The VC’s Guide to Sourcing Investments: 5 Unique Channels You
Haven’t Tried Yet
As a VC, sourcing investment deals can be a challenging task, especially when you’re looking for unique and innovative startups that have the potential to disrupt the market.
While the traditional ways of sourcing deals such as referrals, networking, and online platforms are reliable, VCs can explore some unconventional channels to discover promising startups:
● Academic Research:
One way to do that is by partnering with academic institutions to identify startups and technologies that have commercialization potential. This allows VCs to tap into the expertise of researchers and professors who are working on cutting-edge projects.
● Patent Databases:
Another approach is to use patent databases to identify startups that have filed patents for groundbreaking technologies, giving VCs an early insight into emerging trends and innovation.
● Hackathons:
Hackathons are another effective way to discover entrepreneurial talent and identify emerging technologies. Attending or hosting hackathons can give VCs an opportunity to interact with innovative startups and assess their potential for investment.
● Online communities:
Participating in online communities such as Reddit and Hacker News can also be a valuable source of information for VCs looking to discover emerging trends and technologies.
● Customer and User Feedback:
Finally, analyzing customer and user feedback on social media platforms and online review sites can help VCs identify new market trends and emerging technologies that have the potential for investment.
By exploring these unique ways of sourcing investments, VCs can gain a competitive edge in discovering promising startups and staying ahead of the curve.
