How to Find the Right VC to Fund Your Business Raising money is important, but who you raise it from is what matters the most.

By Aaron Price Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Propelify Technology Festival

While VC funding often represents the promised land for founders, anyone who's been in the ring knows that it can make or break your business. Raising money is important, but who you raise it from is what matters the most. A well-aligned VC partner can catapult your company into the major leagues, while a bad match can accelerate its unfortunate end. How do you identify and attract VCs with the right industry fit, network and core expertise?

Propelify Technology Festival is on October 6 2022 at Maxwell Place in Hoboken. To attend for free use code: EntrepreneurPropels

We talked to some of Propelify Technology Festival's speakers about what a prosperous match looks like and how to spot a red flag.

What is the most important thing to consider when seeking VC funding?

"One of the most important things to look for is someone you can trust and who is going to support you when things aren't great because they won't always be." — Vinit Bharara, Cofounder and CEO of Mojo

"Choosing an investor that has industry experience and can be a resource in bringing your vision to life is key. A strategic investor in your cap table can open doors and provide meaningful advice on potential opportunities and paths." — Hillel Olivestone, Head of Corporate Development at Cross River

"As a founder, I learned that many VCs say they'll be helpful when they deliver a term sheet but disappear when things actually get tough—or even worse, they interrupt your work with bad advice that's not based on any real operational experience. But just like you'd vet a new hire or prospective vendor, check their references. Talk to other founders in the portfolio. Ask what the firm actually brought to the table. Seek out the most successful companies in their portfolio as well as those that are no longer in business. And of course, have direct conversations with the team about the type of help and experience you're seeking." — Ben Sun, Cofounding General Partner, Primary

Aaron Price

Founder, Propelify.com / NJ Tech Meetup

Aaron is the founder of Propelify, built to empower innovators. The Propelify Innovation Festival unites 10,000 innovators with talks, exhibitors, drones, virtual reality, investors, music and more. Aaron is founder of the NJ Tech Meetup, NJ's largest technology & entrepreneurial community.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

American Eagle Stock Sees a 25% Surge Following Sydney Sweeney's Controversial 'Great Jeans' Ad Campaign

American Eagle saw its stock jump 25% after its earnings call on Wednesday.

Business News

Gold Prices Are Higher Than Ever. Here's How Much a Costco Gold Bar Purchased in 2024 Is Worth Today.

A one-ounce Costco bar is worth $870 more now than it was a year ago.

Starting a Business

He Built a $100 Million Brand in Menswear — Now He's Taking On Baby Monitors After a Scary Wake-Up Call

Kevin Lavelle of Harbor proves that success in entrepreneurship comes with solving the problems you face yourself.

Leadership

Your Team Doesn't Trust You — These 5 Leadership Habits Are to Blame

Trust isn't a soft value — it's a measurable driver of performance and retention.