No, don’t waste your time. It will be counterproductive and slow down your fundraising. And many investors will refuse anyway. It’s hard enough to get a meeting with an investor -- don’t put another roadblock in the way. For the most part, it’s not the idea that is important, it’s the implementation of the idea and the entrepreneurs behind it.

Whatever amount get you funded. Don’t try to over-optimize on ownership. Get cash to grow your business and make your investors happy as well.

Any of the following:

• Get a ton of traction in the marketplace
• Have meaningful growing revenues
• Have a world-class management team
• Have truly innovative technology with a big market opportunity
• Get a personal introduction to one of the VC firm partners from a respected colleague

This is difficult. First brainstorm with a bunch of different names. Then do a Google search to see what is already taken, and that will eliminate 95% of your choices. Make it easy to spell. Make it interesting. Don’t pick a nonsensical name where people won’t have a clue as to what you do (with all due consideration to names like “Google,” “Yahoo,” and the like). Do a trademark/tradename search on the name. Then make sure you can get the domain name.