226 CLEARING THE HURDLES: WOMEN BUILDING HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESSES
A Connection or a Disconnect?
The overlap between the entrepreneurs’ networks and those of the ven-
ture capitalists often determines who gets what deals.
14
Most venture
capitalists invest in deals brought to them by people they know. In
some cases, that might be the entrepreneur herself, but the introduction
is more likely to be from another entrepreneur already engaged with
the venture capital firm. It might also be a referral from another venture
capital partnership that is looking for a coinvestor. Attorneys and
accountants sometimes make valuable introductions. Whatever the
source of the lead, it must be highly reputable and very selective in the
recommendations it makes.
Based on the ...