Comments on: Why Most VC’s Don’t Sign NDAs

By: Telli

Telli — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:23:12 +0000

Thank you so much for this link and your insight. I agree: if you feel you have a truly innovative product or service, do not be so naive as to think that others won't try to benefir from it. VCs are in the business of CAPITALISM. If you are content with seeing your product on a television ad by another company…then don't use an NDA.

By: Sorry Bud, I’m Not Signing your NDA « VentureBits

Sorry Bud, I’m Not Signing your NDA « VentureBits — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:12:19 +0000

[...] believe me, or don’t agree with my reasoning, then check out what Guy Kawasaki or Brad Feld have to say about NDA’s. They provide even more reasons VC’s won’t sign [...]

By: Sorry Bud, I’m Not Signing your NDA « VentureBits

Sorry Bud, I’m Not Signing your NDA « VentureBits — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:47:58 +0000

[...] a blog post that I can point people to. If you don’t believe me, just ask Guy Kawasaki or Brad Feld what they think about NDA’s. Even if you claim to have a “Google-buster strategy” [...]

By: Sorry Bud, We Don’t Sign NDA’s « VentureBits

Sorry Bud, We Don’t Sign NDA’s « VentureBits — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:32:09 +0000

[...] a blog post that I can point everyone to. If you don’t believe me just ask Guy Kawasaki or Brad Feld what they think about [...]

By: NDAs | alexking.org

NDAs | alexking.org — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:02:28 +0000

[...] Why Most VC’s Don’t Sign NDAs [...]

By: ditch your stealth mode, it’s worthless | Trep Rally

ditch your stealth mode, it’s worthless | Trep Rally — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:50:43 +0000

[...] and investment opportunities. Investors won’t sign NDAs (VC, Brad Feld explains why here). Most experienced entrepreneurs won’t either. Building a strong network is critical to your [...]

By: Confidentiality Agreements and NDAs

Confidentiality Agreements and NDAs — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:43:27 +0000

[...] To quote from Guy: ”Before you even start addressing the hard stuff, never ask a venture capitalist to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). They never do. This is because at any given moment, they are looking at three or four similar deals. They’re not about to create legal issues because they sign a NDA and then fund another, similar company–thereby making the paranoid entrepreneur believe the venture capitalist stole his idea. If you even ask them to sign one, you might as well tattoo “I’m clueless!” on your forehead.” Brad Feld: http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2006/02/why-most-vcs-dont-sign-ndas.html [...]

By: » Some notes on NDAs <CrowdVine Blog>

» Some notes on NDAs <CrowdVine Blog> — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:09:15 +0000

[...] for thought First, read Why Most VCs Don’t Sign NDAs for a run down of the common reasons people turn down NDAs (these are written by a VC but are [...]

By: Brad Feld

Brad Feld — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:14:05 +0000

Josh – totally fine – each to his own perspective.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:30:00 +0000

I don't care if the VC has the checkbook, or says "I won't sign a NDA". I reply with "Well this meeting is over". I am in the process of working with contractors on a web project and all that are involved, including my investor signed a NDA. I spoke with 7 possible investors and none of them wanted to sign a NDA. So I walked out of the meetings. It's my idea. Why would I put my self in a positions to get burned. I finally found an investor that signed my NDA, and we are now working on this project.

It's my idea, why on earth would I tell someone about ideas, my creative process, and how I'm going to execute my ideas to someone that won't sign a paper saying that they won't talk about it and keep it confidential.

Ideas make the world go round, wait to find investors, or VC that will sign a NDA.

That's how I see it. Protect your ideas.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:47:29 +0000

Your response is very telling to say the least. Thanks for the heads up…

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:43:36 +0000

Gee…Why am I not surprised?

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:40:26 +0000

A Mutual NDA protects both the VC and the inventor. None the less this diatribe only highlights and emphasizes why ideas must be protected and why VC's could consider approaching this dilemma from perhaps another vantage point, that of the inventor. I have signed NDA's with companies who understand the reasons for doing so and also understand that it is a two way avenue.

By: guest

guest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:49:28 +0000

Should not the entrepreneur determine disclosure levels for their information based on sensitivity and criteria. Maybe three levels to start. 1) general ideas to help all understand potential interest, conflicts, and opportunities, no NDA required 2) detailed business plan information that would be shared with a signed NDA, 3) trade secrets, only to be shared with investors.

By: guest

guest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:26:27 +0000

Excellent point and well said, Mr. Blake.