Separately, why there isn't a tool used by the mortgage broker to facilitate this, I have no idea. It's a nightmare of documents and tasks that makes the whole process 8 times as long.

There’s a million tools like this out there but brokers just want to get deals closed so they fall back to whatever is preferred by the borrower which is always email.

Tweak based on feedback is exactly right!

Only problem is that VCs normally don't give any!

What I look for is behavior rather than verbal feedback. I know where I have hit spots in the presentation. If they don't react, then they are not as strong as I thought. If they react negatively, I know I didn't explain them well.

But yes, most VCs will never bother follow-up.

They actually weren't "grading" per say. They were answering questions like "Have you seen anything else like this?" and rating teams with multiple choice answers like "This is one of the best teams I've seen." So, they kind of know how a company did, but it's not like they were looking at their own scores at the end.

So psyched for Daniela and Jorge--this is the product they had in mind when they first started the company.

It's so dangerous to look at the exceptions to the rule and extrapolate out strategy. How much money did they raise before revenue? Is it a good strategy to start a business by saying "Step 1, raise $100mm in VC money." That's not realistic for most people, so probably not a good strategy to apply to your business.

Part of the problem is that pitching VCs and investors is a well documented process these days. It feels easier. Plus, you're selling a dream/spin/hope/promise... and that you believe in. Taking money for a product means you believe the product is worth it--and often times entrepreneurs see how bad the product might be in the early stages, and feel hesitant to ask for money for it. They might just assume it's at a state where no one one would actually pay. Also, asking for revenue and getting a no means it's just not working--and that's scarier than asking for investor money, getting a no, and just assuming that guy just "didn't get it".

haha... not the first time I've heard it and it never ceases to be hilarious.

"If you're a nobody, no investor wants to talk to you."

Well, sure if you go in with the pitch that you are, in fact, a nobody, then I'd certainly be less interested. Who wants to talk to someone who isn't confident that what they're doing with their time is awesome? Tell me why you're awesome... and if you're in and around NYC, I'd be happy to make some time.

Maybe I just haven't learned the proper bluster when talking to investors... I really believe my idea is awesome, that I and my co-founders have solid skills, and that our startup will succeed with or without investors (but will succeed faster with funding). I feel anything else is BS that investors especially will see through, or am I missing something?

Alas, I am in the Triangle area of NC, but I'd be happy to chat via skype!

Investors need to hear the BS. You should be pitching a billion-dollar idea, even if that's phase 3 of your plan.

Also, NC is sadly outside the seed stage bubble. If you have traction, you may get a meeting, but then you won't need it.

I did get to meet a lot of entrepreneurs there... but I knew her, so I said hello.

I let the entrepreneur finish b/c I didn't want to interrupt and it was only two min anyway.

First Round Capital (my employer) Floodgate Techstars

Best way to find out the value of each is to talk to people who have worked directly with each.