OVERCOMING CHALLENGES – FAILURE TO STAND OUT
Karl Dakin
Capital Coach | Stakeholder Investor Campaigns | Design, Stage, and Manage or Support | Reduce Time, Money, and Risk of Raising Funding | Increase Probability of Success! | Opportunity Management
FUNDING FORTUNES
"Investor interest is like dating—desperation is not attractive."
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GOT 15 MINUTES AND A QUESTION - GIVE ME A CALL
I recognize that many readers of this newsletter have questions about funding and are unsure where to turn. I am available for 15-minute phone calls about your funding questions without charge, subject to my schedule and availability. You may request a call or video conference by emailing me at [email protected]. Please suggest dates and times when you are available, and I will schedule a call.
Before you call, please have one funding problem framed and ready for presentation so that you may gain the most from our call.
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QUICK CALENDAR
Tuesday, December 31, Successful Funding, 8 am Mountain Time / 10 am Eastern Time, Overcoming the Top 10 Challenges to Funding
Thursday, January 16th – Motivated Money Method for Raising Funding workshop – 9 am to 1 pm Mountain Time / 11 am to 3 pm Eastern Time
CHANGES IN INSTANT FUNDING NEWSLETTER TOPIC SELECTION
To provide richer information on funding in my commitment to continuous improvement, topics in the Funding Point will follow this selection structure:
·?????? Monday – Funding by Industry
·?????? Tuesday – Community Funding
·?????? Wednesday – Finding Best Investor (FBI) Profiling
·?????? Thursday – Crafting Offers
·?????? Friday – Overcoming Challenges
?This approach is intended to provide a deeper dive into each topic with more insights, references, and examples.
?If you have a topic you would like to see presented in an upcoming Instant Funding newsletter, please let me know: [email protected]
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FUNDING WORKSHOP
?If traditional funding advice isn’t working, it’s time for a smarter solution.
?I will present a half-day workshop on January 16 on my Motivated Money Method for raising funding.
Discover how to secure funding more effectively and efficiently with Karl Dakin, The Capital Coach, in the?Motivated Money Method of Raising Funding?workshop. Designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders, charities, service providers, and economic developers, this workshop teaches the essentials of identifying and targeting investor candidates most likely to invest based on their self-interest.
Learn the proven techniques developed from Karl’s 45 years of experience raising capital for startups, small businesses, community projects, and nonprofits. By pinpointing the right investors, you’ll craft compelling investment offerings, create strategic campaign plans, and execute them with precision—saving time and reducing costs.
If you’re ready to elevate your fundraising approach, gain invaluable insights, and maximize your capital-raising potential, this workshop is for you! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned expert and transform your funding strategy.
In addition to the workshop, I have added a one-half-hour consultation with me as part of the package -? a $200 value.
?Standard Fee: $500
?Readers of this Instant Funding newsletter qualify for a discount price of $400.
Fans of Funding Ticket. Use Discount Code: FundingFan2025?????
?Guarantee
?If you do not save at least 12 hours of your time due to the skills and insights gained during the workshop, I will refund the full price you paid.
?THE DISCOUNT ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST!
?4 DAYS TILL THE NEW YEAR AND DISCOUNT ENDS
?You may register at: https://dakincapital.com/Events
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ASK CAP
CAP, my artificial intelligence (AI) avatar, is available on my 24/7/365 to answer your questions for free about funding.
?I developed CAP with a license from Knowledge Avatars to answer frequent questions about funding and save myself time to answer the more complex questions.
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I am using CAP as a digital receptionist and as a continuous FAQ. Yesterday, I recommended a manufacturer use an AI avatar as their online, interactive installation, user manual, maintenance & repair information source. If you would like an AI avatar to assist you in running your business or organization, reach out to @Emiliano De Laurentiis at Knowledge Avatars and discuss how reasonable the pricing is for this valuable tool. [email protected]
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I asked CAP,
“Why is investment through debt financing viewed differently than investment through equity ownership?”
CAP responded:
?“Standing out when raising funding is crucial because investors are often inundated with numerous proposals.
?By distinguishing your project or startup, you capture their attention and demonstrate unique value, making it easier for them to understand your competitive advantage. Additionally, standing out can lead to better terms, as it increases investor interest and competition.
?Ultimately, a strong first impression and a clear differentiation can significantly boost your chances of securing the necessary capital.”
