10 Things You Shouldn't Try To Impress VC's or Angels With

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I've worked with a lot of companies over the years, and heard plenty of the same over and over. The reality is most of it either isn't true, or is true but not worthy of bragging about. The worst is when the entire pitch revolves around one or more of these... try to avoid looking like a rookie at your investor meetings:

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Our projections are conservative. 9 out of 10 times companies say that. If that's the case, you didn't forecast properly. Forecast how you actually expect to perform.

Our market is estimated to be $100B this year. It seems that everyone's market is in the billions these days. If you have legit market research to back up your claims, so be it. Otherwise don't bolster the market size, most investors will have a feel on whether the market is there or not.

We've had lots of customer interest and several orders on deck. Worry about bragging about that once you have signed orders/contracts. Even if there is sincere interest from customers, it doesn't mean they'll come through.

We have several employees lined up to join us post-funding that will make this fly. If you have signed commitment letters, great, if not then it was probably not as solid to the potential employee as it was to you.

We have no competitors. You may have a brand new product, it doesn't mean you have no competition. Competition doesn't have to be doing exactly what you are doing. Don't try to make your proposition seem more solid bc no one else does it, instead show that you recognize the potential threats.

No one else can do what we do. Really? More often than not where I hear that it brings me great joy to rattle off some names of companies who already are doing what they do and/or are hot on their heels.

We have had lots of investor interest and are looking for the right fit. It's the same as telling a girl you have plenty of girls interested in dating you, but you'll consider dating her. At that point you've mentally closed the door, go be someone elses problem.

We only are going for 1% of the market since it's so huge. From a numbers perspective that may work out, but no one wants to invest in a company whose greatest ambition is 1% of the market.

The big guys can't move fast enough to enter our market. Rookie move, you'll only come off as arrogant and foolish.

Our management team has a proven track record. That may be the case, but again management alone doesn't make a company. It's important to emphasize people's strengths and what they bring to the company, but don't imply that's what will make the company a success alone.

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So there you have it, a few rookie moves everyone makes, but with some common sense hopefully you won't. My best advice: talk intelligently about your company, show you've done your research, don't try to brag, admit any flaws, and demonstrate how you'll over come them.

Chris Benjamin, Rogue CFO

www.roguecfo.com; chrisb@roguecfo.com

By Chris Benjamin, Rogue CFO and Small Business Consultant. Outsourced CFO for your company.c@roguecfo.com http://www.roguecfo.com -

Parking @ Bangalore

Parking is challenge in Bangalore or rather is no of cars on road a challenge.

Today I had to meet a prospective client on lavelle road, I realised only when I arrived that parking has been taken off on Lavelle Road.

I requested the security person of the company I was visiting to let me in. He was very nice to let me in and park in a certain corner, until the villain (another guard) came around. He questioned the other guard if he checked I am an employee, to whom I responded I am not and was only there for a meeting.
Now the nice guard also turned villain telling me to take the car out and park it on the road. I requested saying I will be out in 15 minutes as it was a short meeting.

This time the guard became a more aggressive saying I have to take the car out and there is no choice of parking the car in the premises for outsiders. I requested again (as it was almost 7pm) saying many cars are going out home, so you let me park it for a while. The guard was really nasty is starting to use language on me, this time though my temper rose, I said calmly now that I have parked my car here, I am not taking the car out till I come back

My blog is not about my problem with the security guard, but the problem behind this whole thing...is it right to get so many cars on the road without proper infrastructure to have space to drive them on road ( perfect example Bangalore traffic) or the space to park them ( Bangalore infrastructure). What should be the solution?
Should the citizens themselves stop buying/ using automobiles or the government should stop issues permits to drive so many vehicles on the road. Should people mandatory made to use the public transport or should government first improve the public transport? Should we follow the Singapore model to allow only automobiles with permits to be driven or improve our infrastructure?

It’s worse than a chicken and egg case...all I can do now is ask for comments

Like Billy Connolly says "I don't believe in angels, no. But I do have a wee parking angel. It's on my dashboard and you wind it up. The wings flap and it's supposed to give you a parking space. It's worked so far. "

- Anand Varadaraj

Lazyness

I am trying to figure out, how to be really lazy?

thought will type in some...Here are the rules of being lazy:

1. Never do anything. If you wait around long enough, someone else will do it.
2. Don't move. Moving is overrated.
3. Never run. Running is the worst thing you can do. I had to run once.. big mistake.
4. If something is not in your reach, you don't need it. Before you get up to get something across the room next time, think. Do you really want to get up and walk all the way there and all the way back to get it? Yeah, I know. I felt stupid for moving all those times.
5. Don't have an opinion. Opinions are thoughts, and thoughts are work.
6. Don't work. Working is for suckers. Be a CEO if you can, they never do anything.
7. If you have to move, fuss about it. Make it well known that you're pissed off because you have to move. Sigh a lot. Drag your feet and arch your back at 60 degrees (bad posture helps you to conform to the shapes of couches when you sit down, and it makes you look tired).
8. Sleep as much as you can. Contrary to common sense and popular belief, sleeping is very productive.
9. Don't talk. Talking requires the movement of your jaw.. way too much work.
10. If you have to work, do a half-assed job at it. Example: If you have to clean your room, take all the stuff and dump it outside your room

I have more rules, but this is taking more effort than I thought. I'll update this later.. if I'm not too tired.

