I think we should be respectful of the audience that this blog post is and isn't for -- where it says that VC's can be "quite persistent" asking for coffees, this kind of shows you the kind of audience this is written for. And yes, if you're the kind of person that in the words of the article:
>I would say “Hey, during these next couple months it will be very tough for me to meet in person, but I’d love to still help how I can. Can I help with anything over email and we can go from there?”
It turns out this was a great way to get to the point with people. Most people admitted they didn’t have anything pressing to discuss though some would respond with specific questions. One person let me know he was just interested in participating in our round whenever we raised money. We ended up contacting him when we did raise money and he did participate.
If you're the kind of person for whom "many VCs were extremely persistent", and for whom if you say, "is there anything I can do just over email?" and a VC writes back, "Yes, just let me know when I can send a check" (obviously not in these words), and then when you're raising money they do participate --
well, that is the kind of audience who has the money to hire people :)
So this blog post is very useful and helpful, but not for everyone.
Respectful? Give me a break, you've been successfully gas-lighted.
>where it says that VC's can be "quite persistent" asking for coffees
Lets be pragmatic. How many VC's are we talk about, 5? 10? Can we not read a little bit of a veiled humble brag into this point on the fact that the number isn't mentioned and that if the number is 5 that the author couldn't spare 5 hours over "multi months" to meet with someone signing checks? Which brings me on to-
>If you're the kind of person for whom "many VCs were extremely persistent"
What does this person do that they seem to fart rainbows when every one of the most talented engineers that I know has to hustle to get these sorts of doors opened? We can only assume that something else is at play.
Which brings me on to Op's point-
>in my experience people with 9-17 jobs don't have that kind of money to hire people.
This is entirely correct, most startups can't trade money for time but the author doesn't reveal her fountain of money which further undermines the blogpost.
I'm sorry I didn't see your reply sooner. if you see this in time to edit, please tone it down by two notches, come on. The OP (of the article) is here answering questions, and we're one community. you yourself are the article author in a few years if you want to be.
You know "what does this person do" because they are up-front about it: what they do is "Winnie, helping parents navigate the world with their children." Apparently within their network people really want to do that, and lots of VC's have kids, etc. (Many of the most famous ones do, often in the same age bracket.)
So welcome to our community, but please be a civil member in line with our rules. There's no distinction here between people. you can talk to VC's. you can literally talk to the blog author, they're here answering questions. people on this forum aren't born into wealth or the like (arguably for the most part they have had access to superlative education, but on the other hand much of it is self-taught.)
so try to be civil :)
I also share your frustration and agree:
> when every one of the most talented engineers that I know has to hustle to get these sorts of doors opened?
what is likely also at play (though the author can clarify for us) is their past enterprises or other businesses they had similar roles in. i.e. their track record.
How dare you. If someone wants to defend themselves they have every opportunity to do so but I (and I think the HN audience) don't appreciate being-
1. patronised about things like:
"this kind of shows you the kind of audience this is written for". How pathetic, as if there are some levels of access beyond which peons like us cannot comprehend.
and
2. Your concern trolling. Where I come from we believe in the scientific method and meritocracy. You are entitled to your opinions if you can defend them and your attempt to stifle discussion is reducing efficiency.
thanks for being here to answer questions! for the VC who reached out to you via email, who you deferred and then ended up participating in your round - did you have a past relationship with them? from where? where did they hear about you from, if you know?
I think we're trying to get a sense of what it takes to 'poop rainbows' (as my cousin comment said) and have VC's ask you to tell them when they can write their check :)
All information here is appreciated. We all aspire to be you!
I don't quite agree, your answer is changing the boundary conditions implied by the title. Saying you are the person VCs are bothering is just avoiding the hard problem, you are already successful at that point. It reminds me of how to become a millionaire broker, earn 2 millions and lose half of it on the exchange.
Declining VCs but meeting people for recruitment is seriously bad advice imo, which leads to my agreement with the other commenter, I felt this article was motivated by humble brag more than wanting to be helpful. Of course, it is entirely my interpretation.
Most people I know don't have the luxury to even quit her daily job just to have a shot at becoming an entrepreneur. Paying additional staff is completely out of the question.
>I would say “Hey, during these next couple months it will be very tough for me to meet in person, but I’d love to still help how I can. Can I help with anything over email and we can go from there?” It turns out this was a great way to get to the point with people. Most people admitted they didn’t have anything pressing to discuss though some would respond with specific questions. One person let me know he was just interested in participating in our round whenever we raised money. We ended up contacting him when we did raise money and he did participate.
If you're the kind of person for whom "many VCs were extremely persistent", and for whom if you say, "is there anything I can do just over email?" and a VC writes back, "Yes, just let me know when I can send a check" (obviously not in these words), and then when you're raising money they do participate --
well, that is the kind of audience who has the money to hire people :)
So this blog post is very useful and helpful, but not for everyone.