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Aug 10, 2015 · 30m · 20vc

20 VC 061: Roxanne Varza on Pitching A VC in 10 Minutes and Maximising Media Exposure For Your Startup

Roxanne Varza · 22m spoken Harry Stebbings · 6m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

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In this episode of The 20 Minute VC, host Harry Stebbings interviews Roxanne Varza, startup lead for Microsoft in France, to discuss the growth of European tech ecosystems, accelerator programs, PR strategies for startups, and initiatives promoting female entrepreneurship.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Harry holds 22.6% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Harry as informed peer 2.3 Guest teaching 2.7 Guest disagreement 0.7 Harry pushing back 0.7
05100:0010:0020:0030:001:37–3:42 · Harry as informed peer 1/10 Roxanne Varza's Background and Moving Abroad Harry asks standard career background questions regarding Roxanne's path from San Francisco to France. Roxanne cordially explains her trajectory and the personal benefits of working in foreign tech ecosystems.3:42–7:21 · Harry as informed peer 4/10 Evolution and Funding Trends in French Tech Harry demonstrates ecosystem knowledge by bringing up specific UK tax incentives (SEIS/EIS) and recent podcast stats. Roxanne gently corrects Harry on the scope of the VC funding figures (Europe vs France) and rejects his premise that founders in weaker ecosystems must relocate.7:21–9:31 · Harry as informed peer 2/10 Unifying European Ecosystems and Influx of US VCs The conversation covers unifying European markets and US VCs investing in Europe. The dynamic is highly collaborative with Harry guiding topics and Roxanne elaborating on Tech City and La French Tech.9:31–13:59 · Harry as informed peer 2/10 Microsoft Ventures, Application Screening, and Deal Terms Harry asks structured questions about Microsoft Ventures' application process, screening criteria, and terms. Roxanne educates the audience on their non-equity $500k cloud offering and pitch evaluation.13:59–20:30 · Harry as informed peer 4/10 Overcoming Startup Pitfalls and Maximizing PR Exposure Harry cites specific market dynamics like Meerkat and Twitter platform dependency. Roxanne shares journalism expertise from her TechCrunch days on guest posts and effective pitch angles.20:30–23:59 · Harry as informed peer 1/10 Girls in Tech and Improving Diversity in Education Roxanne outlines initiatives for Girls in Tech and DigiGirls, offering insights into young students' misconceptions about tech careers. Harry listens and prompts further ideas for educational reform.23:59–29:41 · Harry as informed peer 2/10 Quickfire Round: Books, Inspirations, and Final Advice During the quickfire round, Harry playfully pushes back on Roxanne's choice of literary classic over Elon Musk's biography. Roxanne shares practical career advice and recommendations on tools and startups.1:37–3:42 · Guest teaching 2/10 Roxanne Varza's Background and Moving Abroad Harry asks standard career background questions regarding Roxanne's path from San Francisco to France. Roxanne cordially explains her trajectory and the personal benefits of working in foreign tech ecosystems.3:42–7:21 · Guest teaching 4/10 Evolution and Funding Trends in French Tech Harry demonstrates ecosystem knowledge by bringing up specific UK tax incentives (SEIS/EIS) and recent podcast stats. Roxanne gently corrects Harry on the scope of the VC funding figures (Europe vs France) and rejects his premise that founders in weaker ecosystems must relocate.7:21–9:31 · Guest teaching 2/10 Unifying European Ecosystems and Influx of US VCs The conversation covers unifying European markets and US VCs investing in Europe. The dynamic is highly collaborative with Harry guiding topics and Roxanne elaborating on Tech City and La French Tech.9:31–13:59 · Guest teaching 3/10 Microsoft Ventures, Application Screening, and Deal Terms Harry asks structured questions about Microsoft Ventures' application process, screening criteria, and terms. Roxanne educates the audience on their non-equity $500k cloud offering and pitch evaluation.13:59–20:30 · Guest teaching 3/10 Overcoming Startup Pitfalls and Maximizing PR Exposure Harry cites specific market dynamics like Meerkat and Twitter platform dependency. Roxanne shares journalism expertise from her TechCrunch days on guest posts and effective pitch angles.20:30–23:59 · Guest teaching 3/10 Girls in Tech and Improving Diversity in Education Roxanne outlines initiatives for Girls in Tech and DigiGirls, offering insights into young students' misconceptions about tech careers. Harry listens and prompts further ideas for educational reform.23:59–29:41 · Guest teaching 2/10 Quickfire Round: Books, Inspirations, and Final Advice During the quickfire round, Harry playfully pushes back on Roxanne's choice of literary classic over Elon Musk's biography. Roxanne shares practical career advice and recommendations on tools and startups.1:37–3:42 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Roxanne Varza's Background and Moving Abroad Harry asks standard career background questions regarding Roxanne's path from San Francisco to France. Roxanne cordially explains her trajectory and the personal benefits of working in foreign tech ecosystems.3:42–7:21 · Guest disagreement 3/10 Evolution and Funding Trends in French Tech Harry demonstrates ecosystem knowledge by bringing up specific UK tax incentives (SEIS/EIS) and recent podcast stats. Roxanne gently corrects Harry on the scope of the VC funding figures (Europe vs France) and rejects his premise that founders in weaker ecosystems must relocate.7:21–9:31 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Unifying European Ecosystems and Influx of US VCs The conversation covers unifying European markets and US VCs investing in Europe. The dynamic is highly collaborative with Harry guiding topics and Roxanne elaborating on Tech City and La French Tech.9:31–13:59 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Microsoft Ventures, Application Screening, and Deal Terms Harry asks structured questions about Microsoft Ventures' application process, screening criteria, and terms. Roxanne educates the audience on their non-equity $500k cloud offering and pitch evaluation.13:59–20:30 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Overcoming Startup Pitfalls and Maximizing PR Exposure Harry cites specific market dynamics like Meerkat and Twitter platform dependency. Roxanne shares journalism expertise from her TechCrunch days on guest posts and effective pitch angles.20:30–23:59 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Girls in Tech and Improving Diversity in Education Roxanne outlines initiatives for Girls in Tech and DigiGirls, offering insights into young students' misconceptions about tech careers. Harry listens and prompts further ideas for educational reform.23:59–29:41 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Quickfire Round: Books, Inspirations, and Final Advice During the quickfire round, Harry playfully pushes back on Roxanne's choice of literary classic over Elon Musk's biography. Roxanne shares practical career advice and recommendations on tools and startups.1:37–3:42 · Harry pushing back 0/10 Roxanne Varza's Background and Moving Abroad Harry asks standard career background questions regarding Roxanne's path from San Francisco to France. Roxanne cordially explains her trajectory and the personal benefits of working in foreign tech ecosystems.3:42–7:21 · Harry pushing back 2/10 Evolution and Funding Trends in French Tech Harry demonstrates ecosystem knowledge by bringing up specific UK tax incentives (SEIS/EIS) and recent podcast stats. Roxanne gently corrects Harry on the scope of the VC funding figures (Europe vs France) and rejects his premise that founders in weaker ecosystems must relocate.7:21–9:31 · Harry pushing back 0/10 Unifying European Ecosystems and Influx of US VCs The conversation covers unifying European markets and US VCs investing in Europe. The dynamic is highly collaborative with Harry guiding topics and Roxanne elaborating on Tech City and La French Tech.9:31–13:59 · Harry pushing back 0/10 Microsoft Ventures, Application Screening, and Deal Terms Harry asks structured questions about Microsoft Ventures' application process, screening criteria, and terms. Roxanne educates the audience on their non-equity $500k cloud offering and pitch evaluation.13:59–20:30 · Harry pushing back 1/10 Overcoming Startup Pitfalls and Maximizing PR Exposure Harry cites specific market dynamics like Meerkat and Twitter platform dependency. Roxanne shares journalism expertise from her TechCrunch days on guest posts and effective pitch angles.20:30–23:59 · Harry pushing back 0/10 Girls in Tech and Improving Diversity in Education Roxanne outlines initiatives for Girls in Tech and DigiGirls, offering insights into young students' misconceptions about tech careers. Harry listens and prompts further ideas for educational reform.23:59–29:41 · Harry pushing back 2/10 Quickfire Round: Books, Inspirations, and Final Advice During the quickfire round, Harry playfully pushes back on Roxanne's choice of literary classic over Elon Musk's biography. Roxanne shares practical career advice and recommendations on tools and startups.

