Raise when you can tell a compelling growth story •  Many founders raise because they need the money. (Duh! J ) •  VCs don’t care about your need for money. They care about how you will leverage Moore’s Law and/or Metcalfe’s Law to create a killer growth story. •  When VCs say “yes” or “no”, it’s not about whether they are willing to make a bet on you…It’s not personal. •  Never forget, a rapid growth opportunity combined with a killer team is what makes a startup VC-backable. •  Also remember: Compelling is in the eye of the beholder. You must know what compelling is in your market. (this is where many founders are falling short without knowing it.)