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…