That drags down the overall performance of the portfolio. Most VCs do their best to keep a company afloat. Venture capitalists don't like signing nondisclosure agreements . Good ideas often arise in more than one place. If we sign overlapping nondisclosure agreements, it can become impossible to work with a company without violating covenants with someone else.
Venture capitalists are impossible to get on the phone.
In the early stages, it's far more effective to communicate electronically. After the investment, the VC will return your call. It's our money, too. Stephen Fleming is general partner of Alliance Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in life sciences and IT startups. The Graduates Going Once, Going Twice Take My IPO . . .