[PaybackTony]

Perhaps buried in these comments is this but after reading a lot of the "takeaways" many people had from this I have to say the reality is much simpler.

People (Customers, VCs, Entrepreneurs) can empathize or sympathize with stories. They can't with ideas. It's really that simple. It wasn't the outburst or the emotion. It's the story.

If your idea doesn't have a genuine story, it's not likely to end up a genuine business.

[drclau]

I find it odd how much people tend to move the responsibility for obtaining funding on the founders. No doubt the quality (for lack of a better word) of the founders is important. But what about VCs that are actually capable of seeing beyond a mere elevator pitch? Are there such VCs anymore? Or did it all end up as a game of selling your project/product/idea to some clueless person or fund that has the money?

[tyre]

There absolutely are good VCs. It’s probably about a bell curve, like anything else.

Most VCs you’ll meet are nice people and mediocre at what they do. They have money, which for many startups is enough of a reason to work with them.

There is a remarkable difference between partners at Sequoia, Greylock, Benchmark vs. a random fund.

[xyzelement]

>> But what about VCs that are actually capable of seeing beyond a mere elevator pitch?

I think in any communication, the "burden" of clarity is on the person with more information.

You think you see a real problem. You think you have an idea for how to solve it. You think you are the right person to execute on it. All of that state exists in your mind as a founder, and it's the reason you're standing before the VC.

The VC is experienced in getting these answers out of people because that's what they do all day. As a founder, on the "best" case scenario, you make it easy for the VC to see it. At worst case, you make it so hard that they can't "pull" it out of you despite their best effort.

If they can't get this answer out of you, why would they invest? Why would they think you "have it" when you are not showing it?

[drclau]

I don’t disagree on the importance of communication.

But I have to say, your message seems quite biased towards the VC. Surely not all VCs are created equal. Just as not all founders are equally capable in communicating ideas, I’m sure not all VCs are equally capable in understanding ideas.

[gnicholas]

Sure, VCs should look for good ideas that are poorly communicated. But it's no surprise that VCs would prioritize funding a good idea that is well-communicated. A founder needs to be able to communicate the value prop to other funders, customers, journalists, awards committees, etc. Being able to communicate via an elevator pitch or conversation is critically important to the success of a startup.

[garrickvanburen]

I’ll add, a genuine story that the Founder is apart of.