The founding team as the key to a successful company and many times is more important than the idea itself. VCs favor founding teams that they know have each of these qualities in good supply. There are three valuable traits of a founding team: determination, intelligence and passion.

1. Three Traits VCs Value
in a Founding Team
by Avalon Ventures

2. The Founding Team Is The Key
To A Successful Company
Three valuable traits of a founding team:
• Determination
• Intelligence
• Passion

3. 1. Determination
Because startups face an ample share
of adversity, founders must first be
determined and willing to play David
against the oncoming Goliaths.

4. Determination
VCs look for the determined founder, the one they
know will be able to face the long odds against
success.

5. 2. Intelligence
The founding team must be intelligent,
“smarter than the average bear”.

6. Intelligence
While intelligence might seem obvious, there is no
substitute for expertise. It is about more than knowing
the market — it is about knowing that you are the
best at something and working to prove it.

7. 3. Passion
Passion is not only necessary to build a
great company, but to get others to share
the vision.

8. Passion
Passion requires that an entrepreneur:
• Marshal a vision
• Get other co-founders to share it
• Convince relatives or venture capitalists to back it
financially and implement it
• Work days, night and weekends to make it happen

9. The Takeaway
• The VC industry is a truthful one;
companies either succeed or fail.
• The founding team is more important
than the idea itself.
• VCs favor founding teams that they
know have each of these qualities in
good supply.

10. Learn more!
Visit http://avalon-ventures.com/blog for more actionable advice
on early stage startups, VC funding and other entrepreneurial tips.