{"id":11805,"date":"2017-01-06T16:10:05","date_gmt":"2017-01-07T00:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fnmarketing.wpengine.com\/?p=11805"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:53:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T23:53:06","slug":"2-components-startup-needs-secure-investment-bill-reichert-garage-technology-vc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/2-components-startup-needs-secure-investment-bill-reichert-garage-technology-vc\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Components Startups Need to Secure Investment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine any aspect of our life and economy that is not open to entrepreneurial innovation, transformation or disruption.\u201d Bill Reichert<\/a>, Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures<\/a>, <\/span>believes<\/span><\/i> in the globalization of innovation. He also thinks that any firm that focuses solely on the \u2018next big tech trend\u2019 is kidding themselves, and that a startup must have \u201cThe Two U\u2019s\u201d in order for his firm to invest.\u00a0FN members, register here<\/a> to meet Bill on Feb. 8th, 2017.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what one of the first investors in Pandora has to say about investments, globalization, and the ever elusive level of traction a founder must have to raise funds.<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: What makes your firm unique?<\/b><\/h5>\n

Garage Technology Ventures was founded in 1998 with the idea of being the first VC firm designed for the benefit of entrepreneurs. At the time, it was a novel concept. And even to this day, VC firms are difficult to approach, and tend to be closed shops. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re different because we are one of the most outreach oriented firms in Silicon Valley<\/strong>. When we started, we had a thesis: That the innovation ecosystem is a <\/span>globa<\/span><\/i>l ecosystem. Most entrepreneurs have a difficult time plugging into the venture ecosystem in Silicon Valley\u2014 even if they live there.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, we decided to makes ourselves accessible. How? We were one of the first VC firms to accept any and all entrepreneurs across the planet who chose to come to us.<\/strong> We really underestimated the interest we would garner: In our first 4 years, we received over 100,000 business plans. <\/span><\/p>\n

When the Bubble burst, we realized being a global venture firm was not going to work. \u00a0So we scaled it back, but it was very important for us to keep our outreach. And we have to this day.<\/span><\/p>\n

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“We were one of the first VC firms to accept any and all entrepreneurs across the planet who chose to come to us.” @billreichert<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What investment and\/or startup trends are you excited about right now?<\/b><\/h5>\n

There are two dimensions to this answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n