Ask HN: How do you get to VCs if you don't live in the valley? Assuming you don't live in any of the major US tech spots (SF/SV/NY/etc), and you don't have any existing "relationships" with VCs, advisors, mentors, or incubators, how do you get yourself and your product in front of the people who can help you go to the next level? AngelList, Caplinked, and the rest all appear to require that you have an existing network in place to be remotely useful. |
If you gave some details about where you are and the nature of your startup, it might be easier to give practical advice.
What about advice for UK startups, or even Scottish startups?
If you're in London a number of VCs run open-hours where anyone can come along and meet them.
You should think of joining an incubator in terms of: if we joined this incubator would they increase the value of our business by substantially more than 6% that they'll take (or whatever stake). And if so you should consider joining one.
Vancouver does have significant conferences, for example the GROW conference in August had a pretty high-profile list of speakers and attendees. There have been at least a dozen or so companies in Vancouver who've raised VC rounds this year.
Almost all successful startups and tech companies will have connections to VCs (regardless if they were venture funded or not), so one good route would be to network with the founders of the successful startups in Vancouver and get introductions to VCs from them.
Alternatively, you can fly out to different conferences in order to meet them in person to kickstart the relationship.
I find it's a delicate balance. You have to work on the product but you need to go out and meet people too.