technology
Tech founders share online accounts of difficult venture capital meetings
Founders posted on X about past pitch meetings they described as negative experiences. A venture capitalist responded to some of the posts over the weekend.
Audio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Tech founders have posted on X about what they described as difficult experiences pitching venture capital firms. The posts began after one founder described a meeting in which a general partner reportedly fell asleep for more than 30 minutes. The founder said the presentation continued without comment from others present.
Another founder recalled a 2001 meeting in which an investor examined slides on a laptop placed on his lap inside a parked car.
Additional accounts Cloudflare's CEO wrote that a Sequoia partner declined to invest because the partner did not believe a woman could lead a security infrastructure company. The same executive described a dinner meeting with a Khosla Ventures partner who suggested reallocating equity from co-founders.
Other founders added stories involving questions about family background and comments about family planning during pitches. The venture capitalist named in several posts responded with multiple messages stating that he provides direct feedback. Venture capital firms supply equity financing to early-stage companies in exchange for ownership stakes.
The online discussion occurred among founders who have previously raised funding.
