Vanguard Ventures

Quotes from Don

"Each Vanguard partner aspires to be the very best board member on every board on which they sit. We don't just go to meetings, but consciously plan to be the best recruiter, the best fundraiser and the best advisor our portfolio companies have. That means we don't just refer our companies to the people they need to see, but assure they get in the door. It means spending weekends helping them figure out plans for their next financing round. And it means being at the company both during difficult times and during good times.

"Because we've stayed small and focused, we can put in the time these entrepreneurs deserve. We can make better decisions and move nimbly. We limit each partner to only 1-2 new deals per year.

"We're an approachable firm, both in terms of size and in our personality. We don't have a lot of egos here, probably because as entrepreneurs in our former lives, we've lived through lots of ups and downs and can empathize with the things entrepreneurs are going through. People have positive interactions with us -- that's part of our core values and competitive differentiation.

"Whenever possible, we use our portfolio company's products and services -- even if it means we're the guinea pig. I can't think of a better way to understand the market and customer requirements that are critical to a successful company."

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