Ask HN: How do you get to VCs if you don't live in the valley?

[code177]

Assuming you don't live in any of the major US tech spots (SF/SV/NY/etc), and you don't have any existing "relationships" with VCs, advisors, mentors, or incubators, how do you get yourself and your product in front of the people who can help you go to the next level?

AngelList, Caplinked, and the rest all appear to require that you have an existing network in place to be remotely useful.

[ig1]

Build relationships. Wherever you are you can probably network yourself to a reasonable position.

If you gave some details about where you are and the nature of your startup, it might be easier to give practical advice.

[jamesjguthrie]

I personally find it hard to build relationships like these. They seem to be out of my reach.

What about advice for UK startups, or even Scottish startups?

[code177]

Thanks ig1. We're located in Vancouver BC. Unfortunately, neither of us are particularly schmoozy and generally don't have a lot of time on our hands. VCs and similar don't tend to visit the conferences here anyway, and we're quite a ways past being in an incubator (600k seed, imagn.com, 2 cofounders - 1 technical, 1 business).

[ssylee]

Find some potential VCs. Research the hell outta them to find their interests and what makes them tick. Then, when the opportunity comes to provide them value, be proactive about it. Give it time to build relationship until you can meet in person and go from there.

Alternatively, you can fly out to different conferences in order to meet them in person to kickstart the relationship.