How to impress VCs (Venture Capitalists)?

I recently watched a video on TED talks site. It is a presentation given by David S Rose, who is a serial entrepreneur. The talk is about how to impress a VC with your presentation so that he right away invests in your business! This is a very good presentation with a lot of information useful to people who are trying to sell their idea. In this talk first he tells about the qualities a VC looks in you and your business. Second part is regarding how to impress VC with the presentation skills.

When someone presents his/her business proposition to VC for funds, normally one gets only few minutes to explain the business and the people involved in it. In this short period he needs to show how fruitful is the idea, what is the experience he has, how competitive is the product and most of all how passionate he is about his project. Basically David has listed 10 points, which a VC looks in the business.

1. Integrity
2. Passion
3. Experience
4. Knowledge
5. Skill
6. Leadership
7. Commitment
8. Vision
9. Realism
10. Coachability

Passion with skill is the basic formula for success. Passion is the desire, zeal and enthusiasm for one’s work. Passion brings sense of ownership. If one is not passionate about what he might not be doing it with interest. Experience is very helpful for business; even if he has failed earlier the experience will help not to make the mistakes again. Skill and knowledge about the business is bare necessity when a new venture is started. Knowledge includes the technical know how about business. Skills will include technical, marketing and management skills. Leadership is the ability to motivate the team from making the idea to concrete product. Commitment is one of the essential characteristics that VC looks in you. Passion brings commitment to your business. Commitment is creating own obligations to make the business successful. Vision caters to the long-term goals of the business. Realism, one needs to realistic in his goals. Coachability is the quality expected by VC, where you are open to learn from his experience!

In any business (not just to show the presentation to VC and get money!) one need to have the passion, knowledge, skill, commitment, vision and realistic goals to succeed.

I really liked the short presentation given by David S Rose. He is an angel investor in New York. You can get more information about his venture in the following sites
1. http://www.newyorkangels.com/default.html
2. http://www.rose.vc/

The presentation can be found on the TED website
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_s_rose_on_pitching_to_vcs.html