5 things to keep in mind when looking for the right VC

You need to see if they will help you out in a tight spot, reports Tech in Asia

5 things to keep in mind when looking for the right VC
Eric Tan
Last Updated : Dec 26 2016 | 9:05 AM IST
These are five key questions that founders should consider when they are deciding if they should take money from VCs.

Operational experience

Do they have the operational and team building experience to advise you on the dos and don’ts of running a start-up? A great VC will be able to provide relevant been-there-done-that experiences when you are facing a sales bottleneck or recruitment problem.

A great VC can help you stay focused and prioritise the important tasks.

Scaling experience

Do they have the relevant scaling experience (or necessary network) to help you grow your business when you need to scale to another market?

Stance on funding

What is their stance on follow-on funding? How much help will they give to help you raise a subsequent, larger round with their connections with the downstream VC?


Wide network

Do they have the relevant sales network to help you sell your business or strike partnerships with key players in the space? This is probably the most valuable asset a VC can offer to their portfolio companies. For example, once you achieve product-market fit, will they be able to introduce you to bigger potential clients or form relationships with potential channel partners?

Helping hand

How much support will they give you when you are in trouble? This is a very hard question, but I would argue it’s one of the most, if not the most, pivotal question to answer. Founders know that starting up a new venture is an arduous journey and there are millions of ups and downs that you need to deal with. Thus, a healthy support system is very important.
This is an excerpt from the article published on Tech In Asia. You can read the full article here.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 26 2016 | 9:05 AM IST

Next Story