If you want to win over investors, you have to tell them a story they will never forget.
Remember when you asked your parents for ice cream money or a new pair of sneakers everyone is crazy about? They were often soft-hearted, but in the business world, no one will do the same without expecting something in return.
Nowadays, new startup concepts are cropping up endlessly. There are millions of ideas all over the place, let alone in entrepreneurial minds. However, only a small percentage of those entrepreneurs actually manage to win a part of the market and make a profit. Sometimes, the issue is in the product or service itself. Nevertheless, quite often the whole thing gets stuck at the very beginning: during the presentation of your idea.
Tips on Writing the Perfect Startup Pitch
Investors probably have their schedules fully booked and will not have time for stories that are too long. That is why you need to keep your pitch short, creative, simple and informative. It is best to announce immediately what you are offering in exchange for their time and money. Here are some guidelines:
1) Less is more
It is natural that you feel the need to re-tell every single interesting detail that happened during the project development phase. However, you should refrain from that. Investors do not want to hear about details when they haven’t even gotten to know the frame concept.
2) Be interesting and creative
You managed to capture the attention by getting into the room. Then, you need to know how to hold on to that attention. Otherwise, it will all be for nothing. The introductory part should convince investors that you are a person they want to do business with. If you manage to wow them, you will most likely succeed in impressing potential buyers or clients.
3) Emphasize the points that help your startup pitch stand out
If you’re planning to enter an existing market, you need to show exactly why someone would choose you over the competition. However, this doesn’t mean that you should say bad things about your competitors. Instead, you should accentuate all the positive treats that set you apart from others.
4) Get help from experts
If you have never written a startup pitch before, it’s a good idea to talk to experts with experience in this skill. It’s really a matter of experience and knowing the desired structure, so there is definitely no shame in talking to people who have already done so.
We recommend using the following services: EssaySupply (essay writers know how to capture the ideal structure of a startup pitch perfectly, so it’s a good idea to work with them), Fiverr (a collective of independent professionals; find someone who is experienced in startup pitch writing), Upwork (find freelance writers who can create your startup pitch).
5) Meet your target market
It is not likely that practically everyone will want or need your product (at least in the beginning). This is why you should explore your target audience and narrow it down. Find the best ways to get closer to them. This will show investors that you are realistic and ready to face the real demands of the market.
6) Work out your business plan
When you are presenting a startup pitch, it’s expected that you come prepared. When you ask for financing using the words “around“, “about” or use speculative prediction methods, no one will take you seriously. You need to know exactly how much you will need for each segment of your business. Split those needs into financial, time and resources.
7) Present your team
People who have entered a business venture with you are also a representation of you and your business. After you have surrounded yourself with great colleagues, don’t miss out on the opportunity to present them as one of your business’ strong sides.
8) Think sustainably and plan for the unplanned
Your current plan might be great for this particular moment, but you have to be prepared for challenges that cannot be predicted. Just take a look at the coronavirus crisis and think of all startups that started operating in late 2019 or early 2020. A solid, sustainable business needs to be able to respond to new market challenges that can appear in 2, 5 or 7 years. No one wants to invest in something that will fail as soon the first bigger challenge occurs.
9) Ask for a specific number
Both you and your potential investor know why you are there. Feel free to say which amount you are looking for and why. However, you should be prepared to back it up with facts and figures.
10) Build rapport
Finally, presenting a successful startup pitch is a lot about leaving a good impression. This means that sometimes, even a great business plan can fail because you just didn’t click with the investor. One of the ways to make sure that investors will like your pitch is to build rapport with them. You can do that using body language, word, phrases and stance.
Conclusion
Creating a startup pitch for investors can be really fun if you manage to relax and really find the core passion behind your business. If you really believe in it and can support it all with cold, hard facts, you have nothing to worry about. Just make sure you tell them a story that’s different from everything else they will be hearing that day.
Angela Baker is a professional writer working with BestWritingAdvisor.com. She is experienced in business writing and academic writing. She also runs her own blog, where she shares tips about female entrepreneurship.
Leave a Reply