Learn The Tree Versus The Shadow

Character is similar a tree in addition to reputation similar its shadow. The shadow is what nosotros intend of it; the tree is the existent thing. —Abraham Lincoln

When I was looking for investors for my startup inwards 1997, I was a lot to a greater extent than interested inwards the values in addition to grapheme of my potential investors than inwards the get upwards of the delineate of piece of employment solid on the door. My outset investors were non from Sand Hill Road or Palo Alto, simply were people I knew would back upwards my society (and me) inwards the ways nosotros most needed help.

As an entrepreneur, you lot desire to know if your investors volition live on in that place for you, deal you lot produce the correct things, in addition to encourage you lot to persist in addition to evolve when things seem dark. Perhaps most of all, you lot desire to know they’ve been in that place before, in addition to that they’ll live on calm in addition to confident when things become wrong—when giving upwards sounds similar a pretty skillful option.

At Google Ventures, nosotros endeavour to live on the form of hands-on investors that quietly deal to ready companies. We endeavour to live on the form of investors nosotros sought every bit entrepreneurs ourselves. Starting a society tin live on a lonely business, in addition to it helps to know you’ve got mortal on your side who has been through it before.

Today, we're launching a novel Google Ventures blog every bit an experiment, hoping it volition deal you lot instruct to know the people in addition to companies at Google Ventures a picayune better. We’ll portion how nosotros intend most things in addition to why, if you’re an entrepreneur, you lot mightiness desire to speak to Joe, Rich, Kevin in addition to the residue of the team.

Posted past times Bill Maris, Managing Partner, Google Ventures

(Cross-posted from the Google Ventures Blog)