Nancy Broden — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:56:08 GMT

I work at a design consultancy that was started by three designers. Like Todd, they have created a thriving business through their own investment, by choice.

I have also been fortunate, however, to gain insight into the world of product/service development and funding through my husband’s startup. VCs, and to some extent, angel investors are looking for someone who knows every detail of the market they are trying to break into. In SV this translates into someone with an MBA, or at the very least a track record of entrepreneurship. In a pinch they will accept the engineer who built the product or service but only if his or her team includes someone with the right business chops. In essence, money guys/gals want to talk with other money guys/gals – in their minds everyone else, aside from the key engineer(s), is relatively unimportant and replaceable. Few designers, I suspect, desire to become that intimately involved in the business side of things (although there are many who are deeply into strategy, which can segue into business). Perhaps we should learn a lesson from the engineers on this one – many people with CS degrees and technical leanings go on to get MBAs and become the type of entrepreneur SV investors love.

Boxes and Arrows: Comments by Nancy Broden