As I’ve shifting my focus lately from learning about startups to seeking out my next position I’ve also placed a greater emphasis on meeting active investors—both angels and venture capitalists. I’ve met several over the past two weeks and have found them more open to conversation than I expected. My thinking had been that these people are constantly being chased by entrepreneurs and that it would be difficult to get their time and get them interested in my situation. However, I am finding that this is not the case.
I’m not sure why this is exactly. It may that entrepreneurs are on a constant search for funding while investors are on a constant search for talent. It may be that I’m getting strong introductions from my network that are opening doors. Or it may simply be that I’ve been fortunate so far and have met investors that are unusually open. In any event, the individuals I’ve met seem interested in my background and experience and I’m finding these interactions very valuable.
Unlike individual entrepreneurs, these investors have visibility into a range of startups at various stages of development. In some cases, they have been able to suggest specific companies and founders for me to talk to. In other cases, they have referred me to other investors. In any event, I’ve concluded that that expanding my network to include as many investors as possible can only help—if not immediately then over time as new needs emerge in companies they are involved in or new companies enter their portfolios.