UPDATE: Venture Capital Bootcamp registration is now open.
Click here to register for Venture Capital Bootcamp
Next week, I'll be opening up registration for my new online training program, Venture Capital Bootcamp.
But before I do that, I wanted to give you an overview of what we'll be covering together.
Here's What's Included...
Venture Capital Bootcamp is a four-week interactive e-class where I'll guide you step-by-step through the process of raising venture capital, from start to finish.
The reason VC Bootcamp is a 4-week program is because there are 4 critical steps to the venture capital fundraising process.
If you're serious about raising venture capital, you need to go through each of these four steps. And if you ignore any of these steps, you will sabotage your chances of getting funded.
There's a lot to learn, but I'll be there with you every step of the way, giving you all of my best practices and proven techniques.
Here's an overview of what we'll be covering each week...
Week 1: Preparing to Raise Venture Capital
First, we'll cover Venture Capital 101 including:
* Key venture capital terminology you must know to get funded
* What you must accomplish BEFORE you can raise venture capital
* How angel investors can help you attract venture funding
* Why you should stop obsessing about giving up equity ownership
* And more...
Next, I'll explain What Venture Capitalists Really Want, including:
* The exact criteria VCs will use to judge your company
* How you must position your company in order to attract venture capital
* The 2:6:2 rule of venture capital (and how to use it to your advantage)
* And more...
Next, I'll give you my best practices for creating all of your Venture Capital
Marketing & Presentation Materials... including:
* 3 simple keys to a powerful elevator pitch
* How to construct a business plan that will impress venture capitalists
* The 3 things you must accomplish in your Executive Summary
* And more...
NOTE: Don't worry if you haven't created all of your VC materials yet.
During VC Bootcamp, I'll show you how to create them quickly and easily.
Then it's on to Week 2...
Week 2: Finding and Contacting Venture Capitalists
First, I'll show you How to Identify the Right Venture Capital Firms, including:
* Why all VCs are not created equal
* 3 techniques you must use when creating your VC list
* How to target the right individual to contact at each VC firm
* How to tell if a VC is serious about funding you (or just wasting your time)
* And more...
And then, I'll show you How to Contact Venture Capitalists, including:
* "Rookie" mistakes you must avoid when contacting venture capitalists
* The 3 surefire ways to "cut through the clutter," so you get more VC meetings
* How to use blogs and social networking websites to find and contact VCs
* What it means to "over-shop" your deal and how to avoid this like the plague
* And more...
Then it's on to Week 3...
Week 3: How to Pitch Venture Capitalists
This is the most important part of the process because no matter how many VC meetings you set up, you won't get a dime of funding unless you have a great VC pitch.
That's why we'll be focusing an entire week on your venture capital pitch.
You'll learn:
* How to make sure you're totally prepared for your VC meeting
* The 10 things you must cover in your VC pitch
* How to protect your business ideas when meeting with VCs
* What NOT to say during a VC meeting
* The best way to follow-up with VCs AFTER you meet with them
* And more...
Week 4: How to Negotiate with Venture Capitalists
By this point, you've impressed VCs, and they're interested in writing you a check. But you haven't sealed the deal yet. And if you fail to negotiate the right terms, it can mean disaster for both your company's future and your ability to "cash out"...
The deal terms are often the difference between you eventually receiving a personal check for millions (when you later sell your company or go public) or losing control of your company.
The stakes are very high - so you can't afford to screw this up!
In this final week, you'll learn:
* How to maximize your valuation (so you retain equity & control)
* What to watch out for in your venture capital "term sheet"
* How to prepare for venture capital due diligence, so it goes smoothly
* When to hire a lawyer
* How to position your company for follow-on rounds of funding
* And more...
As you can see, I've structured Venture Capital Bootcamp so that, by the end of Week 4, you will have everything you need to successfully raise venture capital.
I hope that gives you a better idea of what you'll learn during VC Bootcamp. I'll be in touch with more details as we get ready to open the doors (next week).
Dave
P.S. VC Bootcamp attendance will be strictly limited, because of the amount of personal attention we'll give each participant.
If you'd like to be the first to know when we open up registration, then join the Priority Notification List.