Sven Milder ??的动态

Most of my clients signed up for our services based on a 15-minute conversation. But let me tell you, those 15 minutes are just the tip of the iceberg. Behind those 15 minutes is an entire nurturing process. I always tell the founders I speak to: Our relationship and process mirror exactly what you’re going to do with your investors. We will never sell you on our first call. The first call is all about understanding you—your needs, your gaps, and your burning desires. We dive deep into what’s driving you and where you’re stuck. Then, before our demo call, we send these founders all the necessary collaterals we’ve created in the last 7 years in business. These collaterals aren’t just fluff—they’re carefully curated pieces of content that provide confidence in our approach and results. They show the track record, the success stories, the proof that what we do works. Even on the second call, we don’t rush to close the deal. Instead, we pose a simple question: “Is this the solution you were looking for?” This question is powerful because it validates our solution and mechanism. It allows the founder to take ownership of the decision. And in most cases, by the third call, the contract is ready to be signed. It’s not about pushing for the sale—it’s about making sure the founder is ready to move forward with clarity and confidence. I don’t believe in the hard sell. Or the old adage of “always be closing.” These founders need to be empowered, not pressured. They’re the ones entering a long journey of raising capital, and they need to be equipped with the right tools and the right mindset. They need to feel supported, not sold to. Because at the end of the day, raising capital is not just about the money—it’s about building a relationship with investors, earning their trust, and delivering on your promises. So, if you’re a founder who’s tired of the hard sell and wants to work with someone who truly understands the journey, let’s talk. Are you ready for that kind of partnership?

Building a Business vs. Selling a Vision to Investors – Two Different Worlds ?? Some investors and mentors point out that our website feels like an agency, while our pitch deck paints a tech-driven vision—and that’s intentional. When you’re out there doing the work, generating revenue, and delivering value to real clients, the reality doesn’t always line up with what’s on the pitch deck. For investors, you aim to sell a grand vision—tech-driven, scalable, maybe even a future unicorn (the dream of VCs). ??♀? But for real clients, that doesn’t matter as much. They want results and a service that works for them today. It’s why I often get feedback from investors and mentors saying our website feels more like an agency, while our pitch deck tells a different story. ???? And that’s intentional—it is a different story. We ARE an agency right now, and I’m proud of that. Not many startups get the chance to build a real client base, generate revenue, and validate hypotheses in the real world. We’re learning, improving, and setting the stage for the future ecosystem we’re building to transform corporate events and revolutionise how creative services are managed and booked. So, I focus on what’s real now while keeping my bigger vision for the future in mind. ??Staying grounded in today’s wins is just as crucial as planning for tomorrow’s growth. ??How do you keep one foot in the present while aiming high for the future?

Develop a Compelling Business Plan: Create a comprehensive business plan that outlines your startup's mission, target market, unique value proposition, revenue model, and growth strategy. Highlight key milestones, market opportunities, and potential return on investment for investors. Build a Strong Team: Investors often invest in the team as much as the idea. Assemble a talented and experienced team with complementary skills who can execute your business plan effectively. Emphasise the qualifications and expertise of your team members when pitching to investors. Demonstrate Traction: Show evidence of market validation and traction by acquiring customers, generating revenue, or securing partnerships. Provide data, metrics, and customer testimonials to demonstrate the demand for your product or service. Develop a Compelling Pitch: Craft a concise and compelling pitch that clearly articulates your startup's value proposition, market opportunity, competitive advantage, and growth potential. Tailor your pitch to resonate with the specific interests and criteria of potential investors. Network Effectively: Attend networking events, pitch competitions, and industry conferences to connect with potential investors and build relationships. Utilise your existing network and seek introductions to investors through mutual connections. I found this quite informative as I am also open to investors for my start up, Watsy Lactose Free - Ice Cream. You can DM me for partnership opportunities, email me on [email protected] or reach me on +254 724 308 015

