Venture Capital Firms

SAN Francisco (Sarah McBride) -- Venture capitalist Bill Gurley has noticed something new this autumn: a big jump in the number of what he calls "...

So today's lower start-up costs should mean lots of new companies leading to lots of new jobs. But that's not happening. The traditional venture capital system is choking on the sudden ease with which companies can be founded.

Small businesses owners want to grow their companies, but their ability to expand operations is limited by their own profitability or otherwise lack of capital.

As both an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, I've sat on both sides of the table. Here are the seven secrets to what VCs are looking for as they consider who to invest in: