In my last post, Give Striaght Talk, I explained that you need to be honest and direct when communicating with a VC.  In that first meeting (and at any other time) you should also expect straight talk from the VC.  To be clear, by 'straight talk' I mean blunt, direct and candid questions and comments.

The style of each VC varies a great deal.  Straight talk from some VCs will be warm and friendly - from others it may seem harsh.  However, few (if any) will want to waste time with indirect questions.

VCs use straight talk because they are very busy and need to get answers to their questions rapidly in order to avoid wasting time on deals that they ultimately won't invest in.  Being direct makes the dialogue more efficient.  It's not intended to be rude or offensive - just efficient.

They key is to be prepared for this.  It often appears that a VCs direct line of questioning catches entrepreneurs off guard.  They seem to feel attacked even when the meeting is going well.

Be prepared for this dynamic and don't take it personally.  Don't let the pace of the conversation distract you from your objective.