Thread by @FuzzyWenzel

As a professional who helps startups find funding, I often ask my clients to talk to me as if I were a prospective investor.

I've compiled a list, and in this thread, I'll share the top 15 things startup founders should AVOID saying to investors.

#startupadvice #investorpitch

1/ "We don't have a clear revenue model yet, but we'll figure it out eventually."

Come on... no investor wants to hear this! Have a solid plan for generating revenue from the start.

#startupadvice #revenuemodel

2/ "We don't have any competition."

None? Not at all? Every startup has competition, even if it's indirect. Do your research and be prepared to discuss your competitive landscape.

#startupcompetition #knowyourmarket

3/ "Our product is for everyone."

Really? Eeeeveryone? Having a broad target market can be a red flag for investors. Know your ideal customer and how you plan to reach them.

#targetmarket #niche

4/ "We don't need to worry about profitability right now."

Uh, yeah you do. While growth is important, investors want to see a plan for achieving profitability in the long term.

#profitability #investorinterest

5/ "We just need a few more months to launch."

2 months? 3? Why? Investors want to see progress and momentum. Have a clear timeline and show that you're making tangible progress towards your launch.

#timemanagement #startuplaunch

6/ "We're just waiting for the right team member to join before we can move forward."

Who's the right one? Why wait? Investors want to see that you can execute with the team you have. If you're missing a key skill set, have a plan for addressing it.

#teambuilding #skillgaps

7/ "We're going to disrupt the industry."

Yeah, you & the 20 others I spoke to this week. While bold statements can be exciting, investors want to see a realistic plan for how you'll differentiate yourself from competitors.

#disruption #differentiation

8/ "We haven't really thought about marketing yet."

Marketing must be in your pitch. Investors want to see that you have a plan for reaching your target market. Have a clear marketing strategy in place.

#marketingplan #customeracquisition

9/ "We're not really sure how we're going to use the funding yet."

Why? Need it for too many things? Narrow it down. Investors want to know that their money will be put to good use. Have a clear plan for how you'll use the funding to drive growth.

#fundingstrategy #growthplan

10/ "We're not interested in partnerships right now."

Get out of your head. Partnerships can be a key way to grow your business! Be open to exploring partnerships that could benefit your startup.

#partnerships #growthstrategy

11/ "We don't really have any metrics to share yet."

That may be but find something. Investors want to see that you're tracking progress and have a plan for measuring success. Have key metrics and milestones in place.

#metrics #successmeasurement

12/ "We're not really sure how we're going to monetize our product."

Figure it out, as this is KEY. Investors want to see a clear path to revenue. Have a solid monetization strategy in place so they can see their potential ROI.

#monetization #revenuegeneration

13/ "We haven't really thought about our exit strategy."

Ok, while it's not necessary to have an exact detailed exit strategy in place, investors want to know that you're thinking about the long-term future of your startup.

#exitstrategy #longtermthinking

14/ "We're not interested in working with advisors."

You can't possibly know it all, can you? Advisors can provide valuable guidance and connections. Be open to working with advisors who can help you grow your business.

#advisors #growthpotential

15/ "We're not really sure who our competitors are."

Look into it. Investors want to see that you have a solid understanding of your market and competitors. Do your research and be prepared to discuss your competitive landscape.

#competitivelandscape #knowyourmarket

Hope these tips help avoid some common pitfalls when pitching to investors.

#startupfounders #investorpitch

💥 I am Jeff, aka "Fuzzy"
🔺Supporting you leveraging equity crowdfunding for fundraising and marketing success.
🔺Providing training, consultancy, and execution to help your growing unicorn fly.

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