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	<title>VentureBeat &#187; credibility</title>
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		<title>VentureBeat &#187; credibility</title>
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<copyright>Copyright 2013, VentureBeat</copyright>		<item>
		<title>So, you missed these 5 awesome stories this week</title>
		<link>http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/26/read-this-awesomeness/</link>
		<comments>http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/26/read-this-awesomeness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:31:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Meghan Kelly</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awesome stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bacteria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blind dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 8]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://venturebeat.com/?p=611230</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Don't worry, just because you didn't get to watch a VentureBeat reporter on a blind date, or hear our interview with a legendary game developer doesn't mean you're not cool. You just can't sit at our&#160;table.</p>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=venturebeat.com&#038;blog=342986&#038;post=611230&#038;subd=venturebeat&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dog-newspaper.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611242" alt="dog newspaper" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dog-newspaper.jpg?w=711&#038;h=472" width="711" height="472" /></a></p>
<p>Technology really pushed humanity forward this week. IBM released findings of its latest gel invention that can attack bacteria in a completely new way. It has the potential to save lives, and even fight uncurable diseases such as HIV.</p>
<p>But did y&#8217;all see Chrissy Farr go on that OK Cupid blind date? Because that was hilarious.</p>
<p>So, maybe not all our technology favorites this week pushed the humanitarian envelope, but we&#8217;ve got some awesome stories that you&#8217;ll be sad you missed when the daily grind of a new work week starts.</p>
<p>Check them out and if we leave you wanting more, you can always hop on over to our <a href="http://venturebeat.com/tag/editors-pick/" target="_blank">Editor&#8217;s Pick</a> tag, where our top, awesomely reported stories wait for your attention.</p>
<p>Now on to this week&#8217;s cream of the crop!</p>
<h3><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/23/ibm-vastly-improves-delivery-of-nanomeds-that-kills-bacteria-where-antibiotics-fails/" target="_blank">IBM vastly improves delivery of nanomeds that kill bacteria where antibiotics fail</a></h3>
<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ibm-hydrogels1.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611235" alt="ibm hydrogels" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ibm-hydrogels1.jpg?w=655&#038;h=270" width="655" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>In 2011, IBM researchers and a research group in Singapore showed off a new kind of synthetic, biodegradable nano particle that doctors could use to attack bacteria cells that are resistant to antibiotics. Now, the same group of researchers have made the “nanomedicine” much more practical by delivering it in the form of a cream or gel that you can rub on wounds or inject into infected regions.</p>
<p>Call them nanomeds. They could save your life one day.</p>
<h3><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/22/crazy-blind-dating/" target="_blank">Why I’m dumping OkCupid’s blind dating app</a></h3>
<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/okcupid-blind-date-chrissy.png" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611237" alt="OK Cupid Blind date app" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/okcupid-blind-date-chrissy.png?w=655&#038;h=270" width="655" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>OkCupid CEO Sam Yagan wants to bring back a vestige of the past: the blind date. So we decided to give OkCupid’s new app, Crazy Blind Date, a whirl.VentureBeat teamed up with ABC7 News reporter Jonathan Bloom for this project: Chrissy Farr would go on an actual blind date, and the San Francisco network affiliate of ABC would interview her date on the spot. Check out how the date went.</p>
<h3><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/25/5-reasons-you-should-buy-windows-8-now/" target="_blank">5 reasons you should buy Windows 8 now</a></h3>
<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/windows-81.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611238" alt="Windows 8" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/windows-81.jpg?w=655&#038;h=270" width="655" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>While it’s easy to hate on Windows 8, it’s time to stop nagging about the changes and buy the upgrade before it gets way more expensive.</p>
<p>Windows 8 has sold more than 60 million licenses to date, but Microsoft has not revealed how many of these copies have been activated. Still, these are generally good numbers, and it is keeping pace with initial Windows 7 sales. Microsoft has invested a lot of time and money into Windows 8 and will continue to update the software to make it run better.</p>
<h3><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/22/new-myspace-music-licensing-problems/" target="_blank">Myspace’s newest problem: Credibility</a></h3>
