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Rick Segal
ricksegal.typepad.com · Personal blog · on HN since 2007
Rick Segal, a venture capitalist at JLA Ventures in Toronto, writes advice for founders on pitching investors and building startups.
What HN saysCommenters describe him as a stand-up VC and point founders to his blog for funding advice.
26HN people shared it
2linked it in comments
40stories submitted
428story points
11 years agolast shared
2007people per year2026
Most-shared posts
- 1The Coolest Business Plan Ever2 people · 108 points · first shared 2008 · 11 comments on HN
- 2You won't get funding on the basis of finding a better/missing feature of another product2 people · 27 points · first shared 2008 · 13 comments on HN
- 3How not to approach an investor1 people · 61 points · first shared 2008 · 18 comments on HN
- 4Pitching VCs? Better know about IBM's latest OS/21 people · 44 points · first shared 2008 · 35 comments on HN
- 5How to make a corporate butt pucker1 people · 30 points · first shared 2008 · 15 comments on HN
- 6A Fatal Paper Cut - Too many shareholders and bad shareholders agreement1 people · 20 points · first shared 2007 · 3 comments on HN
- 7Just do the Demo1 people · 19 points · first shared 2009 · 5 comments on HN
- 8More from the Trenches - Rick Segal advises someone to go for small scale acquisition angering other VCs1 people · 14 points · first shared 2007 · 1 comments on HN
- 9Shortsighted Greed (Angels are Good)1 people · 11 points · first shared 2007 · 1 comments on HN
- 10The Post Money Value: A Good Way to Get Rolling - Sample first pass series A term email from a VC1 people · 11 points · first shared 2007 · 5 comments on HN
- 11Memo to Start-Up World: Money is available1 people · 9 points · first shared 2008 · 2 comments on HN
- 12How a VC says "no" to a company seeking funding1 people · 7 points · first shared 2007 · 5 comments on HN
- 13Tone - It really is important (Xobni)1 people · 7 points · first shared 2008 · 2 comments on HN
- 14The Post Money Value: Remote Work vs. Remote Leadership1 people · 6 points · first shared 2007 · discussion on HN
- 15Xobni - The Next BlackBerry Partners Fund Investment1 people · 6 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
What HN people wrote when they linked it
pedalpete · 2008-11-16
Wow, you've got a ton of great and positive advice here.
I agree with almost all of it, but would add this...
There are no shortage of ideas, and no shortage of businesses to build if you have the ideas. If the company/market you are looking at has a good implementation with market penetration and barriers to entry, and if you can't SIGNIFICANTLY make a difference, then maybe keep looking.
Take a read of Rick Segal's current post (and my comment there).
http://ricksegal.typepad.com/pmv/2008/11/features-of-the-world-unite.h…
So, your final sentence says it all... go develop, you'll learn a ton going through that process and maybe find more ways to differentiate and improve on the market.
Don't forget to let us know when you launch.
lowkey · 2008-08-28
Check out JLA Ventures. They are based in Toronto and just recently raised a new $100 million fund. Rick Segal is their most visible partner and he seems to be a very stand-up guy. http://ricksegal.typepad.com/