Rajeev Madhav speaks on Startups and Venture Funding

In this exciting, absolutely informative session on Startups & VC Funding, Rajeev spoke to us exclusively on various topics related to Startups. 

I categorized them into 3 major buckets: Idea, Team and Funds. 

1) There are no blueprints to get funding. If you have a good idea,  approaching a VC through a trusted source or a referral is the first and most important step to get VC's attention

2) It is important to find the best fit VC for your ideas as not all VC funds are made the same.

3) When listening to your ideas, VCs are always looking for the thought process behind the idea and the homework that has gone behind it.

4) The first wave is usually a good time to ride than a second wave where the market potentially gets over crowded and over funded. 

5) In a founder, VCs are looking for someone who is a good team player, that is willing to form a great team and share the rewards/stakes.

6) Startups are hard work and requires significant sacrifice on all fronts. A lot of new entrants seem to think Startups are "cool" but the real deal is startups are just hard work.

7) It is important to build a culture of execution where everyone is hands on and can talk about the product/technology with depth. Culture is very important.

8) Companies do not get sold, they get acquired. Execute well and the right deals will come. Do not enter a startup with an end goal of IPO/M&A from Day One.

9) Even when you nothing but just an idea, when it comes to securing funds, there is tough negotiation. So founders need to know their numbers very well.

10) VCs do enough due diligence - hence have a clean track record and reliable referernces.

11) Even solopreneurs with no team to give with them can secure funds, if they can show a path to forming a team eventually.

12) A founder's focus should always be to increase the total value of the company ; which would mean forecast well for the next 2-3 quarters, 

13) VCs never want to fire a founder unless there is a huge gap in action Vs plan.

14) In terms of exit, if a idea is not working take the VCs help and either transition or optimize.

15) VCs even help resolve conflicts among founders.

Ultimately VCs take a lot more risks and responsibilities when funding someone else's idea Vs running their own startup. It is high time to appreciate that.