Think Data, Pitch Data & Win Investors with Data

A Guide to Crafting Pitch Narratives That Captivates, Convinces, and Inspires.

“While problems can be summarized in a formula or an algorithm, it takes a story to understand a dilemma. The future will be loaded with dilemmas, so it will take a lot of stories to help make sense out of them.” —BOB JOHANSEN, former CEO, The Institute for the Future

Data unlocks the information, information is education, and education is power, power to invest or reject a startup deal.

No data is clean, all models are wrong but still useful for the investment signalling.

Getting investors to pay attention to the pitch narrative, of course, is the first step. In pitch meetings, the investors are receptive to hearing the vision hence this is the place where the storytelling shines! After all, a vision is a picture of the future so inspiring it drives investors to fund the idea. But the story must be well crafted with numbers. An investor should be able to consume, digest, and see its own value-added contribution in the future numbers of your pitch story.

Story In Numbers & Numbers is the Story

Lead early into the pitch with a numbers success story slide to get investor interest. Surprise them with a bold statement of market opportunity, and grab their attention in the beginning with a unique business model to generate profits.

Startups that don't measure, don't execute.

The revenue number is an obvious first choice for investors to validate the idea. Of course, an investor will want to know if and how well the product is selling. They want to know that you are developing a marketable product. Check to see how well it is selling, at what rate, and if your revenue is increasing. If it is, please explain why. If it isn't, explain why. Investors are really bullish and have optimistic personalities. They want to understand not only that their investment will generate great business revenues, but also that it will make more growth over long periods. You must demonstrate that your company is a worthwhile investment. Knowing the ability to articulate numbers is the first step.

Investors fund a business, not products and business is all about numbers.

Check out these below examples to understand What works and What does not with investor pitching. We are growing really fast statement has no impact on investors but when you add numbers the story becomes complete. The better way to pitch would be "We are at a monthly run rate of 50Lacs and growing quarter on quarter at 100% for the last 2 quarters."

It is a very big market, we are very excited about the opportunity. This statement is vague, a value lost while pitching. Entrepreneurs who are specific with numbers can tell the right story of their capabilities, the opportunity, and the potential idea. ?Make the facts, numbers, or events relevant to the investors, something investors can relate to in their investment thesis.

Don’t include any numbers you don’t understand or that you can’t substantiate.

The task of a founder is to comprehend the numbers that underpin the potential. The numbers contribute to the evidence. What and why are you measuring? What do the numbers teach you on a regular basis? Keep the deck basic for a pitch. There is no need for numerous sophisticated slides that show every feature in general. Give investors enough time to digest numbers. Don't rattle figures monotonously, take short pauses while pitching.

Always give investor information from today, updated and never a stale old data.

Many founders make the mistake of using too many metrics with money an investor has to decode that. If you are using USD as currency then use USD in every slide to share the market opportunity or fundraise or revenues. If you are using millions with numbers then all numbers should be in millions. Make it simple for investors to understand the numbers.

No matter the stage of your startup, the numbers matter.

Focus on metrics that tell investors how customers react to your product, like net promoter score. Do not publish vanity metrics like downloads, waitlists, signups, social followers, etc. To have enough confidence to invest in your company, investors must see genuine validation with real numbers. This information is vital because it enables founders to monitor the startup's progress toward their goals as well as spot and address potential issues before they arise.

If there is data, everyone will look at data for a decision else if the decision is based on an opinion then the investor's opinion is the final one.

Metrics help founders to pitch their idea more objectively.

About 100X.VC

100X is the first cheque SEBI registered fund that invests in early-stage Indian startups.

Investment Process

https://www.100x.vc/class09 - Apply here for Class 09

Fill up the application form here. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If there is an interest to evaluate further, founders will hear from 100X on the next steps of information collection in 7–10 working days. Once complete information is available to the investment committee, the selected startups will be invited for an interview. On success in the interview, the investment committee will email a term sheet offer for 1.25 Cr for 15% of future equity ownership using iSAFE notes. On completion of legal compliance and due diligence and signing of iSAFE notes, money will be immediately wired into the startup bank account. The estimated time from Term sheet to Deal Closure is 2 weeks once the due diligence documents are submitted and the Indian entity is incorporated.

What Happens in Class 09?

The 100X team starts working closely with the founding team on various aspects of the business, from product improvement to business model to pricing to financial modeling and even hiring key team and addressing various gaps in mutual consultation with the founders.

100X Works with Founders in 3 broad manners:

Mentoring Unlimited?- The founders get enrolled in exclusive masterclasses with the 100X Team and 50+ mentors. The Mentors are Founders, Operators, and Investors who have been there, and done that.

Network Access?- Founders are given open access to 100X’s Business Network of Advisors, Mentors, Corporates, CXOs, 100X Alumni Founders, and more. Each connection compounds the value of the startup.

VC Pitch Day?- It is an invite-only showcase of the Class 09 startups to a curated set of investors. The founders can build their next round of funding here. The event is attended by all the top Angels, Family Offices, Micro VCs, Corporate Funds, and VC funds of India.

For Class 08 showcase it is on 11th Jan 2023 in Mumbai. Startup Investors RSVP: https://www.100x.vc/pitchday