The Buddy System 5 people you should get to know when launching your business.

Get to Know Your VC
In this economic climate, it's tempting to work with just about any venture capitalist who's willing to give you the money your business needs. Lending is tight and eager investors are hard to find--we get that. What we suggest, however, is to know the person who is about to become a critical part of your business operations. Chris Talis, CPA and senior partner at Hedgerow, a consulting firm for mergers, acquisitions and businesses in Teaneck, N.J., started and capitalized many start-up companies in the last 15 years. Here's his take on what you need to know about your VC:

Know their industry focus. VCs tend to invest in an industry that they have had experience in--it's something they will look to leverage when investing in an opportunity.

Know their recent investments. In other words, check their references and find out if their clients are happy with the relationship.