{"id":385317,"date":"2021-12-24T10:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T07:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2021-12-24T10:00:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-24T07:00:10","slug":"5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"#5 things I\u2019ve learned pitching investors during the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a309f10f4109\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a309f10f4109\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/#1_Talk_to_VCs_in_their_own_language\" >1. Talk to VCs in their own language<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/#2_Your_network_is_everything\" >2. Your network is everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/#3_Get_familiar_with_VC_%E2%80%9Cflirting%E2%80%9D\" >3. Get familiar with VC \u201cflirting\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/#4_Set_the_rhythm_and_keep_it\" >4. Set the rhythm and keep it<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\/#5_Embrace_change_but_never_lose_your_core_values\" >5. Embrace change but never lose your core values<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#5 things I\u2019ve learned pitching investors during the pandemic<\/strong>&#8221;<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image?fit=796%2C417&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2021%2F12%2Fremote-meeting-work-gq.jpg&amp;signature=60078350efa067c44339fe76cd6278b0\" \/><\/p>\n<div>When you\u2019re in a startup that is competing with some of the largest companies in the world, funding is critical to give you a level field from which to grow. Love it or hate it, raising money is a key responsibility of yours and something you can\u2019t afford to get wrong.<\/p>\n<p>My company, Jscrambler, recently closed a $15 million <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series<\/a> A round, which was led by cybersecurity investment firm Ace Capital Partners and with follow-on from Sonae and Portugal Ventures \u2014 definitely an outcome I\u2019m grateful for, especially looking back at what a journey this has been.<\/p>\n<p>So today I want to share some of the things I\u2019ve learned from this process.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Talk_to_VCs_in_their_own_language\"><\/span>1. Talk to VCs in their own language<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you\u2019re dealing with 100+ prospect VCs, it\u2019s hard to get your message across to every single person.<\/p>\n<p>You must learn how to talk to VCs in their own language. Frame the problem using real examples. Make them clearly understand the urgency behind your solution. Is it a nice-to-have or an urgent thing? When you\u2019re early in the market, you don\u2019t fit a well-established market category.<\/p>\n<p>VCs need to understand why what you sell will be a category in the future. You have to get to the point where they\u2019re personally interested in your product and thinking \u201cMy company and companies I have invested in need this!\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Your_network_is_everything\"><\/span>2. Your network is everything<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You have heard this a million times\u2060 \u2014 it\u2019s all about relationship building. So you\u2019re always in a marathon preparing for the next funding round.<\/p>\n<p>Sync with people, nurture the relationship because that\u2019s the best way to get access to key people that can help you. Give something and ask for something in return.<\/p>\n<p>In our case, we would offer to help them analyze a market, a company, or a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>, giving back some of our time and expertise for their own time and expertise.<\/p>\n<p>You will be surprised by just how much VCs know about your industry and your technology and the people that drive it. In the early days of Jscrambler, I had the opportunity to be in front of one of the leading partners of a very experienced Silicon Valley VC and I was going through lots of cybersecurity jargon.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t miss a beat, so I asked \u201cYou said you were a business major, how can you understand all of this so easily?\u201d he said, \u201cbecause I always have someone like you sitting in front of me, I learn from the best\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Get_familiar_with_VC_%E2%80%9Cflirting%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>3. Get familiar with VC \u201cflirting\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Investors are always \u201cflirting.\u201d They\u2019re nice, they know people, they\u2019re intelligent, charming, and most of them will be h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>y to keep talking with you. They want to be kept in the loop even if they\u2019re not interested in becoming your investors.<\/p>\n<p>Being in the loop is one of the most valuable assets for VCs\u2060 \u2014 it means access to valuable information.<\/p>\n<p>So you have to know your way around this \u201cflirting\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>. You know the profile of your soulmate VC in each round. When it comes to VCs, reputation is everything. Talk with startups from their portfolio, including the ones that went under \u2014 you will learn a lot from past successes and failures.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Set_the_rhythm_and_keep_it\"><\/span>4. Set the rhythm and keep it<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your first concern when raising money should be timing. Never ask for money when you need it. Ask when you have a strong plan to convert the money you will get into more money. You are talking to investors after all.<\/p>\n<p>Finding this timing isn\u2019t easy, especially in atypical periods like the early days of COVID where markets went dry and everything was a blur.<\/p>\n<p>Assuming you get the timing right, you must then own the rhythm of the process. Don\u2019t allow the train to stop, even when pressured otherwise. You have a goal to achieve and the only way is forward.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Embrace_change_but_never_lose_your_core_values\"><\/span>5. Embrace change but never lose your core values<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Raising capital means constantly learning and changing your perspective. You have to align the interests of multiple stakeholders: your employees, the founders and the VCs. It must be a win-win for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Your own values will be tested often. What if a prospect VC wanted to take the company in a completely different direction? These things blur the line between having open horizons and staying true to your company\u2019s values and culture.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, you will find yourself a changed person, because you learned a lot during the process. So before signing, think back to when you started and ask \u201cIs this what I wanted? Is this the company I want to build and grow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a very personal challenge, so make sure you have the discipline to ask these questions and surround yourself with people who will remind you of that.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, no two entrepreneurs share the same path and there\u2019s no silver bullet in raising money. The next round is always the hardest one but it might be a little easier when you surround yourself with the right people, so choose wisely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/5-things-ive-learned-pitching-investors-during-the-pandemic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#5 things I\u2019ve learned pitching investors during the pandemic&#8221; When you\u2019re in a startup that is competing with some of the largest companies in the world, funding is critical to give you a level field from which to grow. Love it or hate it, raising money is a key responsibility of yours and something you&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":385318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/growth-quarters?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/12\/remote-meeting-work-gq.jpg&signature=93b7f39e18466377466ad8e3672bc443","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-385317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}