Interview: Matt Turck, Managing Director at FirstMark Capital What are your thoughts on venture capital? My first interaction with venture capital was in grad school when my co-founder and I applied to Pear VC for our health data startup idea. I quickly realized I was out of my depth as I was asked about TAM, competitors, and other details about the health market... rejected. We then applied to Lean Launchpad, got an interview, and again crumbled when VCs started questioning our business model… rejected. A few more rejections that year and a pattern became clear— VCs are some of the best individuals at identifying holes in your proposed ideas, for they are in the business of saying “no.”