Discussing your startup’s valuation with a VC is as safe as walking through a field of landmines during a tornado.

You will undoubtedly get excited the first time an investor asks what your startup is worth.

You will the think the valuation piece is an invitation to affirm how great your idea is.

You will be so tempted to show confidence in what you’ve built by assigning your company a dollar amount.

Maybe you even had your startup valued by an outside firm. Perhaps you valued your company based on clever, complex mathematical functions.

But, you’re walking into a trap.

And, you are almost powerless against the VC once he/she asks you about your valuation.

Notice that I said “almost powerless.”

I will let you in on something: The VC is trying to take your power.

Some VCs secretly hope you deflect valuation talk altogether the first time you’re asked.

Seems counterintuitive, right?

Want to know how to leverage the valuation conversation with a potential investor to your advantage? Fill out this form, and let’s do work!