The truth about onboarding costs
Conventional wisdom says that web-based companies must be scalable on all levels. Start-ups should avoid any kind of manual intervention or heavy lifting to acquire, onboard or retain users… after all, users automatically flock to, sign-up to and stay with great products. However, as we’ve seen time and time again, conventional wisdom doesn’t always know […]
Selling to the enterprise: “Sell to few” vs. “sell to many”?
A key investment thesis here at Version One is that we like to invest in companies that “sell to many” over companies that “sell to few.” This preference isn’t necessarily due to market size, but rather the structure of the market: are there only a few dozen customers that might buy your product or are […]
It’s not easy to sell into an industry being disrupted
Looking to sell into an industry that’s currently undergoing disruption? At first glance, it sounds like a great idea. After all, companies getting disrupted are experiencing some very real challenges and pain points; they need to adapt quickly and could be looking for that silver bullet to save them. During my time at AbeBooks, I […]
The best way to approach investors: four tips
When you’re on the hunt for funding, it’s natural that you want to get things moving as quickly as possible. However, identifying and approaching the right investor should be a measured process. Blasting the same quick email to a dozen investors will never work in your favor. The average investor receives hundreds of pitches each […]
Why Venture Capital is the Perfect Fit for Me
If you told me a few months ago that the next chapter in my career would be in venture, I may not have believed you. But now, it makes perfect sense. Working on my PhD was often a lonely activity. I found myself seeking human interaction by leading every committee, captaining every team, and teaching […]