PITCHING TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS
Warren Ferster, Manchester
Pitching an idea to a roomful of potential investors can be daunting. You’re wondering if they’re going to like you, your idea, your business plan, your numbers, everything! Here are some tips for how to successfully pitch your idea to a group of people you need to be on board for your business to take the next step:
GET TO THE POINT The less time your pitch takes, the better off you’l l be. Investors aren’t looking for you to spend hours laying out why they should give you money. If investors tell you you have a certain number of minutes to do your pitch, try to take five fewer minutes. In the event you’r e using a slide show, never spend more than 3 minutes on any one slide.
SHOW DON’T TELL Make sure that your pitch is more than a speech. Storytelling is proven to garner more attention than just delivering a speech. Investors are more likely to invest in you than they are your company anyway, so instead of boring them with spreadsheets and numbers, give them the passion behind your company and the story of how you got to where you are.
DRESS TO IMPRESS It doesn’t matter what sort of company you’r e pitching, you will be judged based on the way that you present yourself. Those investors are sizing up everything about you and your company, and your first impression on them is how you look. Dress professionally.
Read more at warrenferster.org.uk