VC Meta Talk Exposed ! |
|
What VCs Say ... |
What They Mean ! |
A bit optimistic |
Completely unrealistic |
Acquisition strategy |
The current products have no market |
At times controversial |
Universally despised |
Basically on plan |
Revenue shortfall of 25% |
Bio-tech business model |
Have yet to identify a way to make money |
Board offers multiple perspectives |
Board can't even agree on where the bathroom is |
Chemistry may not be right |
We don't like you |
Complete confidence in the CEO |
Checking with attorneys prior to terminating |
Consensus oriented |
Hopelessly indecisive |
Considerably ahead of plan |
Beat numbers in one of the last few months |
Core business |
Obsolete products |
Currently revising the budget |
Financial plan is in a state of total disarray |
Cyclical industry |
Just posted a huge loss |
Difference in operating philosophies |
Hate each other's guts |
Entrepreneurial CEO |
Totally uncontrollable, bordering on maniacal |
Good news and bad news |
Mostly bad news |
Great co-investor |
Can get tickets to most sporting events |
Highly leveragable network |
Plays a lot of golf |
Independent thinker |
Complete crackpot |
Ingredients are there |
Have yet to find a coherent strategy |
Interesting financial play |
An operating disaster |
Investing heavily in R & D |
Have fallen far behind the competition |
Leading edge technology |
No customers in sight, synonymous with "pushing the engineering envelope" |
Learning experience |
Sheer hell |
Left to pursue other opportunities |
Summarily fired |
Limited downside |
It can't get much worse |
Long selling cycle |
Customers don't like the product |
Major opportunity to restructure the capitalization |
We're desperate |
Niche strategy |
Hardly anyone likes the product |
On a manufacturing learning curve |
Can't make the product with positive gross margins |
Opportunistic investing strategy |
All over the map |
Passive investor |
Phones yearly to see if company is still in business |
Plan has gone through several iterations |
Management team in state of total confusion |
Possibility of slight shortfall |
A revenue shortfall of at least 50% |
References raised a couple of issues |
Complete loser |
Recently became an independent consultant |
Recently was fired, synonymous with "Left to pursue other opportunities" |
Repositioning the business |
Have just written off multi-million dollar investment |
Selective investment strategy |
Spends lots of time on yachts |
Solid citizen |
No redeeming characteristics |
Somewhat autocratic |
Totalitarian dictator |
Somewhat below plan |
Revenue shortfall of at least 75% |
Strategic investor |
Someone who will pay a high price |
Thanks for your input |
I'm going to completely ignore your advice |
Think more tactically than strategically |
Not very smart |
Too early to tell |
Results to date have been dismal |
Turn-around opportunity |
Pretty much a lost cause |
Unique |
No more than six competitors |
Upgrading the management team |
In the process of cleaning house |
Value-added investor |
Generally comes to board meetings, but spends most of the time on "emergency" phone calls |
Volume sensitive |
Massive fixed costs |
Well below plan |
Complete, unmitigated disaster, synonymous with "ran into a slight hiccup" |
Window of opportunity |
About to be blown away by the competition |
Works closely with management |
Monthly telephone call |