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Heidi Roizen
Heidi Roizen

4.7K Followers

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Oct 21, 2022

You Just got a Term Sheet for a Down Round — Woohoo!

…Said no one ever, at least at first. Let me try to get you to a happier place about this — and also keep you from making the biggest mistake I’ve seen other entrepreneurs make in down round negotiations. You’ve toiled away since the last round. It’s been a super…

8 min read

You Just got a Term Sheet for a Down Round — Woohoo!
You Just got a Term Sheet for a Down Round — Woohoo!

8 min read


May 3, 2022

How to Build a Marathon Culture in a Sprint Society: Lessons from Upside Foods

Instant delivery! Fast fashion! Buy it now! As as society, we seem to be moving continuously towards immediate gratification. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to be possible for some of our most pressing problems. We face some massive, fundamental, and unprecedented challenges, challenges for which solutions will be hard and complex…

Culture

8 min read

How to Build a Marathon Culture in a Sprint Society: Lessons from Upside Foods
How to Build a Marathon Culture in a Sprint Society: Lessons from Upside Foods
Culture

8 min read


Mar 25, 2022

Should you borrow money to exercise private company options? Here’s what you need to know.

One of my brilliant former students called me last week to ask me whether he should take advantage of a ‘free loan from the company’ to exercise the options of the startup he is with. …

Startup Lessons

6 min read

Should you borrow money to exercise private company options? Here’s what you need to know.
Should you borrow money to exercise private company options? Here’s what you need to know.
Startup Lessons

6 min read


Nov 19, 2020

Building Better Workplaces for Trans and Non-binary People

This is a topic that has come up in a number of our portfolio companies of late. And, as the parent of a child who identifies as trans and non-binary, I’m also probably more attuned than most to the inequities as well as personally passionate about creating change. So, in…

Transgender

5 min read

Transgender

5 min read


Nov 18, 2020

As the parent of a trans kid, I was deeply affected by Leelah Alcorn’s suicide. I thought sharing this might help someone else.

Note: I wrote this five years ago. I’m reposting it today in honor of Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance. I have been thinking for weeks about the suicide of teenager Leelah Alcorn, and her wish that her death mean something. I’m sharing my story about what it has been like to be the parent of a trans kid in the hopes that if you are a parent struggling to…

Transawareness

6 min read

Transawareness

6 min read


Sep 17, 2020

Six Calls from Aicha

This CEO is a master at interacting with her board. Here’s how she does it. My phone started ringing. It was a Saturday night in May around 10pm and I was hanging out with my daughter, watching a movie. She hit pause and said, “Let me guess, it’s Aicha.” It…

Corporate Governance

6 min read

Six Calls from Aicha
Six Calls from Aicha
Corporate Governance

6 min read


Jul 27, 2020

We aren’t going to increase diversity in the boardroom unless we’re willing to appoint first-timers. Why is that so hard to do?

I just had an exchange this morning that was sadly similar to too many exchanges I’ve had in the past. Here’s how they tend to go. The CEO and board members of a company are searching to fill an open seat. They reach out to me as a known connector…

Governance

6 min read

We aren’t going to increase diversity in the boardroom unless we’re willing to appoint first-timers.
We aren’t going to increase diversity in the boardroom unless we’re willing to appoint first-timers.
Governance

6 min read


Published in Help Me Heidi

·Dec 11, 2019

VC Secrets revealed: What do “due diligence” and “data room” mean? Should I meet with an associate or only a partner? How often should I communicate with my VC? And more…

Hello Readers! I’m ending the year with a grab-bag of VC-related questions and answers. Keep those questions coming to helpmeheidi@threshold.vc, and happy holidays! — Heidi Q: I’ve heard that when raising from a VC you should never take a meeting with anyone but a partner, because they are the only…

Venture Capital

6 min read

VC Secrets revealed: What do “due diligence” and “data room” mean?
VC Secrets revealed: What do “due diligence” and “data room” mean?
Venture Capital

6 min read


Published in Help Me Heidi

·Nov 26, 2019

What is the magical secret to a great VC pitch?

Dear Heidi, I have a killer app that I think is going to be HU-U-U-UGE. I’ve been working on it every night and weekend for the last six months, and I think I’m ready to take the plunge, raise some money and quit my job to work on this full…

Startup

4 min read

What is the magical secret to a great VC pitch?
What is the magical secret to a great VC pitch?
Startup

4 min read


Published in Help Me Heidi

·Nov 12, 2019

What *not* to do in a venture pitch meeting

Dear Heidi, Monday’s the day we present to our top choice venture firm. The deck is ready and we’ve honed our delivery to perfection. …

Startup

3 min read

What *not* to do in a venture pitch meeting
What *not* to do in a venture pitch meeting
Startup

3 min read

Heidi Roizen

Heidi Roizen

4.7K Followers

Partner at Threshold Ventures, Stanford Educator, Board Member, Mom, dog lover.

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