How can I get a VC interested in my startup? This is a common question on entrepreneur circuits, be it a TiE meeting, a Dare event or a HeadStart StartUp Saturday event.

My answer to this is simple. Don't run behind a VC. Work on your business model, actually jump into the water and start building the business. If your startup cannot start without a VC money then it most probably is not a good idea.

I was encountered by two bright young wannabe entrepreneurs and surprised me by saying they are working on products for the space research domain. Now in India there is only one agency which can buy them and that is ISRO. So where do they start. The duo were looking for some VCs who can help them sell their ideas to the space agency.

I would think involving a VC at this stage is counter-productive. Since the inventions have a direct buyer, the entrepreneurs should approach the agency directly, perhaps through its external technology partnership arm. Being a government agency it may have its own process of approvals and procurement which the entrepreneurs have to go through. There is no short cut to the high road of success.

In order to derisk, the entrepreneurs can also look for alternative applications for their product inventions and pursue them as well.