4.0
3.7 
2.8 
2.8 
3.4 Three Things that Impress Me about V Spring
Fund: vSpring Capital
Posted by dturchin on 2008-02-01
We closed with vSpring at the end of 2006. They were our first institutional investor. We've had nothing but positive experiences but three things have impressed me most:
1) Integrity: unfortunately, many posts on this site indicate integrity can't be assumed in the venture community. Everyone at vSpring from the admins to the associates and MDs don't make commitments they can't honor and don't play mind games before, during, or after the pitch.
2) Openness: you may not hear good news from vSpring but it has been my experience that you'll always get a straight answer. No hidden agendas - and that goes for everything from term sheet negotiation through to board meetings.
3) Entrepreneurial empathy: everyone at vSpring has an operational background which means the advice we get is relevant - and we're never asked to guinea pig ideas that haven't already worked for the partners.
Paul Ahlstrom led our deal and, clichéd as it sounds, has become a friend of the company and a personal friend. He knows where he can and can't add value and is particularly good at taking the temperature of emerging markets.
Patrick Bultema, former vSpring Venture Partner, also serves on our board as Executive Chairman. He is the ying to Paul's yang and has been invaluable as a fundraising partner (yeah, partner - not armchair quarterback) and mentor.
Feel free to contact me offline with any questions about the fund. My only regret is that vSpring has a low profile in Silicon Valley. Selfishly and to help other entrepreneurs, I'd like to see more strong out-of-region deals cross the Rockies.
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