<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/myspace1.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611239" alt="Myspace" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/myspace1.jpg?w=655&#038;h=270" width="655" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>Strapped for cash and fighting for relevance, the relaunched Myspace already has enough problems. But it looks like the company and its music-focused revamp have another, potentially bigger issue: credibility.</p>
<h3><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/22/life-after-epic-getting-to-know-cliff-bleszinski-exclusive-interview-part-one-his-past/" target="_blank">Life after Epic: Getting to know Cliff Bleszinski (exclusive interview, part one: his past)</a></h3>
<p><a href="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/cliff-bleszinski-headshot1.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-611241" alt="cliff bleszinski headshot" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/cliff-bleszinski-headshot1.jpg?w=655&#038;h=270" width="655" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>Turns out people want to hear what Cliff Bleszinski has to say. Every word. The brash and outspoken 37-year-old developer is certainly polarizing enough to warrant such attention. You might hate him for his pretty Barbie-doll wife and his two hot-rod Lamborghinis that cost more than most people’s annual salaries. You’ve probably spent more than a few hours of your life, however, totally lost in games like Unreal Tournament and Gears of War. Games that he helped create.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoliv/4146974105/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Dog reading newspaper image</a> via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoliv/" target="_blank">Geoff Livingston</a>/Flickr; Gel image via IBM; OK Cupid app image via <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8960116" target="_blank" target="_blank">ABC7</a>; Microsoft 8 image via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=i1GNDs7DCTw" target="_blank" target="_blank">Microsoft/YouTube</a>; Myspace image via Tom Cheredar; Cliff Bleszinski photo via Cliff Bleszinski</em></p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://venturebeat.com/category/business/'>Business</a>  <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=venturebeat.com&#038;blog=342986&#038;post=611230&#038;subd=venturebeat&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	<enclosure url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ibm-hydrogels1.jpg?w=160" /><source url="http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/26/read-this-awesomeness/">So, you missed these 5 awesome stories this week</source>
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			<media:title type="html">mkel31</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">dog newspaper</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ibm-hydrogels1.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">ibm hydrogels</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/okcupid-blind-date-chrissy.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">OK Cupid Blind date app</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/windows-81.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Windows 8</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/myspace1.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Myspace</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/cliff-bleszinski-headshot1.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">cliff bleszinski headshot</media:title>
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		<title>The ABCs of pitching investors– Always Be Credible</title>
		<link>http://venturebeat.com/2010/11/10/the-abcs-of-pitching-investors-always-be-credible/</link>
		<comments>http://venturebeat.com/2010/11/10/the-abcs-of-pitching-investors-always-be-credible/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeff Bussgang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[angel investors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Venture Capital]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://venturebeat.com/?p=225836</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><span class="post-label guest-post">Guest Post</span>
<p><em>(Editor’s note:</em><em> </em><em>Jeff Bussgang is a General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners. This column originally appeared on his blog</em><em> </em><em>Seeing Both Sides.)</em></p>
<p><em></em>In his best-selling book “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell made famous the natural human reaction of quickly judging other people. &#160;&#8230;</p>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=venturebeat.com&#038;blog=342986&#038;post=225836&#038;subd=venturebeat&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>(Editor’s note:</em><em> </em><em>Jeff Bussgang is a General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners. This column originally appeared on his blog</em><em> </em><em><a href="http://www.seeingbothsides.com/" target="_blank">Seeing Both Sides</a>.)</em></p>
<p><em></em>In his best-selling book “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell made famous the natural human reaction of quickly judging other people.  This behavior is especially true of VCs and angel investors. The first few minutes of an interaction are crucial.<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-225837" title="abcblocks" src="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/abcblocks-300x290.jpg?w=300&#038;h=290" alt="" width="300" height="290" /></p>
<p>The way an entrepreneur starts an investor pitch meeting can actually determine their success in that meeting.  Those first 10-15 minutes, where the entrepreneur presents himself or herself &#8211; before they even present the idea – establish not only credibility, but the right to continue to pitch to an engaged audience.</p>
