Events

On Wednesday night, Andrew delivered an inspiring talk on How to Pitch Your Startup, hosted by Dreamers // Doers and betaworks. For everyone who wanted to be there but couldn’t attend, we’ve created a recap featuring the best pitching advice of the night.

Gesche Haas, host & founder of Dreamers // Doers

“If you’re talking the entire time while you’re pitching your startup, it’s not a discussion.”

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“It’s OK to take control of the meeting. Don’t let an investor’s questions derail you while pitching.”

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“The worst thing you can do while raising capital is to give stock answers. Directly answer the questions you’re asked.”

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“Don’t think of fundraising as a formal process. Pitch your startup when you’re not actively in fundraising mode.”

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Susan Ho, Journy

Susan pitched Journy, a platform for building custom trip itineraries.

Elizabeth Entin, Runway Passport

Elizabeth pitched Runway Passport, a curated marketplace where people can shop and discover emerging fashion designers from around the world.

Sabrina Noorani, ClearForMe

Sabrina pitched ClearForMe, a database that provides information about ingredients in beauty products and to help consumers stay clear of anything that can irritate their skin.

Michelle Bacharach, FINDMINE

Michelle pitched FINDMINE, a platform that automates & personalizes style merchandising for retailers & shoppers.

Rachel Kimelman, LGBTQutie

Rachel pitched LGBTQutie, a progressive online dating and social networking platform for LGBT consumers.

Diana Melencio, OKMYOUTFIT

Diana pitched OKMYOUTFIT, an on-demand personal shopping and styling subscription service that caters to the lives of busy professionals who often lack the time and expertise to find that clothes they want and need.

QUESTION: Should I be worried that I’ll run out of things to talk about during my pitch if I send over my deck to the investor ahead of time?
ANSWER: No, I wouldn’t expect someone to get all of the color and commentary just from a deck. It’s fine to send your deck over in advance.

QUESTION: Do you consider different personality traits in women who pitch compared to men who pitch?
ANSWER: No. Women need to exude the same larger-than-life confidence that male entrepreneurs do. There’s no question that it’s tougher to be a woman pitching to a room full of men, but if you articulate a big vision, passion for your project, and a commitment to a working knowledge of the disparate disciplines necessary for your business, good VCs will see greatness in you.

QUESTION: If a VC has invested in a company similar to yours, should you still pitch them?
ANSWER: Investors who invest in similar companies are the most likely people to give you money, unless they’ve invested in a company that is nearly identical to yours. The best meetings you can take are with investors who have shown interest in your vertical before.

QUESTION: How many slides should be in my pitch deck?
ANSWER: It depends on your style of pitching. If you linger while you present, don’t include more than 20. If you fly through slides like I do, feel free to use more.

QUESTION: I haven’t developed any proprietary technology. How do I deal with people potentially stealing my idea?
ANSWER: If you aren’t willing to share your deck, that would worry me. If there is nothing proprietary in your product, then you need to figure out how to distinguish your company from the competitors on the basis of how you execute. When you make excuses for not sending around a deck, it’s as if you are playing defense. When you’re starting out, you need to play offense.

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