Excited to be heading out to the Bay Area tomorrow for BlogHer, to meet some really amazing people around the area and to reconnect with friends. I’d really love the chance to meet you while I’m there. Here are some of the fun things going on. I hope you’ll consider saying hi.

(”Tweet-up” just means we’ll use Twitter to coordinate getting together for fun and networking. These are public events and all are welcome. RSVP at the links provided, or for HMB Ritz, just show up. Thanks!)

Friday & Saturday, July 18-19
San Francisco: BlogHer08 at the Westin St. Francis hotel. Very happy to meet this strong community of women bloggers to listen and learn.

Sunday, July 20
StartupDrinks SF 2-4 PM at the Medjool rooftop deck. Come support startup culture through this really fun decentralized networking phenom started by my buddy Andrew Hyde. RSVP and more information here.

Monday, July 21
Palo Alto Tweet-up: Breakfast in Palo Alto Joanie’s Cafe, 8 am. Yeah, it’s early but that will only make it more intimate. Please come wish Erica Douglass a HAPPY birthday. RSVP here
San Mateo Tweet-up: After Work Drinks at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. 5:30-7:30 pm. Sponsored in part by www.Qik.com (THANKS Bhaskar!) RSVP here

Tuesday, July 22
Half Moon Bay Tweet-up: Cocktails with Kathy Sierra, Robert Scoble, Francine Hardaway, JJ Toothman and YOU at the Half Moon Bay Ritz fire-ring by the ocean, 5:45 pm. (no RSVP link yet, just show up.)

Thursday, July 24
San Francisco Tweet-up: Coffee at Citizen Space, 9-11 am. I can’t wait to see Citizen Space, which is SF’s own entrant into the co-working revolution. Huge thanks to my friend and hero Tara Hunt for letting us all use the venue to meet and greet. RSVP here

So, I’m bouncing around Startup Weekend Boulder2 all weekend streaming, tweeting, recording & hosting as much social media as we can usefully create. There is a method to the madness. We want to bring anyone in the world into the Startup Weekend experience and let them actually engage with the live event and share their ideas.

It’s taking the lifecasting model, applying it to a live event, and incuding one hell of a return-path. We want the “audience” to actually become “remote participants.” Heck, our virtual team has even asked for their own project for the weekend already

Please check out www.mediacasters.tv for the full story.

I’ll post more thoughtfully later on what I think (hope?) the significance of this experiment might be…

Rick Segal spotted this gem by Stanley Bing.

Marc Andressen continues to thwack it out of the park with a few more thought-provoking entries on VC:

The PMarca Guide to Startups, part I: Why NOT to do a startup

Navigating an asteroid field is evidently quite tricky.

But seriously, you have to be ok with the overwhelming likelihood of failure. Not because anyone’s mean or against you. Not because it can’t be done. But because the odds are (again) overwhelmingly against you. If you know that and it’s still crucial to go for it, have at it.

For all the successful tech companies that made bazillions, there are bazillions who made nothing. Call it the long tail of startup failure. It happens everywhere: professional sports (sure Pedro makes ga-millions, but ga-millions of players never even make the minors), real estate investing (don’t get me started about “experts” who make all their money teaching others. If real estate’s so easy, why not teach others for a small cut of what they earn, instead of cash upfront? Some will make a lot, many will make nothing or lose money), network marketing, etc. etc. etc.

I ‘m not saying don’t try, I’m saying don’t be a dumbass naive about what you try to do.

The PMarca Guide to Startups, part II: When the VCs say “no”

ROTFL:

Being told “no” by VCs in 1999 is a lot different than being told “no” in 2002.

If you were told “no” in 1999, I’m sure you’re a wonderful person and you have huge potential and your mother loves you very much, but your plan really was seriously flawed.

If the layers of an onion are the layers of risk for your newco:

The whole theory of venture capital is that VCs are investing in risk — another term for venture capital is “risk capital” — but the reality is that VCs will only take on so much risk, and the best thing you can do to optimize your chances of raising money is to take out risk.

Peel away at the onion.

It can be difficult. It can sting. It can even make you cry.

Bonus: Also funny (from a link embedded in PMarca Part I)

Starting a business? Go subscribe to Marc Andreessen’s feed. Now.

So, you’re an entrepreneur. And you think you want Venture Capital. Because, you’re a venture. And you need capital. Right?

Marc Andreessen, stepping profoundly onto the blogging stage just this past week, has written an eloquent pair of posts on the truth about venture capitalists. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. The posts are thorough, candid and really, in a way, quite lovely in their honesty. He presents some simple and important insights about VC that any entrepreneur should consider before deciding that VC is their best capital development strategy.

There are so many misconceptions among entrepreneurs. I’ve even seen ‘us’ & ‘they’ mentalities, and a skewed focus on “getting VC investment” as the win. Um, starting and running a profitable company? That is the actual “win”? There are things that Venture Capital is good for, and others that it is not. No harm, no foul.

If you’re pursuing Venture Capital to finance your startup, then reading these posts is mandatory “understand your audience” homework.

Marc’s unblinking honesty is refreshing and educational, and is an absolute must read for anyone immersed in the capital development process. This entire passage on why a VC may turn you down, and what you can learn if many do, is just great (my emphasis added):

One, she can’t see the leverage — she can’t see you getting to a sale or IPO with a credible prospect of a 10x return within 4 to 6 years. If she can’t see this, and 10 of her peers at other firms can’t see it, then you may want to revisit your fundamental business model assumptions and try to understand what’s missing.

Remember, it’s in her best interest to see the full potential in your business — she is looking for high-potential startups in which to invest.

Two, she thinks that what you’re doing is too early or unproven.

