Dropkick Your VC if They Don’t Make Introductions (10-Point Checklist)

Introductions are the currency of startups and venture capital

I was recently talking to a talented founder who raised a large seed round a bit ago, is executing well and now out raising more. I asked him if he was happy with the vc who led his seed round. His response was “Meh. He didn’t connect me to any of the people he said he could.”

Introductions are the currency of startups and venture capital. The best founding teams select investors based on their ability to help and connect to other customers, startups, talent, etc., not because they are willing to write a large check. The exponential power of investors around the table who surround the startup with helpful industry connections is greater than any capital in the bank.

Here is a checklist to judge vcs in this area:

1) Upon meeting you, are they constantly asking if you know “this” person or “that” startup? In an investor’s head, the startup’s model should remind them of numerous other startups or customers who could partner with them or use their product.

2) Will the vc make an introduction even if he or she hasn’t invested in the company? Good vcs don’t hold back introductions as barter for getting in a round, they just help regardless.

3) Do your conversations with these vcs tend to be all over the place but extremely helpful? The vc should have numerous ideas popping into his or her mind and constantly spewing out ideas.

4) Is the quality of the introduction useful? Connecting shouldn’t be done for a vc’s personal gain or putting chips in their bank.

5) Does the person the vc connects you to have good things to say about the vc? People don’t connect others to those they have burned bridges with — you’ll find out more and more about the vc through these intros.

6) Is the manner in which they go about introducing you respectful? Instead of just blindly firing out introductions to a founder — which he or she feels must be taken — a vc should always ask both sides first then introduce and get out of the way.

7) Do they follow up quickly with suggested introductions? If not then they were just bloviating for attention, can’t really make the intro or just lazy.

8) Do you get introductions at random times? Vcs should be thinking of their startup community constantly, so intros should come not just around meetings or updates.

9) Does the vc call himself/herself a “connector?” The best founders don’t call themselves “innovators” so run away if you hear an investor drop this.

10) Does the vc respond to you in a timely manner? A vc’s notecard of their 3-5 most important things better put their founders on that list — if your vc is hard to reach then you’re not important to him/her.

Connecting (which always leads to connected) vcs are apparent to all — it’s in their blood. The passion of helping build disruptive businesses is evident and they just can’t help themselves from introducing teams to quality leads whenever possible.

Surround yourself with these kinds of people and watch your world open up.