OR

You can read more at
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Lazy-Around-the-House\
http://www.ehow.com/how_2075004_be-lazy.html

Anand Varadaraj

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa - Music Release

I was blessed to be in London and go invited to the Music Release of “Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa” starring Silambarasan and Trisha in the lead.

Everything was decked up, Trisha looking most ravishing and Simbu in full charming suit.
Gautam himself compared the show. He answered the most common question of the evening " why London for a music release?" He said "I am here to show off" saying this he walked around the stage literally showing off...It was moment to watch.





















































































The film is shot extensively at Chennai, Kerala, Malta and New York. The story is about a Young aspiring Director who is writing his own love story to make it into a movie.With an urban look to it, the story is set between two young people who fall in love. The film is set to release in Feb 2010.


A much awaited musical from the Oscar Award Winning Composer A R Rahman, the film has some amazing songs and I saw it heard it live. It was performed by a group of 10 musicians with the Mozart of Madras sitting and enjoying the full unplugged version of his own tunes. Another magic from the maestro


The movie has five songs.


The song “Hosanaa”, sung by Vijay Prakash of “Jai Ho” fame, penned to the lyrics of Thamarai and a rap by Blaze is a sure hit among the young crowd for its peppy beats and stunning visuals shot by Manoj Paramahamsa at Malta corresponding to the stylized choreography by Flexy Stu of Adiye Kolluthey fame.


“Omana Penne” written by Thamarai too and sung by A R Rahman himself, holds a style of its own in the way it has been sung and programmed.
This song too has been shot at Malta with choreography done by Flexy Stu and is a sure favorite for all A R Rahman fans!


Manoj Paramahamsa (cinematographer) with his captivating visuals adds to the beauty of the film, with the ambience authenticity envisioned by Rajeevan (art director) and the crisp cutting of Anthony (Editing). Gautam is so happy with the cinematographer that he referred by saying "When Steven Spielberg found cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, he said I have found my brother and decided never to work with anyone else. I am not Speilberg, but I have found my Janusz Kaminski"


Nalini Sriram adds to the appearance of the film with striking costumes for all the actors in the scenes and songs. The costumes made for the songs are eye catching elements that are hard to be missed by the audience!


The film also has Ganesh, Babu Anthony, Kitty, Uma Padmanabhan and Lakshmi Ramakrishnan playing pivotal roles.


The film is produced by Madan and Ganesh (Escape Artists Motion Pictures) and Kumar and Jayaraman (R.S.Infotainment).


TRACKLISTING OF VINNAI THANDI VARUVAYA


Omana Penne
Singers: Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon
Malayalam Lyrics: Kalyani Menon


Anbil Avan
Singers: Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayi Vinnaithaandi


Varuvaayaa
Singers: Karthik
Additional Vox : Vivek Agarwal


Hosanna
Singers: Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze
English Rap Lyrics: Blaaze


Kannukkul Kannai
Singers: Naresh Iyer


Mannipaaya
Singers: A.R.Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal


Aaoromale
Singers: Alphonse
Malayalam Lyrics: Kaithapram


In the end, Gautam, Rehaman, Trisha and Simbu were put on question seat to ask questions.


An evening to be remember.
~ Anand Varadaraj

London - First view

The first time I saw London was through a foggy window of a British Airways flight BA 118.

After hearing and watching London on screen for almost 3 decades, the day has arrived to see it live thru my eyes.

A damp Heathrow at 1-30 pm looked wonderful. The misty grass, the A slope red tiles on big houses and as the flight descended rows & rows of cars parked and suddenly This huge sign " Available for Rent" showed up. I realized I am at the developed world where recession has been at the maximum.

Pilot announced it was chilly 11 deg centigrade outside. I was prepared for even worse. But suddenly my Jacket zipper suddenly seized to work.

As I got out of the airport, I realized how huge the airport, my other realization and feeling being at one of biggest airports in the world.

As I walked to train to get to the next building, my thoughts began to work, when Bangalore is going to get the metro running like this. However why think about that now.

I walked into the transit line and got into security check where literally I removed everything. Good India has stopped our good old tradition of wearing the waist thread. I remember my grandfather telling me Women wear silver thread and men gold. With gold shooting to sky rates, I think people have to work their way only thru artificial gold threads.

As I finished my security check, I went on to check when my connecting flight is. To my disappointment it was not till the next 3 & half hours. My major disappoint was lying ahead. I settled down in a comfortable chair, pulled my laptop to make some calls to home & friends thru Skype. Surprise! Surprise! There is no free internet at the world’s largest airport. You need to buy internet time. Bangalore airport is way off better. You need to send a sms & boom! You have a password to browse the net FREE!

Thought let me call my friends in London from a pay phone, the dumb me had the phone numbers on the net. The first thing tomorrow is to write it down the numbers as soon as I am connected.

So I caught up a light nap and among strangers of different countries, watched the BBC news on the Samsung 72 inch screen, walked around aimlessly. tried the sample of Baileys new Mint flavor drink, even though showed interest to impress the salesgirl to buy 2 bottles for 20 Pounds, I had no intention of doing it.

At last thought let me write to put it up on a blog, so write now typing it. Will upload it when I find a connection....now it’s time to catch my flight to Copenhagen....Ciao