上海合作组织7技巧re VC CashVenture capitalists tell us what it takes to win funding in this environment.

In the past year, the venture capital funding pipeline has gone from a gusher to more of a trickle. In the first half of 2009, just over 1,200 venture investment deals were made nationwide, involving about $6.8 billion, according to the quarterly PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report. That's compared to more than 2,000 deals in the first half of 2008, worth $15.2 billion.

With less venture money flowing--and fewer entrepreneurs scoring cash--what's it take to make the cut? We asked three venture-capital investors to name the key factors that get them excited about a young company. Alex Ferrara ofBessemer Venture Partners, Maneesh Sagar ofCT Innovationsand Jon Elton ofInovia Capitalidentify their gotta-have factors for a successful VC pitch.