How can you use personal stories to connect with investors in a fundraising presentation?

1 Choose relevant stories

The first step to using personal stories in your presentation is to choose stories that are relevant to your business idea, your audience, and your goals. You don't want to tell random anecdotes that have nothing to do with your pitch or that might confuse or bore your listeners. Instead, you want to select stories that illustrate your problem statement, your solution, your value proposition, or your competitive advantage. For example, you could tell a story about how you experienced the problem that your product or service solves, or how you came up with the idea, or how you tested it with your customers, or how you overcame a challenge or a setback.

2 Craft engaging stories

The second step to using personal stories in your presentation is to craft them in a way that engages your audience and keeps their attention. You don't want to tell long-winded or complicated stories that might lose your listeners or make them lose interest. Instead, you want to use the basic elements of storytelling, such as setting, characters, conflict, and resolution, to create a clear and compelling narrative. You also want to use sensory details, dialogue, and emotions to make your stories vivid and relatable. For example, you could describe the scene where you encountered the problem, the people who were involved, the feelings that you had, and the actions that you took.

4 Balance stories and facts

The fourth step to using personal stories in your presentation is to balance them with facts and data that support your business case. You don't want to rely solely on stories that might make you seem too subjective or emotional. Instead, you want to back up your stories with evidence and numbers that demonstrate your market potential, your customer validation, your financial projections, or your traction. You also want to use charts, graphs, tables, or images to visualize your data and make it easier to understand. For example, you could show how your solution improves a key metric, how your customers rate your product or service, or how your revenue or user growth compares to your competitors.

5 Tailor stories to investors

The fifth step to using personal stories in your presentation is to tailor them to the specific interests and needs of your investors. You don't want to tell the same stories to every investor that might not resonate with them or address their concerns. Instead, you want to customize your stories to the type, stage, and sector of your investors, and to their investment criteria, preferences, and questions. You also want to research your investors beforehand, and use their names, backgrounds, or experiences to connect with them on a personal level. For example, you could mention how your solution aligns with their mission, how your team matches their skills, or how your story relates to theirs.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?