How to you sell yourself, your company and your ideas to potential investors
Looking for finance can be one of the most daunting aspects of starting a business- especially for a novice entrepreneur. The most important sales tool you can have is belief in yourself and your business idea backed up with the confidence that comes from being properly prepared when doing your pitch for investment.
Many angel investors will pass on a seemingly good looking investment if they don’t have faith and confidence in the people presenting the proposal. Many investors will openly say they are not investing in the business plan but the person behind it because they can see the potential to succeed in that person.If you dont have the experience to write your business plan then a mentor could be invaulable.
However, you still need to be prepared and have given thought to your pitch for investment so that you can easily answer questions such as:
- What are your strategic plans?
- Who do you see as your competitors?
- What gives you a competitive edge over your rivals?
- What return will an investor get?
- What exit strategy do you foresee?
A full business plan isn’t always necessary for an initial meeting. In many ways a short and to the point executive summary highlighting the key points of the business and the investment opportunity will grab an investors’ attention more and a business mentor can guide you to write this.It is vital that the investor can see what is in it for them so a brief summary covering the business proposal, how much investment is needed, how it will be used and the ROI (return on investment) Most important is how much you have invested yourself- potential investors know that if you have a serious financial commitment in the business you will work harder to make it a success.