?Why Your Advisors Are Just Window Dressing — And What You Need to Do About It? Working with our portfolio company bench_ this week, I had the opportunity to review their latest pitch deck.? This deep dive got me thinking about what is often desperately missing in many early-stage pitch decks. Here are five key elements that I often see overlooked, but are absolutely critical in order to hit the target.? To boost your retention rate, start adding… ?? …an actual use case with a pilot customer: Nothing builds more credibility than showing how your solution works in the real world. A pilot customer proves there’s actual demand, that the product can solve a real problem, and gives investors confidence in the business case. It moves the conversation from hypothetical to practical. ?? …the actual role and type of collaboration with your advisors: Listing high-profile advisors is great, but what’s even more valuable is explaining how they are actively involved in your company. Are they opening doors to potential customers? Providing strategic insights? Investors want to know if your advisors are just names on a slide or actually helping you grow and succeed. ?? …a strong competition slide: Competition is inevitable, but what sets you apart? A strong competition slide shows you’ve thoroughly researched your market and understand your differentiation. It's not just about listing competitors, but showing why your ICP (ideal customer profile) features, and go-to-market strategy make you the right choice over others. Investors want to know why you're the best option, not just another player. ?? …a mock-up or visual of the product: As an investor, I need to see what I’m investing in. A visual, even if it’s just a mock-up, helps me better understand the product and how it will work in practice. This bridges the gap between concept and execution and makes it easier to envision the product’s potential to spark my curiosity. ?? …a strong go-to-market strategy: Building a great product is one thing, but successfully bringing it to market is a whole different challenge. Investors want to see a clear, actionable go-to-market strategy that highlights how you plan to acquire customers, scale and capture market share. ?? Bonus Tip for pre-seed and pre-rev. startups: The market size slide is always useful, but don’t get too caught up in trying to calculate the largest possible TAM. As an investor, if I understand the problem you’re solving and your ICP, I can make an educated guess about market size. Focus on communicating the problem and solution clearly and let the market numbers support your case — not define it. P.s.: If you're looking to streamline hardware engineering processes, or want to see a proper pitch deck, let’s connect with Martin! ___ ROI VENTURES |?Laura Raggl

99% of investor pitches fail. And that’s even if the product is exceptional. Here are 7?? tips to get yours in the top 1% (from an angel investor who’s also a full-stack fractional CMO and sits on startup boards): 1?? Craft an Exceptional Cold Email ??? ? Attention-grabbing subject line ? Key metrics: "We're growing 20% MoM with a ￡50k MRR" ? Personalised opener: "Your investment in [Company X] inspired us to reach out" Why this puts you in the top 1%: You show you're a founder who understands the value of first impressions and investor time. 2?? Send a Comprehensive Deck ??? ? No teasers – give them the full story ? Cover problem, solution, market, traction, team ? Clear, compelling data points Top 1% move: Make your deck so complete that investors are ready to take the next step immediately. 3?? Summarise Your Entire Pitch in One Slide ??? ? Distil your value proposition to its essence ? Include key metrics, team highlights, and funding goals ? Make it compelling enough to stand alone You've nailed the 1% when: An investor could make a decision based on this slide alone. 4?? Be Honest and Direct ??? ? Don't know something? Say so. ? Showcase self-awareness and eagerness to learn ? Be transparent about challenges This screams top 1% because: Investors value integrity over perfection. Show them you're trustworthy from day one. 5?? Know Your Numbers Cold ??? ? Understand key metrics: churn, growth rate, CAC, LTV (depending on your stage) ? Know the stories behind your data ? Be prepared to discuss your financial model You're in the 1% when: You can confidently discuss any aspect of your business without hesitation. 6?? Respect Your Competition ??? ? Know your competitive landscape inside out ? Acknowledge competitors' strengths ? Clearly articulate your unique positioning Top 1% trait: You show market awareness and confidence without arrogance. 7?? Answer Questions Directly ??? ? Don't defer or dodge questions, and if you don’t agree with the premise of the question say so ? Be willing to adjust your presentation flow ? Demonstrate adaptability and active listening This is 1% behaviour because: It shows you're confident, prepared, and respectful of investors' thought processes. Remember, the top 1% of founders aren't just selling a product – they're building relationships and demonstrating their ability to lead and execute. What's your best tip for standing out to investors? Share below and let's elevate everyone's pitch game! ??

I’ve created hundreds of decks and pitched to hundreds of investors, celebrities, corporations, people, and VCs. This is so on point. You have to know your audience; everybody is different and may invest in or support your idea or venture for different reasons. You have to know your target demographic, who's your client? Are they young or old? What are their spending habits? You have to be prepared with your pitch decks, term sheets, and market research. You have to know your numbers. For example, what is your burn rate? What’s your customer acquisition cost? How big is your marker locally and or globally? The best product is a solution so you have to understand the problem you’re solving. You have to be confident about who you are, what you are doing, and why YOU are the person worth investing in. It takes a lot of work to build and grow a company and to raise capital for a business or venture. Most companies don’t see real success until 7-12 years later. Stay ready, stay passionate, and stay focused. You can do it.

