Top mistakes entrepreneurs make when pitching

Cali Tran discusses mistakes entrepreneurs make when looking to get funded

I spoke with Cali Tran, a principal at North Bridge Venture Partners, at the September Vator Splash event, and he mentioned some of the top mistakes that entrepreneurs make when trying to get funded.  Many, for example, don't do their research ahead of time and simply deliver their pitch without stopping to consider the different interests of the investors to whom they're pitching.  Cali points out in this interview that investors are like entrepreneurs--they have different interests and incentives and it is really in the best interest of an entrepreneur to do research ahead of time to make sure that he/she has the best chance of success.

We also talked about what kinds of startups Northbridge invests in and what the firm looks for in entrepreneurs. Northbridge primarily invests in early stage startups and looks for entrepreneurs who demonstrate passion and conviction about their company. Specifically, the company looks for an entrepreneur who is so confident in his or her idea that he/she is willing to make the irrational leap of leaving a stable job to develop that idea.  And the idea, Cali notes, should be original. It shouldn't be another "me-too" startup.