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Signal Strength

With stronger marketing efforts, VC firms are making sure their message gets heard.

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This story appears in the March 2005 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

Looking for signs of a VC rebound? Take a second glance at thosepress releases in your company mailbox. are ramping uptheir efforts twofold by hiring PR firms to promote theirown portfolio companies and full-time marketing people to get theircompany names before prospective entrepreneurs. "I wouldestimate that the number of dedicated marketing professionals whowork on staff or [on] a consultant basis for firmshas more than doubled in the past four years," says EmilyMendell, director of public affairs at the National Venture CapitalAssociation.

As VC firms try to raise new funds from limited partners,they've discovered that brand recognition is becoming moreimportant. VCs are growing more aggressive so they can be the firstto discover a hot deal or get a shot at the most promisingentrepreneurs. This is especially true at smaller, regional firmsthat don't already have high visibility within theentrepreneurial community.

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