How can you use webinars to source deals effectively?

Webinars are a great brand-building storefront for your investment deal flow. Capital is a commodity. Hence to attract the right kind of deals, having a brand reputation that precedes your presence is key. Many famous, global accelerator/VC firms have mastered this art. This doesn't suit everyone, though. Best works for firms that share on webinar -> Acceleration program -> Demo day/funding. But, maintaining a brand for yourself is a must in this crowded-commoditised arena. Selecting the type of channels for communication/brand-building can be made to suit your goals.

Based on my experience, using webinars is not a good deal sourcing option for all VCs. In other words, it is important to know how we are going to build our portfolio: top-down or bottom-up. In the bottom-up strategy (where a large number of startups are evaluated), methods such as holding a webinar can be useful; Because it produces leads and you can find suitable options from them. But if the VC uses a top-down strategy to form a portfolio, it basically knows from the beginning what startups it is looking for, and that's why holding a webinar may not be a good option or there are better and more productive options.

Using webinars is part of the strategy but it cannot be the center of it. It really helps to share knowledge and put the word out, but it has to be parto of a more comprehensive strategy that has to end in a one on one meeting.

Check the profile of the person sponsoring the webinar to make sure the subject aligns with what you are working on. Do an online search as well to see the qualifications and past success of other webinars to see it they added value to anyone.

If your webinar is business related make sure to promote it to business clients. Don't rely on social media post. Press releases, email, PR all surceases to get the word out regarding where and when your webinar will occur.

Communication is the key to success in an endeavor. Talk to all the attendees who show an interest in your topic. Email, calls and face-to-face meetings help with communication. Don't expect everyone will want what you are selling or talking about. Find the level of acceptance from attendees and follow up.

Webinars generally are not an opportunity to learn or even network really. People/organizations conduct webinars to promote themselves, their organizations etc. They are for marketing to attract clients largely, they're not really for you. To me they are for "intel" gathering. So if you want to make use of them, then take that approach otherwise if you use them for anything else, they're nothing more than a time suck. People are on these things giving out free information about their likes, dislikes, best business practices etc like it's candy in a child daycare...that is how you make use of them and source deals and/or opportunities. #vc #venturecapital

(a) Sending out post-webinar surveys to gather feedback and gauge interest in further discussions can identify founders keen on exploring investment opportunities. A survey following a webinar on SaaS business models identified several startups interested in discussing growth strategies, leading to fruitful investment discussions (b) Partnering with incubators and accelerators to host webinars can tap into their networks of promising startups. A collaboration with a well-known accelerator for a webinar on scaling startups internationally provided insights into several high-potential companies within the accelerator's portfolio, facilitating direct introductions.

While your team member presenting the webinar, instead of watching it you better open a new tab on LinkedIn to hire the best analyst possible, to hunt the deals. Because the best targets are too busy to waste your time in your webinar :))