Pitching a venture capital firm or partner needs to be more than a PowerPoint and your best suit.
Make your start-up pitch lift off the page with these simple tips.
Partner with a Portfolio Company The fastest way into a Venture Capital conference room is a referral from a principle or CEO of a portfolio company.
As you are surveying potential investors always beeline to the portfolio page.
Identify a synergy or two and make a call.
If you can put together a profitable partnership you are 80% to a funding.
Bring the Whole Team Don't be shy about your over the top sales guy or obsessive compulsive tech genius.
This is your team the people that you believe with all your heart can make it happen.
Show the firm that magic.
If the team is real then they will see it and believe you can execute the vision too.
Remember the investor team is going to be part of your team.
If you don't fit together you need to know it before you take money.
Sell the Product to an Associate Make a sales call.
Get an unsuspecting associate of the firm to buy or beta the product.
Nothing makes a funding like members of the firm using and loving the product.
If you can create internal buzz ahead of your pitch to are going to have a fun pitch meeting.
If you can't do it before, do it during the pitch meeting.
Nothing convinces a VC to fund faster than hearing the pitch and wanting to buy.
Pitch a Partner to Join Your Team This is only of my favorite tactics.
So, one of these folks in the pitch meeting is going to be on the Board of Directors, right? Why not pick that person yourself and pitch them in the meeting? Investors want to know you can get the best talent and you want to get the partner with the most synergy with your company.
Scrub through the firm bios and pitch them in the meeting...
"Bob, with your background in Internet lead generation I think you could really help set our marketing strategy on fire...
" "Sue, do you think with your experience leading sales at Big Company, Inc.
you could teach us to crack into a big name anchor account?" Bring a Beta Customer Nothing brings out wallets at a venture capital firm like fanatical customers.
Bring an enthusiastic customer or two.
Have them explain why they bought or tried.
Let them do the problem/solution slide of your presentation.
The more alive and real you make your investor pitch the easier any VC will understand and see the attractive exit they are looking for.
Make your start-up pitch lift off the page with these simple tips.
Partner with a Portfolio Company The fastest way into a Venture Capital conference room is a referral from a principle or CEO of a portfolio company.
As you are surveying potential investors always beeline to the portfolio page.
Identify a synergy or two and make a call.
If you can put together a profitable partnership you are 80% to a funding.
Bring the Whole Team Don't be shy about your over the top sales guy or obsessive compulsive tech genius.
This is your team the people that you believe with all your heart can make it happen.
Show the firm that magic.
If the team is real then they will see it and believe you can execute the vision too.
Remember the investor team is going to be part of your team.
If you don't fit together you need to know it before you take money.
Sell the Product to an Associate Make a sales call.
Get an unsuspecting associate of the firm to buy or beta the product.
Nothing makes a funding like members of the firm using and loving the product.
If you can create internal buzz ahead of your pitch to are going to have a fun pitch meeting.
If you can't do it before, do it during the pitch meeting.
Nothing convinces a VC to fund faster than hearing the pitch and wanting to buy.
Pitch a Partner to Join Your Team This is only of my favorite tactics.
So, one of these folks in the pitch meeting is going to be on the Board of Directors, right? Why not pick that person yourself and pitch them in the meeting? Investors want to know you can get the best talent and you want to get the partner with the most synergy with your company.
Scrub through the firm bios and pitch them in the meeting...
"Bob, with your background in Internet lead generation I think you could really help set our marketing strategy on fire...
" "Sue, do you think with your experience leading sales at Big Company, Inc.
you could teach us to crack into a big name anchor account?" Bring a Beta Customer Nothing brings out wallets at a venture capital firm like fanatical customers.
Bring an enthusiastic customer or two.
Have them explain why they bought or tried.
Let them do the problem/solution slide of your presentation.
The more alive and real you make your investor pitch the easier any VC will understand and see the attractive exit they are looking for.