This article is part of DBA, a new series on Mashable about running a business that features insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, venture capital and management.

If you're a founding member of a tech startup, the odds are good that at some point you will find yourself pitching a venture capital firm to raise money. Over the years, I've seen a broad array of these pitches, ranging from the cringingly bad to fantastically good. Here are a few simple tips to help you prepare for and improve your pitch to potential investors.

1. Do your homework

It’s best to learn as much as you can about the VC before your pitch meeting. If you've done your homework — and I strongly suggest you do — you will have secured a warm introduction, evaluated the firm’s portfolio for stage and fit and generally determined whether your company is a good match for the fund. Don’t waste time qualifying a firm during the meeting. Do that ahead and of time and use the meeting properly — to tell your story.

2. Don't confuse courtesy with true interest

Regrettably, some VC funds will take meetings solely as a courtesy to a colleague or to learn more about a given space. On many occasions, I've spoken with entrepreneurs who thought they hit it out of the park only to learn the fund had no intention of investing. VCs are masters of the soft “no,” so you need to carefully read between the lines. View your first meetings as an opportunity to educate and excite the partner, and ideally secure a time for follow-up.

3. Don't ask for advice on strategy

Don't ask or expect a VC you're pitching to advise you on strategy or help flesh out your business plan. A pitch is not the right time or place for that. The main purpose of the meeting is for the VC to evaluate you and determine whether you have a well thought-out strategy and the ability to execute. Avoid open-ended questions such as, “Do you agree with our approach?” or, “What would you suggest we do?” Instead, speak confidently and showcase your strong perspective. This is not the time to be wishy-washy.

4. Drop the buzzwords

The tech scene today is brimming with buzzwords, and many entrepreneurs feel compelled to use what they may view as simply “industry terms” in their presentations. I've seen many a presentation rendered incomprehensible because it was chock-full of buzzwords: "Our (insert product or service) is highly disruptive and represents out-of-the-box thinking and a paradigm shift in the massively growing (insert sector) marketplace."

Lots of big words, but essentially meaningless. Cut out the jargon and explain what you do like you would to a friend who wasn't in the industry. One of my pet peeves is the standard presentation format used by most accelerators on demo day. They all look the same and lose the edges and originality that breathe life into a story. Tell your story simply, directly and with as few slides as possible. Make it personal. Most successful entrepreneurs are great storytellers. You have a story, so tell it.

5. Don't expect an immediate answer

One common mistake is for the entrepreneur to try to close too quickly.

In most cases, if the answer is no, VCs will quickly form an opinion, often in the first few critical minutes of the meeting. In this case, you can reasonably expect and deserve a quick response. (Keep in mind that VCs say “no” to 95% or more of the deals they see, and do so for many reasons both related and unrelated to your company.)

Getting to “yes” is more complicated.

It may require checking for conflicts; gaining partner support; defining the terms of the investment; consulting with trusted advisors; completing due diligence on you, the company and the market; and many other steps. Of course, like with a job offer, if you have other options in-hand, be upfront about it (but be careful not to overplay your hand).

Remember that a quick “no” is a healthy thing because it allows you to move onto the next opportunity. Don't be discouraged if it takes five, 10 or 25 introductions before you get a “yes” — this is perfectly normal. Remember all you need is one. If you really believe in your idea, don't be discouraged. Keep going.

Final Words

Most big ideas are not blindingly obvious at the beginning and can’t be neatly scripted to fit into a short elevator ride or an episode of Shark Tank. It may take time to develop your vision and convince an investor that you and your team are uniquely positioned to execute. As Sam Altman pointed out recently, “Great companies often look like bad ideas at the beginning.” Conversely, many of the “hot” investments that VCs clamor for a piece of don't end up panning out. In other words, just because VCs aren't lining up at your door now doesn't mean your idea isn’t good.

So if you are passionate about your company, it’s worth taking as many VC meetings as you need to take before someone “gets it.” If you use those meetings wisely and persevere even if you get a few “no’s” along the way, you'll be well on your way to success.

Share your VC lessons and experiences in the comments below.