How to meet important people in Silicon Valley (or anywhere else)
This post has been inspired by a conversation on VentureHacks Talk (3/16/10) in response to 5 things I “knew” (or should have known) before starting a company, but didn’t fully understand until now.
So, how do you become part of the Silicon Valley in-crowd?
First, there really is no such clique and if there is, it is incredibly transient.
Second, Silicon Valley is not an oligarchy, but rather a meritocracy!
And third, if you are smart, capable, intelligent, driven and socially not totally awkward, you can be part of the SV “in-crowd”.
Now, if you think you can email John Doerr, Paul Graham or Larry and get a meeting, think again. That is the equivalent of going to DC and trying to meet with Barack – it ain’t going to happen!
This post is meant for introductions to important people, but not the “Dignitaries of SV” .
Let’s get to it, how are you going to get quality introductions in silicon valley and become part of the in-crowd? Let’s assume you are planning to visit SV to meet with people for ideas/partnerships/funding/etc.
Weekly Twitter Summary for 2010-03-14
- Impressive #techstar results http://bit.ly/9phm8w 27/39 funded 5 exits *156* new jobs created @mcandrew tell yr boss. Congrats @davidcohen #
- While everybody is busy "checking-in" @sxsw, LivingSocial quietly raises $25M & makes real money http://bit.ly/9ZxH42 #impressed #
- Just ordered my 3G #ipad
I haven't been this excited since the G1 (which I never used … ) Developers: I WANT TO FUND YOUR IPAD APPS! # - "customer acquisition is the most overlooked & understated challenge faced by first-time entrepreneurs" http://bit.ly/cpawTH by @richaberman #
- Sometimes I feel like I live in a bubble here in SV: Less than 8% of people know what a browser is! ??? http://youtu.be/o4MwTvtyrUQ #unreal #
- RT @googlemaps Google Maps now has biking directions! Check it out at http://maps.google.com/biking #bikewithgoogle #
- #plan Game Developer Conference (San Francisco) Tue, Mar 9, 2010 http://plancast.com/a/1iyn #
- Those crazy Germans and their BMW bikes (video) http://ow.ly/16KK4f via @yukai_chou #
- What does Google, Paypal, Yahoo, eBay, SUN, Flickr & BoA have in common? http://bit.ly/bn4qnn >> (Video) http://bit.ly/cXnkAc #startupvisa #
- Wow – it is "snowing" in San Francisco. http://twitpic.com/17g5mh #
- #blogger kills FTP http://bit.ly/bn99qg and pushed the few professional blogs using blogger to #WP @ev where will you migrate your blog to? #
- Rummbled 10/10 at Andronico's, San Francisco http://rmb.ly/5MTM Best SF gorcery store by a large margin! #
- I'm still trying to figure out how to use Twitter, Buzz & FF together. Any best practice ideas? #
- #gdc mobile developers: Looking for funding? I am at #gdc this week – DM me for an informal chat/ brainstorming. #
Weekly Twitter Summary for 2010-03-07
- Agreed! Game developers, embrace kids games (& let me fund you) RT @mnouz: Why iPad is the 'Children's Toy of the Year' http://bit.ly/9EReEv #
- Oh no – the new failwale is a crygirl by @foursquare (picture) http://twitpic.com/171y6k #
- Awesome! RT @mattcutts: After being purchased by Google, reMail goes open-source: http://goo.gl/1uLD #
- Comming soon: The Zombie-Mosquito X prize – sponsor requests welcome send to @PeterDiamandis in reply to PeterDiamandis #
- "only 40 percent of Californians have made family disaster plan" http://bit.ly/9ax34Q >> Make an Emergency Plan now! http://bit.ly/dtTh3j #
- #donate old cycling stuff at @sportsbasement for http://www.tripsforkids.org/ http://twitpic.com/16nf7w #
- + stop checking twitter every 5 mins LOL >> Improved Productivity: A 12-Step Program http://bit.ly/bZC8rp via @WebStartupGroup #
- Full of good stuff & quotes >> RT @venturehacks subscribe to daily tweet digest via email (http://j.mp/1bWT9j) or RSS (http://j.mp/cd4fc) #
- If investors don't have experience in design, developmt or mkting, you probably don't want their money http://bit.ly/dmSYLU by @davemcclure #
- Why am I excited about funding tech-startups? Look at these numbers: (video) http://bit.ly/9Ef6WP thanks @JESS3 #
- Bay Area Hackers, win free pass to Google I/O http://bit.ly/a1z7Jz deadline Thursday 3/4 9AM pst. >> Please RT #
- Just finished "I Bought Andy Warhol" http://bit.ly/c3QnRz > Learned a lot. In comparison to the art world, angel investing seems really sane #
- You will never notice, but something huge just happened #wordpress enables #PubSubHubbub http://bit.ly/cd75if thanks @bradfitz @josephscott #