How to Pitch a VC: Pitching your startup to investors is all about clarity and impact. Here are the 10 slides that can help you nail your next pitch: 1) Elevator Pitch: A 30-second summary of who you are and what problem you're solving. 2) The Problem: Clearly state the market problem and how painful it is for your target customers. 3) The Solution: Show how your product or service uniquely solves the problem. 4) Market Size: Highlight the size of your addressable market—bigger is better. 5) Business Model: Explain how you’ll generate revenue. Focus on 1-3 primary revenue streams. 6) Proprietary Technology: Describe what sets you apart—your unique technology, patents, or other competitive advantages. 7) Competition: Show how you're better or different from others using a 2x2 matrix. 8) Marketing Plan: Detail how you’ll acquire customers and the channels you'll use to scale. 9) Team: Highlight the key players—entrepreneurs, geeks, and sales experts—who will drive your success. 10) Financials & Ask: Outline your key achievements, revenue, and how much you're raising. Be clear on how the funds will be used. PS. check out ?? for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

One of the biggest challenges for founders in investor pitching is accurately evaluating the market size and making initial projections based on it. In an attempt to capture investor interest in the potential of their business model, many founders end up saying something like: “It’s a $24B market. If we capture only 1% of it, that’s already a $240M company.” I’ve seen this approach many times, and here’s why it’s wrong. ?? The Word “If”: Using "if" turns your pitch from a solid presentation grounded in customer research and proven demand into a speculative gamble. Investors are looking for a realistic go-to-market (GTM) strategy and achievable projections—not lofty, hypothetical promises. ?? The Road to 1%: The world’s highest-performing B2B SaaS companies typically go public with only around 1% market share. For example, Wiz (although not yet public) holds 1% of the cloud security market and counts 40% of Fortune 500 companies as clients. If you can’t articulate a clear business plan to reach a 1% share, you can’t realistically promise it. The Underlying Message: Relying on the “1% strategy” often suggests that you’re trying to impress investors with projections rather than focusing on the real strengths of your pitch—your product, team, and roadmap. Instead, it’s far more effective to demonstrate how you’ll reach your next major milestone and present realistic sales projections, rather than leaning on distant promises. Ultimately, today’s pitch environment requires substance over speculation. Focus on what you can deliver, not just what might happen. #vc #fundraising #starups #storytelling #pitching #pitchdeck

Are you a SaaS entrepreneur looking for investors? This "SaaS Angels Database" is designed specifically for SaaS innovators like you, aiming to streamline your search for the right financial backers. ? Meet Your Match: Access a curated list of angel investors who specialize in SaaS. Connect instantly via LinkedIn! ?? Deep Dives: Explore detailed company profiles and investor backgrounds. Perfect for targeting your pitch! ?? Worldwide Network: Whether you’re in Silicon Valley or Sydney, find angels ready to invest in your vision. ?? Industry Specific: Tailored insights into keywords and industries that align with your business needs. Interested? Just drop a "Elevate My SaaS" in the comments below to gain access to this resource.

7 Steps to Impress Investors in Your First Meeting Steal these! ?? 1. Know Your Numbers Investors value preparedness. ? Review financials ? Understand projections ? Break down costs/revenues Confidence in numbers builds trust. 2. Craft a Compelling Story Every startup has a journey. ? Start with the problem ? Share your solution ? Highlight milestones achieved Stories resonate more than data alone. 3. Showcase the Team People invest in people. ? Highlight key members ? Share past successes ? Emphasize complementary skills A strong team promises execution. 4. Understand the Market Size matters in potential. ? Analyze market size ? Identify growth trends ? Spot potential competitors A big market means bigger returns. 5. Product Demo Show, don't just tell. ? Prepare a short demo ? Highlight unique features ? Address pain points solved Seeing is believing for many. 6. Have a Clear Ask Know what you want. ? Specify funding amount ? Detail its use ? Project future milestones Clarity in ask shows direction. 7. Handle Q&A Gracefully Expect tough questions. ? Research common queries ? Practice concise answers ? Admit when unsure, but follow-up Transparency builds credibility. Remember, first impressions last. Your preparation for this initial meeting can set the tone for your investor relationship. Make it count!