speaking balance: gold is Harry, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Harry 61.1% · guest 38.9%0:00 · Harry 61.1% · guest 38.9%3:00 · Harry 15.6% · guest 84.4%3:00 · Harry 15.6% · guest 84.4%6:00 · Harry 16.2% · guest 83.8%6:00 · Harry 16.2% · guest 83.8%9:00 · Harry 11.2% · guest 88.8%9:00 · Harry 11.2% · guest 88.8%12:00 · Harry 20.4% · guest 79.6%12:00 · Harry 20.4% · guest 79.6%15:00 · Harry 22.3% · guest 77.7%15:00 · Harry 22.3% · guest 77.7%18:00 · Harry 19.6% · guest 80.4%18:00 · Harry 19.6% · guest 80.4%21:00 · Harry 7.6% · guest 92.4%21:00 · Harry 7.6% · guest 92.4%24:00 · Harry 16.9% · guest 83.1%24:00 · Harry 16.9% · guest 83.1%27:00 · Harry 18.8% · guest 81.2%27:00 · Harry 18.8% · guest 81.2%30:00 · Harry 100% · guest 0%30:00 · Harry 100% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 6:38 Rejecting the relocation mandate for founders

When Harry suggests that startup founders in non-conducive environments should definitely move, Roxanne directly rejects his premise with 'actually, no' and argues for building local European networks.

