One Entrepreneur's Take on VCs

ax - i - om n. A self-evident or universally recognized truth.

This morning, I came across a list of axioms regarding venture capitalists posted by an entrepreneur who calls himself "jetskier."  The following are my favorites.  Substitute "product capitalist" or "big company" for "VC" as you see fit.

• If you show a VC a potential $1B market, they won't believe you.  If you show a VC a potential $100M market, they will consider the market to be too small.
• Patents are important as a barrier to entry only if you don't have any.  Otherwise, they are considered unimportant.
• Investments outside the comfort zone will not be considered, even if potentially lucrative.  Investments inside the comfort zone will not be considered, as there is too much competitive pressure.
• Entrepreneurs are a dime-a-dozen; VCs are a rare breed.
• Any idea worthy of investment must be fatally flawed in some respect.
• No means "no," and yes means "maybe."