Venture Capital funding gives startups many possibilities for development and growth. Startups not only receive the needed funds but also important and useful know-how. So how do you effectively talk to investors to get what you need? And what kind of arguments may influence investors? Here are some tips!
In this article, we focus on key factors that help startups in getting funds.
Relationship between Startup and Investor
In the relationship between startups and investors, big financial success is not only important for startup companies. Capital providers invest more because they hope for a significant refund of investment money. At the beginning of the collaboration, capital providers want only a good business plan and transparency.
How to Know if VC is for My Startup?
For VC, a startup with huge potential—an amazing idea that can’t secure traditional credit at the bank—often becomes an attractive prospect due to the high risk of failure associated with it. This kind of funding is dedicated to all startups and companies that have high rates of setbacks.
Of course, VC is not a charitable organization. People who invest in ideas require reimbursement. So, for a company to get that support, it should have a product and vision. The idea behind the startup must have exceptional growth potential that balances the investment risk.
Start with…
The first meeting with the capital provider should start with an investment teaser – a shortcut of your startup lifetime. Thanks to that, investors can know your company and see how it works. In that short story, you should put information like startup description – history, current situation, plans for the future, additionally: if your idea is very out of the box, you can see its vision and development.
The part that can’t be forgotten is the team. Potential investors would like to know who works at your company. See what people did for the startup, and what are their qualifications and achievements. Another matter is competition and market analysis. A good CEO of a startup knows what is happening around the company – knows its weaknesses and strengths, challenges and dangers.
The most important part of an investment teaser is a business plan. To be effective and in line with market standards, it must be very detailed and developed down to the smallest details. It should be added, however, that in the initial phase of selection, fund analysts are not interested in details because they do not have time to consider each project from beginning to end. So, how do you properly “use” a business plan to initially attract an investor? It is best to extract the most important, specific and eye-catching information from it. All we have to do now is wait for the meeting.
The First Meeting with Investors
Another step in getting VC funding is meeting face-to-face with capital providers. For that step, you have to prepare a presentation very similar to an investment teaser. Besides that, it’s worth knowing all the important information about the startup like: team, data, financial analysis and many more.
After the presentation, investors probably will know something more about you and check your abilities. So don’t be surprised by different questions, even those private ones. Often you also need to show a working prototype, something that investors can see, use and then show to your experts for independent opinions.
This stage is extremely important because specialists analyzing our company can now make sure that the representatives standing in front of them are professionals and know what they are talking about. Only this certainty leads to the last stage before signing the contract – negotiating the terms.
Negotiation
Another step in obtaining VC funding is negotiation. It’s a very good sign to be invited to the next meeting with capital providers. This time is not easy because two sides with a little bit of different attitudes meet. Investors strive to secure their capital as best as possible, and the CEO needs as much financial support as possible.
Commencing negotiations, it’s crucial to recognize that securing VC funding presents a significant opportunity for startup advancement. At times, it may be prudent to make concessions in pursuit of funding. Negotiation avenues include seeking a higher valuation, modifying terms, or incorporating specific provisions. However, it is imperative to substantiate each argument with sound justification. Consult extensively with your legal counsel during this phase and seize the opportunity wisely.
Once investors express their commitment to our vision, ensure that your legal representative specializes in financing rounds. This is pivotal, as the multitude of documents and terms on the table might initially seem favorable. A skilled lawyer acts as a “safety net” in contract signing, distinguishing non-standard elements and identifying terms that may prove unappealing in the long run.
To increase your chance of being seen by investors, look for the opportunity to meet them. Go for startup conferences and use face-to-face meetings. It’s a great way to meet active VC and get feedback about the product and its presentation. Let’s remember that at a very early stage, such as pre-seed, investors mainly look at the founder and the team.
For any startup management inquiries, feel free to contact us. Visit our blog for more useful tips. Listen to our podcast to learn how other startup CEOs successfully navigate their companies.