<p>Yet, it is amazing to me how few entrepreneurs start investor meetings crisply and confidently.  The formula for the start of the meeting is almost always the same – you are trying to answer the simple question on the mind of the investors:  Who are you and why are you here?  But when asked to review their backgrounds, entrepreneurs often fumble through incoherently, or ramble on tangents that aren’t relevant to the situation.</p>
<p>So, how should you start an investor meeting?  It’s as simple as ABC:  Always Be Credible.  Investors are looking for credibility: Can we trust that you have a uniquely good idea or insight? Are you capable of executing on it? And are you the real deal or full of bluster and BS?</p>
<p>When you talk to investors and ask about this opening gambit from entrepreneurs, you hear a consistent pattern about why they like a certain entrepreneur they’ve invested in. When you distill the inputs into a coherent pattern, here are the top three things entrepreneurs should do:</p>
<p><strong>Be genuine and personable</strong><strong> </strong>– Let your personality show, professionally of course.  At some point in the introduction, say something that makes you smile, which will make those around you smile.  If you don’t engage your audience, they’ll jump to their Blackberries.</p>
<p>For example, ZestCash CEO/co-founder Douglas Merrill is a charming character and, even putting aside the shoulder-length hair and tattoos, you can’t help but smile when he introduces his background (raised dyslexic in Arkansas, followed an unlikely path of earning a Princeton PhD, leading Google engineering and IPO in his role as CIO for 5 years, and now has developed a vision to transform short-term consumer credit by blending online data with traditional underwriting techniques).</p>
<p><strong>Be crisp and on point –</strong><strong> </strong>The most compelling background speeches are crisp, straightforward and demonstrate relevant links to the opportunity at hand.  SaveWave CEO/co-founder Dave Rochon, for example, gave the following brief narrative when pitching investors:  “I worked at Catalina Marketing for 10 years in sales and launched their Internet couponing business, then joined Upromise the year it was founded and built the grocery business for 10 years, serving for three years as president after the acquisition by Sallie Mae. I now want to transform the online and mobile grocery coupon business.”</p>
<p>Dave’s Series A round was way over-subscribed by folks like First Round, Ron Conway, Roger Ehrenberg, Founder Collective and I think it’s in no small part because his background and delivery were so crisp and relevant.</p>
<p><strong>Keep it short.</strong> I find that the more impressive the entrepreneur, the shorter the introduction.  The worst situation is when, 20 minutes into the presentation, the entrepreneur is still bragging about some random product they launched in a completely irrelevant industry sector.</p>
<p>By that point, the VCs are already hitting their Blackberries and wondering how they can end the meeting gracefully.  Worse, still: You run out of time to actually pitch the big idea.  Meandering introductions are the death of a pitch.</p>
<p>Wondering what you should avoid when you launch a pitch? Here are three things:</p>
<p><strong>Do not exaggerate.</strong> Assume that everything you say will be thoroughly checked out in due diligence.  If you claim credit for a company where you played a small role, it’s bad form.  I recently called the CEO of a company that an entrepreneur bragged they had led during the pitch.  When the CEO told me they were a minor player and left after a brief two years, I stopped spending any more time evaluating the opportunity.</p>
<p>Remember, investors are professional BS detectors.  Err on the side of underselling your background because the BS alarm bells may ring in the first few minutes of introduction and spoil the rest of the presentation.</p>
<p><strong>There’s no “I” in team.</strong><strong> </strong> When entrepreneurs talk about themselves in grandiose terms in their introductions, it’s usually a sign of egotism.  When entrepreneurs talk about the teams they built and the smart people that somehow they were able to convince to join them in their cause, it’s a sign of great leadership.  Guess which of these two profiles investors are more attracted to?</p>
<p><strong>Don’t name drop.</strong><strong> </strong> Some investors are notorious namedroppers, so this is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, but investors get very turned off when entrepreneurs name drop in their introductions.</p>
<p>We don’t need to hear every famous person you’ve met or pitched or worked with.  Establishing a few common points of contact is a good thing.  Acting like you are best friends with folks who wouldn’t recognize you if you bumped into them in the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon is not recommended.</p>
<p>Remember, be credible, humble and specific and you’ll do fine.  Take the 5-10 minutes time to establish that initial credibility, and then move on.  Investors like to back great people, so spend as much time thinking about how to present yourself in a compelling fashion as you would your idea.</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://venturebeat.com/category/business/'>Business</a>  <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=venturebeat.com&#038;blog=342986&#038;post=225836&#038;subd=venturebeat&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<enclosure url="http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/abcblocks-300x290.jpg?w=144" /><source url="http://venturebeat.com/2010/11/10/the-abcs-of-pitching-investors-always-be-credible/">The ABCs of pitching investors– Always Be Credible</source>
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