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领英推荐
FUNDING POINT – OVERCOMING CHALLENGES – FAILURE TO STAND OUT
Your approach makes you look like every other business seeking funding.
Challenge Description
In a crowded marketplace, failing to differentiate your business can make it invisible or unappealing to potential investors. Investors are inundated with opportunities and must choose where to place their funds. To stand out, your business must articulate its unique value proposition—what sets it apart from competitors and why it’s a superior investment.
Consequence of Challenge
Without a clear and compelling distinction, your business risks being overlooked or deprioritized.
Example of Challenge
For example, a coffee shop seeking funding might blend into the sea of similar ventures unless it highlights a unique roasting process, exceptional customer service, secret recipes, or a scalable business model that positions it for multi-location growth.
Addressing Challenge
Define a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) Clearly articulate what sets your business apart from competitors, focusing on the unique benefits or features that make your offering compelling to customers and investors.
Conduct Market Research Study competitors and industry trends to identify gaps or opportunities where your business excels or offers a fresh perspective.
Highlight Proprietary Features Emphasize any proprietary technologies, processes, intellectual property, or trade secrets that give your business a competitive edge.
Showcase Customer Testimonials or Success Stories Use real-world examples of customer satisfaction or impact to demonstrate the value and differentiation of your product or service.
Develop a Strong Brand Identity Create a memorable brand that reflects your business’s unique personality, mission, and value. Consistent branding helps you stand out in a crowded market.
Target a Niche Market Focus on a specific customer segment or underserved niche where your business can establish dominance or strong appeal, differentiating it from generalist competitors.
Demonstrate Scalability Highlight aspects of your business model that enable growth, such as efficient operations, repeatable processes, or a roadmap for expansion into new markets.
Offer Evidence of Traction Share measurable achievements like customer growth, revenue milestones, or market penetration that show your business is gaining momentum and outperforming competitors.
Tailor Your Pitch to the Investor Personalize your presentation by aligning your differentiation points with the investor's interests, such as innovation, sustainability, or social impact.
Focus on Impact Beyond Profit Emphasize how your business contributes positively to society, the environment, or the community. This broader impact can make your business more appealing to socially conscious investors.
Differentiation not only captures investor attention but also demonstrates a deep understanding of the market, customer preferences, and competitive landscape—qualities that instill confidence in your ability to succeed.
?RESOURCES FOR STANDING OUT IN A CROWD
?Standing out from one’s competition is commonly spoken of in terms of branding.
?Five top books on standing out include:
?Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek explores the importance of having a clear purpose to differentiate a business. ?
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne discusses strategies for creating unique positions in the market to stand out from competitors. ?
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries introduces methods for businesses to remain innovative and adapt to market needs, helping them to stand out. ?
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller emphasizes the power of storytelling in marketing to create a strong brand identity that resonates with customers. ?
Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger examines why certain ideas and products go viral, providing insights on how to make a business memorable and stand out. ?
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Five technical papers on studies regarding a business standing out from its competition include:
SUCCESSFUL FUNDING SHOW
?LAST TUESDAY, the Successful Funding show celebrated the holidays with Eric Hanson and the topic of Contrarian Funding. You have heard the experts, read the books, crafted the carefully choreographed pitches, and still failed to raise funding. Why not? Are you doing anything wrong when you do what everyone tells you to do? What if they are wrong?
?You may watch the recording on LinkedIn at:
?Motivated Money Method of Raising Funds Workshop
Standard Fee: $500
Viewers of Successful Funding qualify for a discount price of $400
Use Discount Code: FundingFan2025?????
?THE DISCOUNT ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST!
You may register at: https://dakincapital.com/Events
SUBSCRIBE
You may subscribe to this Weekly edition of my Instant Funding newsletter, or you may subscribe to my Daily edition.
Last week, I began limiting my daily edition of this Instant Funding newsletter to five days a week – Monday through Friday.
In addition, the weekly edition of this Instant Funding newsletter, representing a compilation of every day during the week, will hereafter be published on Fridays.
Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.dhirubhai.net/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7136372056836734976
Karl Dakin, the Capital Coach
Dakin Capital LLC
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2 个月That's veary interesting and great service karl Dakin thanks for sharing this best wishes to each and everyone their ?????????????????????????
Capital Coach | Stakeholder Investor Campaigns | Design, Stage, and Manage or Support | Reduce Time, Money, and Risk of Raising Funding | Increase Probability of Success! | Opportunity Management
2 个月Do you stand out?