HOW TO ACE YOUR FIRST VC MEETINGS

Jenny Fielding has taken meetings with entrepreneurs all over the world. She says the founders who make the best impression are those who are willing to go off-script.

- by MORGAN LAVOIE

Entering into the world of venture capital for the first time can be overwhelming. How do you show investors you have what they're looking for? What even are they looking for? Jenny Fielding knows. She is a cofounder of Everywhere Ventures, a globally oriented seed and pre-seed fund backing high-potential founders, and she has a wealth of experience from the other side of the conference table. Here, Fielding offers her best advice on how to make a positive first impression.

Let's talk about the first meeting—which can be very intimidating. A lot of founders think the ideal outcome is a check, when it actually might be a second meeting. What's the best mentality to have when going in?

Try to make a personal connection. Get to know each other and how you'd interact. Yes, you will be talking about your business, but really let your own qualities shine through, because that's what's very attractive to investors. For instance, one of the things investors look for is whether you can steer the conversation in a friendly way.