A pitch to a group of VC investors is one of the biggest steps in securing VC financing.  You have your proverbial foot in the door with your business plan, and they have called a meeting.  Now you need to seal the deal with your pitch.  No pressure, right?

 

Pitching is an art.  It is a sales talk without the “high-pressure” selling element. You simply need to tell your story clearly and effectively so that the VC investors believe that your company is worth their time.  Here are some tips on making an effective pitch:

 

1. Be Sure Everyone Is Introduced

 

Introductions should go all around.  In another post, we discuss how to introduce you and your team to the investors.  But be sure to also know who your investors are.  Remember them each by name if possible.

 

2. Use PowerPoint

 

When you are making your rehearsed pitch, use a PowerPoint slide method.  You may have to bring your own computer and projector.  However, the visual aspects of slides help the audience better understand your main points.  Make sure you incorporate a few tips about PowerPoint:

 

• Use fewer slides than you think is necessary.  Often entrepreneurs will create a presentation of 30 or 40 slides trying to cram every possible detail in their presentation.  Rather, only use about 10 slides.  That’s about as much as an audience can digest, and you don’t want to give your VC investors indigestion.

 

• Use big fonts.  Make sure your points are readable from a distance.

 

• Use only 3 or 4 points per slide.  Don’t cram too much information on each slide.  Each slide should cover a main topic and 3 or 4 sub-points.

 

• Don’t go overboard with slide template design.  It’s tempting to create visual and graphical masterpieces with your slide templates.  Keep them simple with easy backgrounds.

 

3. Build a Story

 

Using your PowerPoint slides, you need to build a story about your company.  Start with the company overview.  Then go on to address the problems and your innovative solutions.  Talk about the benefits and the advantages to your solution.  Then knock out the home run with how you plan to go to market with your business model and financial projections.

 

4. Connect With Your Audience

 

When you are giving your pitch, you want to connect with your audience.  Do this by keeping your story engaging.  As in the above point, building a story through problem and conflict, then presenting solutions and positive outcome, help keep your audience engaged.

 

5. Be Genuine

 

Don’t try to be a salesman or even a game show host with slick voice and insincere manner.  Be yourself and be enthusiastic.  No one is more passionate about your company than you.  Share that passion and enthusiasm in your pitch.

 

6. Be Brief

 

Here’s where some new entrepreneurs get it wrong.  They will prepare 30 or 40 slides and talk for and extended time about how great they are and how fabulous their business idea is.  Instead, keep your pitch to about 15 to 20 minutes.  It doesn’t need to be any longer to get the main points of your business proposal.  The VC investors will no doubt have questions and will want to use the rest of the time to answer these inquiries.   Make sure you are prepared to include Q&A within your pitch time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: angel investors, find angel investors, Find funding, find venture capital, startup capital, startup funding, vc funding, Venture Capitalist

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