 Hardest push from Harry ▶ 5:04 Pressing on French startup tax policy

Harry interrupts to challenge whether France offers tax incentives comparable to the UK's SEIS and EIS schemes when Roxanne discusses French tax regulations.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 5:27 Correcting European vs French VC funding data

Roxanne corrects Harry's assumption that a 2 billion euro quarterly VC increase was specific to France, clarifying that the figure represented all of Europe.

 Harry holds his own ▶ 5:04 Demonstrating UK startup tax scheme knowledge

Harry demonstrates strong domain knowledge of investment frameworks by citing specific UK tax schemes (SEIS and EIS) to benchmark French startup policy.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicHarry as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementHarry pushing backWhy
Roxanne Varza's Background and Moving Abroad 1200 Harry asks standard career background questions regarding Roxanne's path from San Francisco to France. Roxanne cordially explains her trajectory and the personal benefits of working in foreign tech ecosystems.
Evolution and Funding Trends in French Tech 4432 Harry demonstrates ecosystem knowledge by bringing up specific UK tax incentives (SEIS/EIS) and recent podcast stats. Roxanne gently corrects Harry on the scope of the VC funding figures (Europe vs France) and rejects his premise that founders in weaker ecosystems must relocate.
Unifying European Ecosystems and Influx of US VCs 2200 The conversation covers unifying European markets and US VCs investing in Europe. The dynamic is highly collaborative with Harry guiding topics and Roxanne elaborating on Tech City and La French Tech.
Microsoft Ventures, Application Screening, and Deal Terms 2300 Harry asks structured questions about Microsoft Ventures' application process, screening criteria, and terms. Roxanne educates the audience on their non-equity $500k cloud offering and pitch evaluation.
Overcoming Startup Pitfalls and Maximizing PR Exposure 4311 Harry cites specific market dynamics like Meerkat and Twitter platform dependency. Roxanne shares journalism expertise from her TechCrunch days on guest posts and effective pitch angles.
Girls in Tech and Improving Diversity in Education 1300 Roxanne outlines initiatives for Girls in Tech and DigiGirls, offering insights into young students' misconceptions about tech careers. Harry listens and prompts further ideas for educational reform.
Quickfire Round: Books, Inspirations, and Final Advice 2212 During the quickfire round, Harry playfully pushes back on Roxanne's choice of literary classic over Elon Musk's biography. Roxanne shares practical career advice and recommendations on tools and startups.

Statements from this episode (11)

Insight
Varza: Relocating abroad provides unique career advantages over staying in Silicon Valley
“So I think it's been actually a huge asset living abroad. Sometimes I think, you know, had I stayed in the valley where everyone is just so remarkable, it's kind of like the top tier is really competing to stand out. I think when you change countries, by defau…”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 2:47
Opinion
Varza: French tech development has outperformed Silicon Valley since 2009
“The progress and the development that I have seen since arriving in France has really just outperformed Silicon Valley.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 3:45
Assertion Not checkable as stated
French startup tax benefits are weaker than UK's SEIS and EIS
“There was the ISF kind of tax benefit, which still is, is available, but they're nowhere near as advantageous as SEIS, NEIS in in the UK.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 5:08
Assertion Supported
Varza: Deezer, Sigfox, and BlaBlaCar raised $100M+ rounds in France
“We had several one hundred million dollar rounds that were done by French companies, that, that was Deezer, Sigfox, and BlaBlaCar, which, you know, those have all happened in the last two, three years.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 5:46
Assertion Open · timeframe Aug 2015
Varza: Every top-tier US VC firm has invested in Europe
“I think if you look at every single American top tier fund, you will have at least one European investment today.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 9:03
Assertion Supported
Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in France accepts 10 of 250 applicants
“And so that's a really intensive screening process, and we only picked 10 finalists, so that's 10 from 250 companies that make the cut.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 12:08
Disclosure
Microsoft Ventures provides $500k in cloud credits per startup with zero equity
“No, actually the whole program is completely free so we don't take any equity, we're not charging them even for space it's, it actually comes down to a cloud offer that we're putting in front of them and we're not even, Really forcing them to use the cloud off…”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 13:08
Insight
Varza: Startup product launches are not newsworthy on their own
“A lot of entrepreneurs think that their product launch is news, and a lot of the time I have to sit down and tell them, that's not news. Companies are launching every day. There's no reason why yours is special.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 15:57
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Varza: TechCrunch France's top post was a guest essay on freemium
“I had one company that published a post on why they chose a freemium model for their business, and that post actually ended up being probably the top post of all time on TechCrunch France.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 17:06
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Girls in Tech intro coding classes sold out in two hours
“So in the last few years, we've done free coding classes or intro to coding classes, which were wildly successful in France. And that, you know, we sold out within two hours.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 21:10
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Varza: Learning to code will become as essential as learning English
“But I think code is going to be tomorrow's English, so.”
Roxanne Varza Aug 10, 2015 ▶ 27:21
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