Venture capital is not necessarily given to the entrepreneur with the most extensive experience or the best ideas.  Instead, venture capital is often awarded to those professionals who learn to toot their own proverbial horn.  After all, venture capitalists won’t know that you are an authority unless you tell them.

 

Don’t be shy about your experience.  It is likely that you have special and focused knowledge about your industry based on your past education and work history. If you are trying to form an entrepreneurial business with venture capital in mind, you need to lay out all this information so venture capitalists can see why you are the best person for their investment dollars.

 

What Good is Demonstrated Expertise?

 

What can your demonstrated expertise do for you?

 

• Labels you as an authority

 

• Increases your visibility and value

 

• The better known you are, the easier it is to attract business

 

All of the above qualities are what venture capitalists seek in entrepreneurs.  Venture capitalist groups want to provide money to people who have solid experience, along with the business acumen to secure customers and succeed.  If you have proven past success with an innovation or are an authority on a particular business issue, you can bet venture capitalists want to talk to you about your entrepreneurial ideas.

 

How Do You Acquire Expertise?

 

How did you become so successful in your field?  Did you work in your industry for 10 years?  20 years?  Did you get special schooling or an advanced degree?  There are many ways you can tout your expertise:

 

Further knowledge – Many entrepreneurs have taken the time to gain extensive knowledge from universities in the form of advanced degrees.  However, you don’t always need to get a second PhD.  You can gain knowledge by reading, researching, experimenting, or even working in a special classification in your field or industry.

 

Leadership position in your field – People with expertise are often sought after for leadership positions in groups and organizations.  Be sure to note any role you played in your industry’s leading clubs.

 

Trailblazing a new field – Have you discovered a new innovative method in your industry?  Whether you create a better way to manufacture a mouse trap or streamline a particular business process, if you can claim a role in such trailblazing methods, you can demonstrate your expertise.

 

If you are forming an entrepreneurial business and are looking for financing through venture capital, be assertive in your experience.  Claim your rightful position as an expert and an authority figure.  Convince a venture capital group that you are the one to lead your business, and you will have a better chance of securing that financing

Tags: angel investor, angel investors, Find funding, funding, statup capital, venture capital

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