Where to Meet Investors: 8 Founders Describe The Most Unusual Places They've Met VCs

YEC
Fri, 27 Sep 2024 19:33:58 +0000
Business-finance, Vc, Vc-funding, Vc-investing, Vc-investment, Venture-capital, Venture-capitalists, Venture-funding, Venture-capital-funding

In business especially, you never know where life will take you. Never underestimate the power of a coffee run or a trip to the supermarket. After all, elevator pitches aren't only good for elevators.

In order to find out the most unusual places startup founders have met investors and advisors, we asked a panel of eight entrepreneurs the following question:

Q. What's the most unusual place you met an investor or advisor?

Their best answers are below:

1. A Beauty Boutique

- Doreen Bloch, Poshly Inc.

2. A Magazine Cover

I was in a cab on the way to the airport at 4 a.m., and I was using a Dutch business magazine to keep me awake. Fascinated by an interview with an entrepreneur featured on the cover, I sent him an email a week after returning home. He invested in our company three months later.

- Tyler Arnold, SimplySocial Inc.

3. Starbucks

- Ioannis Verdelis, Syntellia

4. A Neighborhood Potluck

- Martina Welke, Zealyst

5. The Bathroom Line

Meeting an amazing mentor at the Robert Verdi Lounge is just proof that showing up and being present is half the battle. The more you get out and meet people, the better, which is why I'm always pushing myself to meet new people, step out of my comfort zone and network. You never know who you'll meet, what amazing advice you'll receive and what powerful and influential friendships you may find.

- Rebecca Zorowitz, Ooh La La Candy

6. A Wedding

- Benish Shah, Before the Label

7. His House

Years ago, I met an investor at his very, very large house. He was barefoot and insisted I followed suit, so I bared my feet and pitched Ustream to him for the first time. I quickly forgot about the initial, seemingly awkward request because we chatted for a while about the evolving live video streaming industry.

- Brad Hunstable, Ustream, Inc

8. A Party in Miami

- Scott Ferreira, MySocialCloud