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Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

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Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#11

Post by whenisayUH »

patio11 wrote: post #2

It's a sign that you're entering hugely, hugely seedy territory if you ever are asked to pay to receive offers of employment, scholarships, or investment. First, many out-and-out scams operate that way. Second, if the opportunity were legitimate, there is an adverse selection risk. Meritorious candidates for employment/scholarships/investment have no interest in paying to get a chance at them, so those candidates wou…

Uh oh -- The downvoting has started. Feel free to do that but please explain where I'm missing the mark. Thanks.

-----

I'm really not sure why entrepreneurs who I'd suspect believe in free markets need to be coddled and "protected" from pay-to-pitch programs which at the end of the day are just another business - some good and some bad.

Just because you're a struggling entrepreneur doesn't mean other people shouldn't charge you or you're entitled to anything. At the end of the day, it is the entrepreneurs' choice. If you don't have the money or if the program doesn't seem legit, don't pay. And find another way to reach investors. If spending $50 or $100 gets you a credible chance at $500k of seed funding and helps accelerate your path to getting that money or getting feedback, that seems fair.

Some pay to pitch programs may add value. And some may not. If an entrepreneur learns that the hard way, so be it. Nobody ever said being an entrepreneur would be easy.

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#13

Post by philco »

The truth of the matter is that unless you have massive amounts of traction, investors won't really care about your product at such an event. Personal introductions into VC's is the best way to get your funding, and it acts as the first screen of your hustle.

If you can't hustle, find someone you know in common with a VC, and convince them to make an intro, you might not have what it takes to launch a startup. (Hint: It's all hustle).

Get on LinkedIn, use Meeteor.com, and start uncovering the relationships that can help you. It's not that hard, it just takes effort.

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#15

Post by duhoang »

whenisayUH wrote: post #11
patio11 wrote: post #2

It's a sign that you're entering hugely, hugely seedy territory if you ever are asked to pay to receive offers of employment, scholarships, or investment. First, many out-and-out scams operate that way. Second, if the opportunity were legitimate, there is an adverse selection risk. Meritorious candidates for employment/scholarships/investment have no interest in paying to get a chance at them, so those candidates wou…

Uh oh -- The downvoting has started. Feel free to do that but please explain where I'm missing the mark. Thanks. ----- I'm really not sure why entrepreneurs who I'd suspect believe in free markets need to be coddled and "protected" from pay-to-pitch programs which at the end of the day are just another business - some good and some bad. Just because you're a struggling entrepreneur doesn't mean other people shouldn't…

It's not about being coddled, it's about exploiting entrepreneurs who are either desperate, or new to the game. We don't want to encourage that type of behavior in our community.

"entrepreneur learns that the hard way, so be it."

That attitude is like saying children should learn to look both way before crossing the street the hard way...by getting hit by a bus!

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#16

Post by kurtvarner »

maxdemarzi wrote: post #14

That's the kind of crap we have in Chicago. http://fundingfeedingfrenzy.com/present-your-company/ $330 early bird special... :( That and "entrepreneur networking" events that are full of service companies or software shops trying to drum up business. Lame.

You have the be kidding me... their name is the Funding Feeding Frenzy. What a joke.

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#18

Post by whenisayUH »

duhoang wrote: post #15
whenisayUH wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh oh -- The downvoting has started. Feel free to do that but please explain where I'm missing the mark. Thanks. ----- I'm really not sure why entrepreneurs who I'd suspect believe in free markets need to be coddled and "protected" from pay-to-pitch programs which at the end of the day are just another business - some good and some bad. Just because you're a struggling entrepreneur doesn't mean other people shouldn't…

It's not about being coddled, it's about exploiting entrepreneurs who are either desperate, or new to the game. We don't want to encourage that type of behavior in our community. "entrepreneur learns that the hard way, so be it." That attitude is like saying children should learn to look both way before crossing the street the hard way...by getting hit by a bus!

How is anyone being exploited? You have a choice to pitch or not. It's not blackmail. It may be foolish to pitch at these events, but as far as I know, nobody is being forced into pitching or being told "you can't research this event and our track record before signing up."

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#19

Post by [deleted] »

duhoang wrote: post #15
whenisayUH wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh oh -- The downvoting has started. Feel free to do that but please explain where I'm missing the mark. Thanks. ----- I'm really not sure why entrepreneurs who I'd suspect believe in free markets need to be coddled and "protected" from pay-to-pitch programs which at the end of the day are just another business - some good and some bad. Just because you're a struggling entrepreneur doesn't mean other people shouldn't…

It's not about being coddled, it's about exploiting entrepreneurs who are either desperate, or new to the game. We don't want to encourage that type of behavior in our community. "entrepreneur learns that the hard way, so be it." That attitude is like saying children should learn to look both way before crossing the street the hard way...by getting hit by a bus!

[deleted]

Re: Should You Pay to Pitch Your Startup?

#20

Post by duhoang »

whenisayUH wrote: post #18
duhoang wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about being coddled, it's about exploiting entrepreneurs who are either desperate, or new to the game. We don't want to encourage that type of behavior in our community. "entrepreneur learns that the hard way, so be it." That attitude is like saying children should learn to look both way before crossing the street the hard way...by getting hit by a bus!

How is anyone being exploited? You have a choice to pitch or not. It's not blackmail. It may be foolish to pitch at these events, but as far as I know, nobody is being forced into pitching or being told "you can't research this event and our track record before signing up."

It's like a scam...no one is forcing you to be a victim of a scam, you just don't know better. reply
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