What this teaches
Bessemer's famous public list of the legendary companies it passed on, with self-deprecating explanations ('friend rented her garage to Google's founders; David asked how he could leave the house without going near it').
Why it matters
Living proof that smart investors reject great companies constantly: the healthiest possible framing for founder rejection.
Key lessons
- A pass is one firm's opinion on one day, not a verdict on your company
- Even elite investors' judgment fails on outliers, because outliers look wrong
- Collect your rejections; some will become trophies
Bessemer Venture Partners
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