Here is some short advice for founders: I see this happening every week or so. Do not use your Gmail to communicate with investors! You lose the opportunity of advertising your startup on the URL, look professional, and mainly, you miss giving the investor a chance to dig deeper if he chooses to do so.
Before looking at a deck, if you cold email me with something interesting, the first reaction to my flow is to go take a look at your website.
I validate every email via Rapportive, so generally, I'm always able to put a face to a name if/when this happens and the person on the other side has their email connected to their LinkedIn account.
As an active early-stage investor (we typically sign one term sheet every 2 weeks) I am in talks with over 60 companies on any given week. This would make life easier and make founders look better.
Exception goes for founders that have a personal relationship with the investor, so he is familiar with the person and project/business they are working on.
ps — I am just talking about @gmail addresses, not Google Apps. Thanks for pointing that out Adolfo Builes.
pss — Gmail is still the best email host out there due to its search capability, plug-in ecosystem, and spam filter. Too bad it's so slow.
When solving problems or dealing with multiple daily requests often my mind will get busy, worried and distracted and I lose flow.
You will not live life from one epiphany to another. Real progress in life a series of small improvements that compound.
As a Venture Capitalist, you must be able to sell (1) you and the firm, (2) the company, and (3) returns. Sell these 3 well and you might win in VC.
