TiE Boston

Thank you to everyone who came out last night for Investor Outlook Forum! A big thank you to @arentfox for sponsoring the event, and to our amazing panelists @RichDulude from @UnderscoreVC, @MaiaHeymann from @ConvergeVC, @chazard from @flybridge, and @rudina11 from @GlasswingVC!

“There are no causal coffee meetings” @MaiaHeymann in response to @chazard

“Relationship bulding does matter, but always be selling. VCs want to meet and learn, and watch you grow. Know you’re being evaluated - even if it’s just coffee” @MaiaHeymann

“There is no such thing as a casual meeting with an investor” -@chazard

“The #first #salesperson is typically the #founder. Then hire your first sales person, but they won’t be the person running your sales department 10 years from now. Know where you are on the sales learning curve” - Advice on sales from @chazard

“Sales people sniff out - like truffle hunters - the market. Their job is to interface with the market. You need someone that can translate what the customer wants in the product and not just build the product blind” -@RichDulude

Looking at the 4th generation of #tech #startups in #Boston, there have been more successful #B2B enterprises than #B2C - but that doesn’t mean that great #B2Cs don’t exist. @MaiaHeymann

Qualities of successful founders according to @MaiaHeymann: 1) recruiting people who are smarter than you 2) being able to communicate clearly to raise money

Top 3 mistakes founders make: 1) not moving on a toxic person fast enough -@chazard 2) going too broad too fast -@chazard 3) espdcially 1st time founders “a good meeting, revenue does not make” @rudina11

“Crazy in many ways is just the dispelling of why is this the right time and why am I the right founder” -@RichDulude

“There are now funds, like @GlasswingVC, that are for the ‘between’ companies” -@rudina11

“It’s a great time to be a #founder” -@chazard

Leverage your board. For the good and the bad. -@MaiaHeymann

“#VentureCapital isn’t the only path. If you want to be rich, #VentureCapital is right. If you want to be king, #VentureCapital isn’t right as there is another person in the room” -@chazard

When considering taking Venture Capital @chazard says “You have to understand the nature of your business and your personality.”

Venture Capital is a package - it comes headaches but also perks - but you have to remeber it is a package - @rudina11

Investment is a “partnership to build valuable enterprise”. Have a shared vision with milestones is key in being successful - @MaiaHeymann

“If you’re a founder, be sure to do your homework because the wrong person could be detrimental” - @chazard