How can you identify the right investors and partners for your pitch?

Quando se trata de um empreendimento relacionado à creator economy — seja um canal ou uma agência — o mais importante é buscar parceiros que tenham a mesma convicção que você: que o mundo da comunicação mudou, se pulverizou e que o marketing feito com influenciadores está mais poderoso a cada dia. A partir disso, vem o trabalho de cuidar dos aspectos financeiros.

In my 40 years of experience with innovative technologies and pitching to investors I find the following are key elements for finding a match. 1.) Its beneficial that the investor be aligned with your market in some way (financially, industry connections, interest in your products) 2.) The investor has the understanding of the time frame to bring your your product to market and the level of risk. 3.) the investor is on board with not just the first investment but also the subsequent investments rounds that may be needed. These three points make sure the investor has "skin in the game" aside from just the money.

Knowing your goals and needs is crucial in identifying the right investors and partners for your pitch. Evaluate potential investors or partners based on their expertise, industry experience, networks, and alignment with your business objectives. Conduct thorough research, attend networking events, and leverage online platforms to connect with individuals or organizations that can add value to your venture.

Do your research on the investment community before you start the venture. Knowing that there are willing investors interested in your innovation prior to launching your company will help you confidently seek out investment. Knowing in advance saves time and lowers risk.

Researching your options is key to identifying the right investors and partners for your pitch. Look into their track record, past investments or collaborations, reputation, and industry connections. Consider their values, goals, and the level of support they can provide to your business. Networking with industry peers and seeking recommendations can also help you uncover potential investors and partners who align with your vision and objectives.

It's important that those who are founders of the company are also connected well into the investment sector. Having two technical founders who are in search of funding is not always a good way to start. Find an experienced, well connected person to be part of the founding team.

Building relationships with potential investors and partners involves networking, attending industry events, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Show genuine interest in their work, share your vision and goals, and seek opportunities to collaborate or explore potential partnerships. Establishing trust and rapport over time can lead to mutually beneficial opportunities and support for your pitch.

Tailoring your pitch to investors and partners involves understanding their needs, interests, and expectations. Highlight the aspects of your project or business that align with their goals and showcase how you can provide value or solve their pain points. Use data and evidence to support your claims and demonstrate your readiness for collaboration or investment. Adapt your pitch based on their feedback and insights to make it more compelling and relevant.

Following up after your initial pitch is crucial for maintaining momentum and building rapport. Send a personalized follow-up email or message to express gratitude and reiterate key points from your pitch. Use this opportunity to address any questions or concerns they may have raised during the pitch. Be open to negotiations and flexible in finding mutually beneficial terms for collaboration or investment. Keep the lines of communication open and continue to nurture the relationship for future opportunities.

An actor’s version of a pitch is the audition. What makes auditions unique is what is being sold and to whom. The “product” being “sold” is the actor herself. Buyers are typically a combination of directors, producers and casting pros. Their trick for dealing with rejection = getting up, brushing the dirt off their shoulders and doing it all over again the next day, and next, and next. This is the same for entrepreneurs. One of the most important pitches entrepreneurs make are those to convince investors to part w/ their money. Shepherding someone to make a bet is not easy, it is hard. You must be tight in any pitch, be ready to hear “no” a lot. I’ve been on both sides of the table, “yes” takes persistence, focus and listening.

Be clear about your positioning - (Enterprise SaaS, Consumer product etc). Research about startups in your similar industry or with similar products in adjacent industries. Identify their investors at the stage in which your startup currently is. Narrow them down by their investment thesis, check sizes, location, vertical focus, reputation, lead/followers, dry powder, # active investments in the past 6 months, whether they would invest in the following rounds, process of investments, coinvestors etc. Learn about your ideological/cultural fit and the fit in other factors that are most important for you by talking to them and/or through the PortCos. You can find most details on websites like PitchBook and Nfx Signal.