- 25 Apps to Grow Your Business http://goo.gl/fb/qKr2 << I'd add #googlevoice >> via @sprouter @neilpatel #
- +1 RT @rchen @amitp: If you love them, let them go. Link to other sites instead of trying to keep visitors on yours. They'll come back. #
- Can't wait to fund some #ycombinator / #ipad startups. http://bit.ly/bQcLuP thanks @cryptograham #
Weekly Twitter Summary for 2010-02-28
- Stop obsessing over SEO, start optimizing landing pages >> 8 A/B split testing case studies worth reading http://bit.ly/csUIOS ty @wingify #
- "The true impact of Google could come more from all the things that Google people go on to do after they leave Google." http://bit.ly/bENgnl #
- 2 days left to contribute to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti and deduct your gift on your 2009 tax returns via @PIH_org << please RT #
- Amazing Vancouver 2010 pictures http://bit.ly/bTcPx2 #
- #spam #symantec does not comply with CAN spam laws http://bit.ly/bezWou – no opt-out, no adress @symantec read this: http://bit.ly/9YontV #
- What you think is real might not be real at all: amazing green-room animations: http://youtu.be/clnozSXyF4k via @tomh's blog #
- Startup mistakes @SubMate 1/no tech founder 2/roommate co-founders 3/raised $ before product launch http://bit.ly/9hwj26 thanks @laurentk #
- Startup Visas Create Jobs! Sent to @nancypelosi via @2gov Support Startup Visa: http://startupvisa.2gov.org #startupvisa << Please RT! #
- Its official, I am old: Scored 69% on HOW MILLENNIAL ARE YOU PEW Quiz http://bit.ly/drURnn via @kevindewalt Full Report http://bit.ly/dqRevI #
- Good thoughts by @giffconstable: "rigorously and continuously testing your assumptions as early as possible" http://bit.ly/d3rjYe #
- +1 >> RT @rchen: I admire many things that come out of Italy. This legal judgment is not one of them. http://bit.ly/cijyqg #
- RT @triplepundit: Bloom Energy Finally Comes Clean in Packed Press Briefing http://bit.ly/b8hZDY << I want a bloombox! #
- RT @TechCrunch Mobile Location-Based Services Could Rake In $12.7 Billion By 2014 http://tinyurl.com/ya7pexs < "could" … #
- RT @venturehacks: New investors asking for intros to StartupList startups: @pejmannozad, @fbishara, @thomask. Apply: http://j.mp/bfSPUX #
- When I am approached by a startup, I check their jobs page. If they hire only engineers and product managers – I am excited! #
- just joined @sprouter via @SarahPrevette http://bit.ly/chmJ1S interesting, but yet another place monitor & post: needs twitter integration! #
- OMG! Kevin Dick at #FOF "Quantity, not quality, is king in the seed stage" http://bit.ly/cRIkfo << how about "quality in large quantity" #
Who are Millennials: The next Generation (PEW Research)
Fascinating research about the next generation, the Millennials: more confident, more connected, open to change! Download pdf or view below: Read more
Stuff I noticed around February 25, 2010
These links are random collections of pages I found useful this week Read more
Stuff I noticed around February 14, 2010
These links are random collections of pages I found useful this week Read more
How to cold-email me (or anyone else)
Since I have been added to Angellist @venturehacks.com, I have received three times the number of “pitch emails” than I usually get. This inspired me to write this post about how to contact me or how to contact anyone you don’t know and can’t get an introduction to.
Stuff I noticed around January 23, 2010
These links are random collections of pages I found usefull this week
- pdf: Quantcast Mobile Web Trends 2009 Report [new tab]
Android is already larger than PIM’s blackberry ….
January 22, 2010 - Raising capital – The 50 or so things you should read first [new tab]
November 8, 2009
- Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. | JonBischke.com [new tab]
Great article about “quitting”
January 20, 2010
Stuff I noticed around January 1, 2010
These links are random collections of pages I found usefull this week
- Five ways to generate momentum in your venture or angel round | from This is going to be BIG! – Comments on New York Tech Community, Startups, Venture Capital and Career Education [new tab]
Entrepreneurs- read this.
December 31, 2009 - Buy Google storage and get a free Eye-Fi card [new tab]
no-brainer …
December 17, 2009 - Google browsersize tool [new tab]
nice tool for designers and webmasters to see how much of the screen is visible by visitors.
December 17, 2009