Pitching to investors can be intimidating. Potential investors come in all different shapes and sizes, so there’s not one investor pitch that fits all. But there are some fundamental elements that any investor pitch should cover.
Whether it’s fundraising for a startup or seeking capital from private or institutional investors, the bottom line is that you need to convince them that you believe in your idea so they believe in it too. Read on to discover some essential tips to create an enticing investor pitch that will leave a positive impression on any investor.
Pitching to investors
Tailor to your audience
Make sure you do your research before you develop your investor pitch. When you know your audience, you can tailor a pitch that speaks to them directly, anticipate their questions, and deliver a proactive presentation.
Investors want to know that you have a solid plan for development and growth that will provide a return on their investment. Be realistic about what you’re asking from them.
If you’re looking for the right space to pitch your presentation, WeWork offers a variety of flexible contemporary workspaces designed for optimal connection and conveniently located throughout Hong Kong. With small and large private meeting rooms, fully equipped with the latest tech and in-house food and beverages at your fingertips, finding the perfect space to meet potential investors has never been easier.
Pitch tips for angel investors for startups
What’s driving you
Most startups seeking angel investments are pitching without a fully established business and may still be figuring out their product and market fit.
Although you may not have all the answers, you need to convey to investors what’s driving you, and why you believe in this business idea in your startup investor pitch.
Authenticity can go a long way and help investors get on board with your passion and determination. Investors are offering their own cash so they need to believe in what you’re saying.
Highlight the business opportunity with evidence
Be clear about the purpose behind the business and tell the story in a compelling way. If you can inspire potential investors with your vision, then you’re halfway towards a successful investor pitch.
Be sure to focus on the business opportunity, explaining the market circumstances that created the opportunity, the trajectory, the competition, and how you plan to tackle that.
Although drive and passion can be very appealing to certain investors, your business idea needs to be backed up by tangible facts and figures, so be sure to get this in order. You need to be able to convince them that your company can grow and scale up significantly and be able to demonstrate this with evidence.
Check out some pitch deck examples from famous startups here.
Venture capitalist pitch decks
Focus on growth
Venture Capital investors are looking for one thing: businesses with a huge potential for growth and scaling. That includes disruptive technologies or exponential growth commonly around the 10% mark month-on-month.
So a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if your business is 10 times better than the current competition? If you can demonstrate that, then the next step is to target the right type of investors for your startup phase or industry.
In your pitch deck, always focus on customer benefits, as this will show Capital Investors the potential for growth—backed up by figures. Investors require numbers to understand projected scalability and they will expect the presenter to know these key financial metrics.
A pitch deck for Capital Investors should also include details about your team, their strengths and weaknesses, and information relating to how each member will contribute to growth.
Capital Investors say “no” more often than not, so don’t be disheartened if they don’t want to be involved. Instead, ask for feedback and learn from it. Ask if they would be willing to refer to other investors in their networks that might be a better fit.
Take advantage of WeWork’s membership to access networking events and meet potential investors, please visit wework.hk to learn more.