This is the one that drives entrepreneurs nuts. Isn’t the whole point of venture capital to make risky investments in unproven technologies and markets?

Unfortunately, that’s life — sometimes things are simply too early for venture capital. In that case, develop your idea further with bootstrap or angel funding and then take it back to the VCs later with more proof points.

Three, she isn’t convinced that you’ve assembled the right team to go after the opportunity. This usually means she doesn’t think your technical founder(s) are strong enough, or she doesn’t think your founding CEO is strong enough. Again, it’s in her best interest to see the potential in the team if it’s there — so if she and 10 of her peers pass on your startup because of concerns about the team, then you may want to rethink your team.

Guys, when the fit is right, they can actually be on your side…

Finally, keep in mind:

A venture capitalist’s ideal investment is the one that would be a huge success without her.

Before you spend a lot of time and energy lining up meetings with prospective investors, be clear: Do you really need venture capital? Do Venture Capitalists need you? If both are truly a “yes” your job just got much easier. If you even think either might be a no, now would be a good time to rethink your strategy…

Attention (non-stealth) startups! Go check out Vator.TV (”the YouTube for entrepreneurs”) and then start working on a pitch for it. Is the Angel you dream of going to find you this way and end all your money problems? Yeah, right. But even if nobody ever *found* you there, this is a great chance to nail your pitch.

1. Keep it short and rock their interest (read yesterday’s post and especially the Update #2 link!).

2. Once your pitch is up, send links to interested people for some quick 411 on your deal.

3. Take a good look at what is already on the site, especially in your “space,” to get tight on what works and what does not.

4. Tag your post well so it gets FOUND.

5. Do NOT let your post go stale. When your pitch gets better, re-post, and continue to improve.

BONUS: Send advisors, investors, mom, etc. the link to your pitch and ask them for feedback!

Tip o’ the pitch podium to Tony Hung of DJI

Going after VC? “Must-read” posts from Attorney/former VC Suzie Dingwall Williams at Venture Law Lines and Rick Segal at Post Money Value:

Why VCs Take Meetings; The “Great Meeting” With Money

Why’d you get the meeting? Fine-tune your objective, and ergo, your pitch.

Notice how little they talk about your company’s story, and how much they talk about your audience. Be smart about this to use even throwaway “favor” meetings to your advantage (or to skip un-strategic ones). Suzie:

Many of these meetings resulted in longer term relationships, even if our interest was not in making an investment. Good business development? Yes. But a useful part of your search for near term money? Probably not.

Rick’s gem:

Prepare, practice, rinse -n- repeat. And here’s a tip if you really want to do extra credit homework: Speak to people who have pitched and gotten a formal no. Ask them about the experience as that data is even more telling then the funded CEO who is (duh) singing the high praises of the VC firm.

Both Rick and Suzie will talk VC Pitching at MESH tomorrow. Watch this space for more…

Get to the point. Or else.

(nod of thanks to Seth Levine, Gordon Whyte and David Teten for blogging about these tip sheets when I first put them on my site)

1. Don’t say “Um.” Look, don’t freak out over bad verbal habits. Minimize them, but trying too hard can blow your cool.

2. One slide per minute. If you have even close to that we’ll hit you. You shouldn’t have anywhere near that many. Unless you know what you’re doing.

3. Memorize your speech. Recital is not effective communication

4. What you say is just 7% of your credibility. Whomever told you that owes you every penny you paid them.

5. Use your full time slot. Quality, not quantity. Be succinct. Be alluring. Make them want to follow-up.

6. End with a summary slide. End by encouraging the next steps in the process.

7. Speak up. Make yourself heard, but more importantly vary your tone, speed, volume & inflection to maintain audience attention.

8. Start by introducing yourself. You just got introduced. Open with some drama (or at least excitement) and get right to the “ah-ha.”

9. Answer every question they might possibly have. Aim to be complete, but don’t overkill. Your pitch is like an executive summary.

10. Sum the years’ experience on your team. 40+ years, wow! Does that mean 10 schmucks with 4 years’ each or 3 with 13 1/3?

11. Make your pitch into a story. “Story” is a hot right now, but be judicious. Don’t just string stories together or be contrived, use 1 (maybe 2) and use other techniques too, like comparisons to convey unfamiliar material in terms of something listeners already understand. (Oh and as always, give something extra)

(nod of thanks to Seth Levine, Gordon Whyte and David Teten for blogging about these tip sheets when I first put them on my site)

1. Get to the “ah-ha” immediately: Why is your business a great investment? What’s in it for investors?

2. Attend to audience and desired results first. Everything you say and show serves both or doesn’t belong in the pitch.

3. Cut the PowerPuke clutter – .ppt file is not “your presentation” it’s a visual aid. Keep only slides that illustrate your talk. Chuck the rest.

4. Those slides you kept? Chuck a couple more and streamline the rest. Try to read your slides from across the room. (Stuff the detail where it belongs – in an appendix of your business plan.)

5. Say something on slide titles – replace “Company History” with “Substantial Value Built” (Investors recognize a management team slide without you labeling it “Team” – use the title to tell them about your team.)

6. Prepare effectively. Practice in front of your team, in front of a camera, in front of a group of laypeople, get their feedback, refine the logic flow and try again.

7. Know your best style. Earnest, clear speaking beats stilted, overproduced and even “by the rules” reciting any day.

8. Interact with the audience. Refer to handouts, ask thought questions, make genuine eye contact. End by asking them to do something incremental like drop by the booth or website.

9. Ask yourself: How can I make it easier for these investors to do their jobs? (You’re in customer service and they’re the customer)

10. Features = characteristics (adjectives). Benefits = actions (verbs). Benefits matter the most. Know the difference.

11. Give a little something extra…