Investors are just people who are looking for compelling projects and people to invest in, with their time, expertise, money and reputation.
It helps if you can be your best self when presenting your business. This will mean acting within the framework for the pitch opportunity that you have worked for. Rules apply and some of them are: turning up in good time, delivering pitch material in the required format with the required content. And practise, practice, practice to deliver within the allotted time.
Your pitch is for your potential investors not for you. So a compelling early-stage pitch includes the problem, the solution, the team and a real reason why you can deliver on your promises. A sales pitch is different.
When pitching, feel in control of the whole company story, from your initial hook to final ask. Remove your own doubts about your story by creating compelling evidence, that’s where Lean Startup methodology and tools come in.
Build your evidence-based proof points into everything you say. Learn to drop your best numerical nuggets into your story and be comfortable doing this. Numbers do not just belong in your financial section.
Your evidence can always be stronger. But for now, this is all the evidence that you’ve got, so own it, and have plans to get more.
I learned all this at the last Lean Startup night, so come along to our next 25thSeptember 6pm, where will learn about what it takes to survive and thrive mentally in a startup. Tickets and details here.
My first job was in a technologically advanced UK company, but through their lack of vision the company remained small. My second job was working for a US company with a grand vision, and exactly the…
