20 VC 061: Roxanne Varza on Pitching A VC in 10 Minutes and Maximising Media Exposure For Your Startup

Roxanne Varza is currently the startup lead for Microsoft in France, running both Microsoft Ventures Paris and Bizspark. Prior to Microsoft, Roxanne was Editor of TechCrunch France and has been a guest author for the likes of The Telegraph and Business Insider. Roxanne is also the Co-Founder of Tech.eu, one of the few publications to cover the European tech industry as a whole, with the brilliant Robin Wauters. If that wasn't enough Roxanne is also the Co-Founder of Girls In Tech both in Paris and London, which aims to raise the visibility of women in technology,entrepreneurship and innovation though monthly events, leadership programmes and much more. Roxanne has won a range of accolade including Top 30 Women Under 30 In Tech, Coolest 25 Women in Tech and 10 Women Shaking Up Tech In Their 30s. 

P.S. If you are looking for an amazing new podcast on the Tech Scene in Europe, check out Tech.eu's new show here: Tech.eu Podcast #4

In Today's Episode You Will Learn:

• How Roxanne made her move into the tech industry and then made the move from TechCrunch to running Microsoft's Accelerator in Paris?
• What would Roxanne recommend to people in tech contemplating moving countries?
• What are the best and most effective ways to learn code from scratch?
• What is the mission at Microsoft Ventures? What is the deal? What are the benefits?
• In the 10 minute pitch to Roxanne, what does Microsoft want to hear?
• How does Microsoft determine product-market fit?
• What does the increase in US funds entering the European market suggest?
• What are the benefits for startups of having global investors?
• What can startups do to increase their media exposure in the sea of new startups?
• What do journalists look for in emails from founders?
• How can founders be successful through submitting guest posts?
• What are the best and most effective ways to learn code from scratch?

Items Mentioned in Today's Show:

Roxanne's Fave Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Roxanne's Reading Material: News.me: Digg

Fred Wilson: Investing In Startups In Europe

Microsoft Ventures Alumni: Zocdoc: Find a Doctor, Xobni: Your Smarter Address Book Is Waiting

As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC and Roxanne on Twitter right here!