Ask HN: Hey VCs, do you mind if ppl intro themselves when you're out at a bar?

13 points by wimpycofounder 14 years ago | 8 comments

Went to a talk by a VC who is very active in my area. Didn't get a chance to introduce myself after the talk (there were < 25 ppl at the talk but the VC had to run). A few hours later, was out for drinks with a friend and saw he was at the same bar but talking with someone else.<p>Discussion ensued with my buddies around whether or not I should intro myself considering I didn't have a chance earlier in the day, but I ultimately decided against it. What say you: Should I have? I ask for the next time I'm in this situation.

fredwilson 14 years ago |

this was a really good question @wimpy

i turned my answer into a blog post

http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/12/should-you-introduce-yoursel...

wimpycofounder 14 years ago | |

Wow thanks for the clarification, Fred. Awesome to get some perspective from someone who deals with this day in and day out!

willvarfar 14 years ago |

Curious tangent:

What's better, to introduce yourself to a VC or to be introduced to a VC by a gushing shared acquaintance?

(If being introduced, then this leads to the strategy of introducing yourself to those who mingle with the VCs, rather than directly to the VCs themselves...)

ig1 14 years ago | |

Shared acquaintance, no question.

chris_dcosta 14 years ago | | |

Well actually I disagree, but I know exactly where your coming from.

The thing is that we imagine that VCs get approached all the time by people with alot more balls than us. We also imagine that they hate a direct approach from a stranger and would much prefer you to be introduced through their network. We all know that's what networks are for right?

The point is we imagine this. We project how we might feel in their shoes, but the real truth is we can never know for sure how they will react. It's their job after all to find the talent!

I remember having the exact same conversation with musicians years ago about approaching the A&R guy. When I did get the balls to do it, you know what, he didn't sign me, BUT he didn't ignore me either, and we had a great conversation and I invited him to a few gigs.

How much time would I have wasted looking for an intermediary, when all he wanted was to "discover" the next big thing. Isn't that what VCs want too?

willvarfar 14 years ago | | |

I imagine so too.

So instead of debating whether to approach the VC alone, the tactic would be to start by glancing around for a shared acquaintance who you will then idly innocently ask if VC is indeed VC and so on until engineering a favourable introduction...

Not that I'm fond of slimy social networking myself, of course