The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. Even if you have booked an hour with a VC, you should plan to talk only for the first fifteen minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk for way too long but neglect to cover […]
Elevator pitch
Do You Have What it Takes to Attract Investors
I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. The reality is that angel investors are humans, and personal traits often make or break the relationship even before the investment is considered. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in […]
10 Tips on Making a Memorable Investor Pitch
The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. Even if you have booked an hour with a VC, you should plan to talk only for the first fifteen minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long and neglect to cover the […]
#BehindthePitch: Advice From Women VCs
Don’t ‘pitch.’ Tell a story. – Mary Lemmer For a quick pitch, make it simple and clear. Tell me succinctly and directly what it is you’re doing and what problem that solves. Try out your simple elevator pitch on friends in and outside of the startup scene and see if they understand what you’re talking […]
5 Places to Look for Your Brand’s Story
Finding your authentic brand’s story is not a luxury for the touchy-feely. Given our overloaded channels of communication and the general lack of trust (and boredom) with advertising messages, finding your brand’s true emotional core and expressing it through your brand’s story is a must. But first, you must know what you’re looking for. […]
The Different Objectives of an Executive Summary and Pitch Deck
A common area of confusion on the part of entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital is the different objectives of an executive summary and an investor deck (usually a PowerPoint). Typically an executive summary will be sent to an investor before any meeting. The objective is to engage the investor and often to secure the first […]
An Angel in NY: Brian Cohen
Brian Cohen, current Chairman of the New York Angels, has been considered the father of science and technology communications since he founded Technology Solutions, Inc. in 1983, supporting startup tech companies ever since. Backing up a bit, in graduate school he dipped his feet into the publishing world, helping pioneer computer trade publications like Computer […]
8 Key Actions for Entrepreneurs Needing Early Money
Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate. You see, investors invest in […]
Ten Things That I Wish Didn’t Happen in the Alley
As New York develops into a thriving ecosystem for startups, a culture is slowly being created. I have had the opportunity to attend a wide variety of events and to meet with countless people in the startup space. From this experience, I have noticed some recurring items that I wish were avoided for the benefit […]