In broadening the horizons a bit for SEOmoz's articles, I've landed an interview with two of the managing partners and co-founders of a mid-size venture capital fund (meaning they invest tens of millions of dollars each year) - very cool stuff. I'll be asking them all the basics about the dot-com crash, current investment levels, how their field functions and what they think about "Web 2.0".
However, I'd love to have some feedback on any questions you'd like to hear answered by folks who help decide where investment capital in the tech field flows to - just leave comments below, and I'll be sure to include them.
Rand I look forward to this one. I second all of RMC's questions. Are they looking to build companies with the goal of selling them, like the last boom... or with a more long term approach?
I got to agree with EGOL on this.
Biggest success/biggest failure.
I'd like to hear a story about how one of their clients got started, pulled things together and how it turned out. Step-by-step. Give us an idea of what it takes to do this and what is the reward.
It will be interesting to know how VCs will react to Google's stock slide. Surely, that would have an effect on the overall Web2.0 investment climate.
* How to apply / get noticed by VC investors?
* What kind of documentation & calculations are required to get started?
* What they expect /look for in return for their investment (hard figures, something else)? * Will they take control of business ? How long commitments do they expect/make?
Well, if it were me, I'd start with "can I have 40 grand?"
Serriously, after the buble burst and now that we're on a new "boon" (maybe, hehe) what are investors looking at to determine if they will give Internet-based businesses financing?
What particular traits do they want to see? Is it the idea? Leadership? Who's on board? Expected ROI? Business model? Or...?
What metrics interest them? (Last time it was fuzzy stuff like "hits" and "eyeballs")
And if say, Donna, came up with an earth-shattering idea, how should she go about getting funding?
What do we need to do to be prepared before seeing the money guys?
BTW - Great idea to go in this interesting new direction.