree with this post. Entrepreneurs are doing an amazing and tough job -- as we all know, its very tough to create something out of virtually nothing -- and that endevour in itself demands respect. Agree with this post. Entrepreneurs are doing an amazing and tough job — as we all know, its very tough to create something out of virtually nothing — and that endevour in itself demands respect.

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