Uri Pomerantz

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What founders can learn when a VC asks “How Can I Help?”​

Posted on July 15, 2021 by uripomerantz

VCs often get grief from founders for asking “How can I help?”

Often, this grief is deserved.

One of the best signs of founder/VC fit is that a VC can actually help – whether it’s strategic partner intros, key hires, strategy guidance, fundraising help, etc.

Yet quite often that “How can I help?” question rings empty. At times, founders are rightly calling bullshit.

While I can’t help every founder I meet, I try to get one thing right when I ask this question – my sincerity. I ask it from a place of genuinely wanting to help.

It requires a commitment to take extra time and effort to help – even in cases where an investment might not be a good fit, which is much of the time.

Sure, it’s good for your reputation. Sure, it leaves a good impression.

But from my perspective, it’s rejuvenating to ask it sincerely. Founders are in the real trenches, doing the yeoman’s work of transforming industries, usually against massive odds.

It’s my offering to them, and it’s one of the things that brings me great joy in this work.

Founders – make sure you get a sense of genuine sincerity when you hear a VC ask this question, or find other investors to work with.

About

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Local – a tech startup pioneering the concept of community buying and banking.

To learn more drop us a note at careers@mercadolocal.com

I previously worked in venture capital as a Venture Partner with Jackson Square Ventures.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in fintech and entrepreneurship for two decades – as a founder and at Fortune 500 companies. 

As a founder, I’ve built a startup acquired by a Fortune 500 company (John Hancock), built a startup with the parent company (Twine), and founded a microfinance organization (Jozoor Microfinance).

With Fortune 500 companies, I’ve developed strategy (McKinsey), led strategic partnerships and new ventures (John Hancock), and in engineering and business development (Microsoft).

I studied at Stanford (symbolic systems and MBA) and Harvard (masters in international economic development).

All views are my own.

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