Over the last 3 months, I've had more than 40 phone calls with partners at well-known VC firms, dozens of in-person meetings, follow-on meetings and partner meetings. We're nearing the end of the process and I'm wondering how much is smart to share.
As background, I wrote this post - http://www.seomoz.org/blog/my-startup-experience-vc-entrepreneurship-selfanalysis-the-road-ahead - which describes why we went out for funding and gives a good sense of the transparency I typically like to have. Transparency is also a core value for my company and I feel fairly confident that sharing the experience of going up and down Sand Hill Road would add quite a bit for aspiring entrepreneurs and those curious about the VC environment (particularly the current climate).
Specifically, I'm wondering if it's wise to share:
- Names of the firms (or even partners) that I talked to
- Specifics about why folks were or weren't interested
- Criticisms they gave
- Sharing our investor deck (perhaps not entirely, but in parts) along with advice on how I'd improve it (after giving the pitch so many times)
- Details of our situation (amount sought, pre-money valuation, etc.)
On one side, I recognize that problems might arise from sharing too much, but it also seems likely (and we've always had positive experiences) that it could provide benefits and even garner additional value for future endeavors.
Looking forward to all of your thoughts - thanks!
