Giving a pitch to an investor remains very exciting as an entrepreneur. However, you will have to do this more often in your startup career, because this is essential to bring your product or service to the market, and to allow it to grow further.
Your pitch stands or falls with good preparation, but how do you approach that? That's a good question, and we're happy to help you with that. We asked our own startups for tips that help them pitch. Read the best tips below, so that you can confidently approach investors.
Create a dialogue
What makes pitching more difficult than regular conversations is that people don't feel comfortable when they are sold something. That is why it is important that you also give investors the feeling that you are involving them in a conversation. For this reason, people also say that preparing the Q&A is more important than the pitch itself, so there is certainly a grain of truth in that.
Create a dialogue in which you answer questions and doubts that investors have as best as possible. As a startup, you should constantly prepare for questions about your concept, and also have a clear explanation for this.
Investor type
Do not only read up on your own startup, but also try to find out what type of investor you are talking to. Are they people who like to hear more about numbers or user stories? Do they focus more on the business model or the team?
It would be a shame if you say a lot about what you find interesting, without paying attention to where the investors' interests lie. Please note that it is not the intention that you only talk about the area of interest of the person in front of you, after all, you are also there for yourself and your own team.
Always be honest
As a founder, you prefer to only tell about how well your startup is doing and where it can go. However, your investor may also ask some more critical questions, or raise points that are less rosy. Always be honest.
The investor in front of you usually finds out pretty quickly if you obscure aspects of your business, so make sure you have an authentic story.
Assertiveness and openness
Balance assertiveness with openness. You don't want to appear questionable in your pitch, but don't act like you have a monopoly on wisdom either. You can demonstrate this by actively asking what the other party thinks or thinks. After all, you are also with this investor to further develop yourself.
Be open to ideas, that helps you as an entrepreneur, and the investor also feels valued and heard.
Be unconventional
Innovation is central in the startup world. Make sure you emphasize what makes you unique, but also try to show this uniqueness in your presentation. For example, you can use attributes, process a storyline in your presentation, make a picture book of your pitch deck, be creative!
It should be noted that creativity should not be at the expense of functionality. It's nice if you approach the presentation in your own way, but don't waste time in plays if your financial figures are not clearly stated in your presentation.