More than the Money: Two Important Elements of an Investment Pitch

One of my close friends, Mac, called me the other day to help him review his business plan for a tech startup. Although I could easily help with a referral, I thought it would be easier and more practical to provide him advice when pitching to investors.

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As a venture capitalist who has heard many pitches, I have discovered two important elements that entrepreneurs need to take into account when seeking funding. And trust me, most of the time, it is not really about the money and how you can grow my investment through your “grand” idea.

Remember, investors get hundreds of pitches every year, and the reality is, they can’t spend all their time sifting through all the proposals to find that needle in the haystack. So as an investor, here are two important elements to incorporate in your investment pitch:

A good story. Most investors base their judgment on your ambition and your story. Craft your pitch as if you are creating a storyboard for a movie. If you think your business is the next Facebook or Twitter, be confident, bold, and go for it. Inspire them in any way you can.

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A strategy. A good story must be backed by a solid strategy. Never forget, business is business. As investors, we always try to envision the end of a story and what the future will look like for us as investors. You should show investors that your best interest is their success. If you want your pitch to stand out, make sure that you have a good story and strategy to win not only the approval but also the heart of your investors.

Hi! I am Taihwa Terry Ho, a capital investor by trade. Follow me on Facebook to learn more ideas on venture capital investing.