Note: this is a very Europe oriented post!
It's pretty simple. Build your company to be big. Go for broke! Try to win it all! Mom is always going to like what you do so even if you suck, she'll be nice and love you anyway. The business world is not like that. I understand the need for people to be humble and demure. Yet, please do so in other lines of business. In VC backed companies, you need to deliver returns that are above and beyond the norm. This is expected. I'm measured by the same standards as you are when it comes to my returns.
I understand that people are scared right now and not only entrepreneurs are thinking safe. Lots of VC's have crawled back in their shell and basically moved away from risk. It's very unfortunate though when I get a pitch and hear that someone wants to be the best in a small market or a small geography. It's not enough to just be big in Germany or France or the UK? Sure, there are a few that were able to get big enough in just one country. We actually had a couple in our portfolio and they were very successful exits for us. Yet, it's better to go big and in a worst-case scenario just be the market leader in your country. Could be worse! But what's the worst-case scenario if you're just trying to win the German or French market? Get my point?
