Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Where Have All the Venture Capitalists Gone?

Posted by Cliff on from the show-me-tha-money dept.

artlu asks: "I have a great idea for a dotcom company, and I just started to execute the initial stages of my business plan. I developed the initial website, gained a user base, and am about to incorporate in Florida. Now I need to find a venture capitalist! However, every capitalist I approach is fearful of dotcoms. I ask the Slashdot community: How do I find a post-bubble dotcom investor?"

2 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe it is you? by passthecrackpipe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There are still plenty of VC's around - and they have plenty of cash as well! Maybe it is you? Maybe they think your idea sucks? giving away more things for free? they know that that is an exceptionally difficult business model to pull off, and will only work when you have some exceptionally good services to give away.

    In your case, there is little that is unique, and you don't seem to have any USP's (unique selling points), anything that I can't already get elsewhere, as part of a larger service, and most importantly, readily visible revenue stream.

    I'm sorry to be blunt and harsh mate, but the VC's are still there, they are just talking to people with a better plan......

    --
    People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
  2. Maybe there's a reason why they're scared. by rjh · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Like, for instance, you're talking about a financial-securities website. If I were Joe Venture Capitalist and you came to me with a financial-securities idea, here are the questions I'd ask you before I'd even look at your business plan. Don't have good answers? Bye. Want your business plan back?
    • Who's representing you? Don't have legal counsel lined up? You're opening a securities firm and you don't have a securities lawyer hired? Buhbye.
    • Who among your executives is an SEC-licensed broker or agent? Nobody? Buhbye.
    • From where did you receive your MBA? Wait, you're trying to run a securities firm and you don't have an MBA in an executive position? Oh, right, right, you have "extensive trading experience". Right. Just like every other daytrader who lost his shirt. No MBA, no investment. Buhbye.
    • What services are you offering which nobody else offers? You aren't offering unique services? Buhbye.
    Those questions aren't nice, but those are questions which will be asked straightoff, and if you don't have good answers for them you won't even get your foot in the door.