Independent rating of Venrock VC fund
Overall rating:
16 reviews
About Venrock VC fund
Website:
Founded:
1969
Number of funds:
10
Number of investments:
765
Number of exits:
263
Headquarters:
Organization type:
Venture Capital
How Venrock VC fund invests
Rounds:
Average ticket size:
26.3M USD
Smallest investment:
3.31M USD
Biggest investment:
78.9M USD
Would lead round:
Yes
Would coinvest:
Yes
Countries where invested:
Sectors of interest:
Software, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Information Technology, Health Care, Financial Services, Wellness, Transportation, Supply Chain Management, SaaS, Risk Management, Product Research, Natural Language Processing, Marketplace, Life Science, Legal Tech, Legal, Internet, Health Insurance, Health Diagnostics, Genetics, FinTech, Ethereum, Employee Benefits, Document Management, Cyber Security, Computer, Blockchain, Biotechnology, Asset Management, Air Transportation, Aerospace
Founders' reviews of Venrock VC fund
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Older than a year by non-portfolio founder
Helpful Pre Investment
David and Marissa have been extremely helpful in providing feedback, direction, contacts and advice while tracking our company as a potential investment. Above and beyond expected support. Hopefully we can make enough progress to get them in as investors.
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Marissa Campise is Awesome
Almost every VC who passes on your deal will say "I'm sorry this just isn't for us, but let me help you out if I can." Very few, almost none of them mean it. I've been very fortunate to meet a rare few who walk their talk.
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Quick Pitch, Quick Ding
A few weeks ago I had a good introduction to David Pakman. He took my meeting quickly, was on time, asked good questions and definitely understood my business. Didn't check his email once. I thought he was interested but a week later I got a nice clean email declining to fund.
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No Free Lunch
A number of years ago Tony showed up at my little startup in his big Mercedes. He parked the car in front and came into our tiny office behind the dumpsters. I had bootstrapped the company using credit cards and any funds I could get my hands on. He listened to the pitch and then we went across the street for lunch. He let ME buy lunch. I know this is a stupid, petty, little thing but I have never forgotten it. To me, it reflected a total lack of understanding of what an entrepreneur goes through to start a business. Based on that incident I wouldn't go near the guy.
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Very Concerned about Their Incubator!
I have seen quite a few venture groups (mostly in healthcare, but some on IT) now start a side incubator. They listen to creative pitches from entrepreneurs and then essentially they have the rights to pursue it in their wholly owned incubator. It is a smart idea, they can get much larger ownership for the same money, but it seems very unfair to the entrepreneurs who lay the groundwork. And, of course, NONE of them are willing to sign CDAs.
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Healthcare Team is a Little Disappointing
Bryan Roberts is a very smart and very nice guy. Same with Fred Aslan. But they both are not very good VCs when looking at early stage opportunities. THey do not have much vision with regard to new opportunities. It seems that they have inherited a great brand and expect to be able to get every deal at EXTREMELY low valuations and without any risk. This is not realistic.
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Good Experience: Brian Ascher is Excellent
We worked with Venrock for nearly two months before getting rejected based on competitive issues (we are involved in the expert consulting space). Overall, it was a positive experience. Brian Ascher provided excellent guidance and feedback throughout the process. The other partners we met (including David Siminoff) were engaging, thoughtful, and respectful.
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Not Sure Why They Attract So Many Strong Opinions
Reasonable experience overall.
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Smart Bunch
I met with Brian over the last three months. I think he gets digital media. He's open to embracing new ideas and he makes time for you. I'd definitely try to land a meeting with him.
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At Least One Great Partner
Brian Ascher is a great VC. I've interacted less with the other partners, but on the whole our dealing with Venrock was straitforward and fair. Brian has been a very active board member (web space), and he's insightful and very helpful.
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Good Exchange
Generally good experience. Responsive to emails. Pitched them and provided them significant materials to review. Clearly took the time to understand model and technology. Passed due to a potential conflict with another portfolio company but were straight forward and helped introduce me to others.
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Solid Firm with Questionable Process
I found VenRock to be a solid firm. The partners and associates are bright, well connected and generally friendly. With that said, their pitch process is a bit broken. We pitched VenRock and were asked back for several follow up meetings. We were told we were a hiccup from a term sheet and then BANG.... a call came in that they were pulling out. Their rational was based on a 'banker' pitch about a competitor that was preparing an S-1. Unfortunately, VenRock never asked us to respond to any of their new findings. I'm sure we could have highlighted a lot of fluff. We have a deep knowledge of our competitive set, yet we were never asked to share our perspective. In sum, we wasted too many hours.
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Matt Trevithick
Really smart. Actually listened to what we were trying to do. Had good thoughts/suggestions. This was an introduction meeting; not a "pitching" meeting.
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Horrible VC
After making me run from one meeting to the other for several days. They didn't even have the curtsy to call and give a feedback. Left 100 voice and e-mail messages. Still no answer. What a horrible example for the VC world.
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Venrock Sinks to the Bottom
With such as great history, I was very sad to experience the putrefaction of their partner selection process at Venrock. They went with money, definitely not brains.
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Venrock NYC Great Firm
Great team of guys met with Mike Brooks and Ray Rothrock in NYC last year. Although they wound up not investing in my co they gave good insight on how to increase distribution of my product. If you have the opportunity to work with them seize the moment.