4 Warning Signs That a Venture Capitalist May Be Wrong for Your Start-up

Investor Brad Feld and entrepreneur Rajat Bhargava share what they've learned about making their 18-year partnership work.
Don't be shy about asking questions, he adds. "The mistake a lot of entrepreneurs make is that they're too tame because they don't want to scare off an investor. But the best investors love questions. They want to do more than just write you a check."
Of course, every VC in the world will say he or she wants to be your partner and advisor and not just a source of funds. Yet as Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams learned, sometimes having a VC can do more harm than good. How can you tell a VC might be wrong for your business? Watch for these warning signs: