Comments on: Why a VC Will Take a Lighter to Your NDA

By: The Checklist Every Entrepreneur Should Read Before Launching a Startup

The Checklist Every Entrepreneur Should Read Before Launching a Startup — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:44:57 +0000

[...] of “Lost Founders”: Lock Down the IP (then Wish Them Well)Raising Capital 1. Length of NDA: 0 pages 2. Fees Paid to Pitch my Startup: $0 3. Investors: Accredited Investors 4. Structure of First [...]

By: TheFoundersDesk.Com » StartUp Checklist – If Launched a Startup

TheFoundersDesk.Com » StartUp Checklist – If Launched a Startup — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:07:46 +0000

[...] Length of NDA: 0 pages (2) Fees Paid to Pitch my Startup: $0 (3) Investors: Accredited Investors (4) Structure of First [...]

By: On NDAs and Confidentiality | Both Sides of the Table

On NDAs and Confidentiality | Both Sides of the Table — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:36:54 +0000

[...] the links to the NDA articles if you’re interested in more reading: Startup Lawyer on NDAs (here), Brad Feld (here), Jason Mendelson (here) and Guy Kawasaki (here in the first [...]

By: 5 ways to seem more experienced when speaking with investors and advisers. « Posts « eight five finishing | NYC Startup Advising

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:08:27 +0000

[...] your company. Most investors and advisers, including us, are hesitant to sign NDAs for a variety of reasons. Build trust and the right contract will [...]

By: Why Startups Shouldn’t Ask Investors to Sign NDAsVentureStab | VentureStab

Why Startups Shouldn’t Ask Investors to Sign NDAsVentureStab | VentureStab — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 02:37:02 +0000

[...] In Why a VC Will Take a Lighter to your NDA, Ryan Roberts says that “If VCs maintained the practice of signing NDAs for each submission they received, only two groups would benefit: lawyers and paper companies. Lawyers would benefit because they would get to draft, edit, and negotiate each NDA. Additionally, the VCs would have to retain a team of lawyers to keep track of all the NDAs they’ve signed with the fund-seeking entrepreneurs that have come before you. Therefore, NDAs would increase a VC’s transaction costs and potentially prevent a VC from even hearing your pitch. Both reduce the already slim chances you will get funding.” [...]

By: Raising money? Get a referral first! | Bookmarks

Raising money? Get a referral first! | Bookmarks — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:52:29 +0000

[...] slows down a VC as much as a comprehensive business plan.”Oh and DO NOT ASK a VC to sign an NDA. Ryan explains, “Asking a VC to sign a NDA is tantamount to splitting 10’s at the blackjack table. [...]

By: Do I Need An NDA?

Do I Need An NDA? — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:46:26 +0000

[...] of start-up companies with great ideas, but the truth is that over 90% of them will fail, and investors don’t want to waste their time knowing this. It’s generally not the idea that gives a product value, it’s the [...]

By: North

North — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:23:25 +0000

My understanding is that making any PUBLIC disclosure of the proprietary elements of an invention will essentially leave you with one year to file a patent application in the US, and possibly void an international application.

In which case, how to handle a big "forum" presentation with many people in the room one has not even met?

Or on the other hand, a meeting with a VC firm or angel group when everyone has at least shaken hands?

I guess I think I should make a brief non-disclosure disclaimer "This information is confidential and in no way represents a public disclosure"…

Is that legit?

Thanks, North.

By: North

North — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:23:00 +0000

In which case, how to handle a big "forum" presentation with many people in the room one has not even met?

Or on the other hand, a meeting with a VC firm or angel group when everyone has at least shaken hands?

I guess I think I should make a brief non-disclosure disclaimer "This information is confidential and in no way represents a public disclosure"…

Is that legit?

Thanks, North.

By: How to approach "protecting the idea" problem? | Grow VC > Blog

How to approach "protecting the idea" problem? | Grow VC > Blog — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:51:54 +0000

[...] today’s world, VC and more professional Angel Investors don’t sign NDA’s and the reason is simple, they see same ideas many times over and don’t really want to be in [...]

By: NDAs and Confidentiality | CloudAve

NDAs and Confidentiality | CloudAve — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:25:00 +0000

[...] are the links to the NDA articles if you’re interested in more reading: Startup Lawyer on NDAs (here), Brad Feld (here), Jason Mendelson (here) and Guy Kawasaki (here in the first [...]

By: On NDAs and Confidentiality « Both Sides of the Table

On NDAs and Confidentiality « Both Sides of the Table — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:19:12 +0000

[...] the links to the NDA articles if you’re interested in more reading: Startup Lawyer on NDAs (here), Brad Feld (here), Jason Mendelson (here) and Guy Kawasaki (here in the first [...]

By: Stephan Wehner

Stephan Wehner — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:27:10 +0000

On the other hand do these VC's require the entrepreneur to document that they have been talking to other people (third parties) about their "the next greatest thing" only under the protection of an NDA ?

I thought that is needed when it comes to patents etc.

– Stephan

By: Stephan Wehner

Stephan Wehner — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:27:00 +0000

I thought that is needed when it comes to patents etc.

– Stephan

By: The Great Startup Idea That I Can’t Reveal (Yet) « FairSoftware’s Blog

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:02:48 +0000

[...] So next time you chat with me or anyone else, forget the NDA. [...]

By: Texas Startup Blog | Roll your own investor referrals!

Texas Startup Blog | Roll your own investor referrals! — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:51:22 +0000

[...] and DO NOT ASK a VC to sign an NDA. Ryan explains, “Asking a VC to sign a NDA is tantamount to splitting 10’s at the blackjack table. [...]

By: Sheik

Sheik — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:09:17 +0000

If the idea of signing a NDA is not good – then can I make some confidential (or non confidential) agreement such that –

My company "A" brought a proposal of a overseas government project – very profitable for VCs. VC1 likes it. "A" wants to make sure no "B" comes with the same proposal while "A" is probably shopping with VCs. Is there any agreement "A" can have signed by VC1 to make sure time is not wasted or lock the VC1 party for "A"?

Is there any kind of agreement that VCs like to do instead?

Thanks.

By: Sheik

Sheik — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:09:00 +0000

If the idea of signing a NDA is not good – then can I make some confidential (or non confidential) agreement such that –

Is there any kind of agreement that VCs like to do instead?

Thanks.

By: Venture Capital Could Limit Your Startup's Access to Funding and Grants | The Startup Lawyer

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:36:34 +0000

[...] Capital Firms. They won’t grant you a meeting. If you do get a meeting they won’t sign your nda. And you’ll be lucky if your startup gets any funding. Making matters worse, they could be [...]

By: Non Disclosure Agreements and Investors | Edge Venture

Non Disclosure Agreements and Investors | Edge Venture — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:46:47 +0000

[...] recently read an interesting post over on The Startup Laywer explaining why asking an investor to sign an NDA will at best get you laughed out the building. I [...]