(1/n) A good differentiator for a VC fund in India could simply be the preparation the Analysts / Associates do before their first call with a founder. For a founder I am advising, I shadowed 3 calls - 1 with a fund, 1 with an angel network and 1 with a family office.

(2/n) In all three, the analyst / associate had done zero prep before the call. This is when the founder had also sent a simple easy to read email with demo link and a quick one pager about the company 2 days prior to the call.

(3/n) It was sad how the founder was going through explaining the very basics. Imagine questions equivalent of me asking Haldiram if they are an aggregator or do they have their own branded products.

(4/n) The funny thing is that in all 3 cases, it is the analyst / associate who had himself/herself reached out to the entrepreneur saying we would love to hop onto a call to know more. I guess they are able to pull this off because of the power they have in the equation.

(5/n) A message saying "I am investor. Give me information" currently drives the entrepreneur into devoting 1-2 hrs of their precious time. I am sure better entrepreneurs will end up qualifying investor interest better.

(n/n) For Funds / Angel Network / Organised Investors: Maybe the partners should just mystery-pitch or surprise-shadow calls sometimes. The first call does leave a big impact on good entrepreneurs who have a choice.