Just finished watching a Q&A with Astro Teller from Google[x]. Apparently his team is behind the self-driving cars, glasses and many yet unannounced "moonshot ideas" at the Googleplex.
I wasn't planning on attending this talk - I walked into it by luck. I'd just arrived at the Google Campus to do something else entirely. And boy, was I in for a treat.
Not many people get to start their day with a motivational talk from an industry leader of this caliber. Working from Campus London affords me this opportunity almost on a daily basis.
Now, there is one thing Teller mentioned that struck me and energized me for the day. It has to do with raising funds with a VC, but I believe it applies with most endeavours.
VCs receive a thousand pitches by 10AM each day. They've seen it all, he says. There is no being different or original with them. They've seen the roller-blades, the goatees and pony tails; you can't impress them easily. What they look for cannot be worn, bought or faked.
VCs don't care about a business plan either. Business plans can change. In fact business plans will change. And they know that.
What they are looking for is "that look in your eyes." That look which says: (and I'm using my own words here) we will do this with or without you.
There is no question about if: We are doing this, even if we have to move Mount Fiji. We're fully invested. There is no turning back for us.
That's what the VC's are looking to see, according to Astro Teller.
And that's what I saw in his own eyes this morning. I saw an inspired man on a mission. To make the world a better place, one geeky invention at a time.



