#030 13 Top Tips for Pitching

In today’s episode of The How To Raise Money Podcast, discover the 13 Top Tips For Pitching and how you too, can secure investment and fund your idea with a simple but effective 10-minute pitch. If you’re looking to finance your ideas, content, start-ups or scale-ups, pitching matters. A successful pitch will get investors begging to invest in your company and secure you the right investor that can help you grow your business and provide you with the right expertise to achieve success. Learn how to reduce the odds of failure and increase the chance of success, by crafting a pitch that turns heads and gets your idea funded. Tune in today to hear the who, what, why’s and how’s of successful pitching, with your host, Ray McLennan. KEY TAKEAWAYS 13 Top Tips For Pitching Take only 10 minutes - Timing is critical, the less time your pitch takes, the better. Turn you pitch into a story - Storytelling is proven to capture your audience's attention and build engagement. Tell your story, tell it right and you’re bound to secure investment. Be laser-focused - Investors time is their most valuable asset, and if you can treat it with respect they will know that you can treat their investment with respect. Explain exactly what your product or service is - Be clear and get to the point. Explain exactly what it is, who you are and what you do. Explain exactly what your unique offer is - If you don’t offer something different and unique, go back to the drawing board. You need to offer something compelling and different to secure an investment. Explain exactly who your target audience is - Show the audience that you've identified your target audience. Find your avatar and increase your business by getting more of the customers you want to have. Explain exactly how you will acquire your ideal customer - Business success will come down to your marketing. Great products don’t sell themselves, you sell the product and to be persuaded your investors will need to see an air-tight strategy for online marketing and getting your product to market. Explain your revenue model - Answer your investors question “How will this product or service make me rich?” this is what the investors are interested in. Be wildly enthusiastic - You have to be passionate and enthusiastic to secure investment. Get out of your comfort zone and get excited. Dress to kill - Dress to impress and present yourself well. Unfortunately, people do judge, so make an effort and securing the investment will pay for your new suite 10x over. Practice your pitch - Practice makes perfect and this will increase your chances of success. Anticipate question - Answer questions ahead of time. Be ready for the investor's questions but aim to cover them in your persuasive and skilful presentation. Show them the exit - This is the killer close that can help to secure the investment. Get clear on what your offering and how your investor can make money in 3-5 years. BEST MOMENTS “Use who, what, why & how when preparing a one minute pitch” “A pitch could be the thing that gets your business idea off of the ground, or it could plunge your idea into eternal oblivion” When pitching don’t ever stay on one slide for longer than 5 minutes and always keep it short, aim to finish 5 minutes before your allotted time slot” “What you can offer that no term sheet can convey is your story, the story of your startup and who you are” “Investors care more about the money your product will make them, then the product itself” “The rule of thumb for investors is for every 100 investments they make, 10 will come good and make it big” VALUABLE RESOURCES https://www.angelsden.com/en-gb/events/ http://howtoraisemoney.co.uk/ Nelsongray.com - Prolific Investor The E-myth - Michael Gerber Entrepreneurial Spark - RBS ABOUT THE HOST Ray McLennan is a keynote public speaker and former corporate solicitor who has many years of experience owning and operating a va