How can you effectively pitch to angel investors for fundraising?

Linkedin and other social platforms can help you get a good idea for who the person is and what they're interested in. Just make sure to do your homework and research the right person - my name is somewhat common and I get mixed up with an NYU professor who shares the same name quite a bit. And make sure you don't copy/paste your message without checking the details - too many cold outreach messages I get make that error.

Try and establish trust and rapport early on in the conversations. Don't just talk about the opportunity but also show the angel why you'd be fun to work with. Most business angels aren't necessarily doing this for the money but for the impact they get to create with entrepreneurs. You should have a discussion with them how they could be of help from the sideline.

I like founders who: - Incorporate compelling customer testimonials or quotes to show product market fit - Highlight key milestones with a visual timeline, showing the path to success - Clearly outline their revenue model and how they intend to use the investment - Show data on user engagement metrics - Address competitor analysis and risk mitigation strategies to showcase preparedness and market awareness.

My key initial questions for founders are: - what problem are you solving? - how are you solving the problem? - why are you in a unique position to solve this problem? - why now? Most ideas aren't new so what makes timing unique right now?

For pre/seed tickets, investors are in particular investing into founders. As such include in your story not only company vision but your story & background as a founding team as well. It’s important to see your background and your value & beliefs.

When I back a startup I'm making a bet on the jockey, not the horse. The startup will naturally evolve and change over time, the founders stick around. So I want to get to know you and see that you're truly passionate about the startup you're building and aren't trying to make a quick buck (AI meets Uber for Blockchain...). Most importantly: be open to feedback and coachable. I don't expect you to know every answer but I expect you to be able to formulate answers or simply say "I don't know but I'll get back to you"

One thing I talk about is time efficiency, as many of your angels will be smaller check sizes. One tactic we've used with founders is to schedule a 60-minute virtual pitch session (with plenty of time for Q&A) and invite interested angels. You're able to pitch to a group, get lead gen for follow-up, and allow angels to get "face time" as well. It also bridges a gap for newer angels who may be less inclined to take 1:1 meetings with founders, or have less experience with the process, making a founder touchpoint a bit more accessible.

After the covid lockdown I've gone back to try to meet as many founders in person as possible. It gives you a completely different opportunity to meet people. This naturally makes me favor founders who live in Miami. If you get a chance as a founder, take the meeting in person. If you can't, do a zoom meeting. Don't cancel last-minute. Show up on time. Take it seriously. People who write small checks can be a time-drag but they can also open up a lot of doors for you - always ask for who else may be interested in the opportunity once you've built rapport with an investor.

Your success with an angel investor is determined by your family and friends. As a Venture Advisor and Partner, I counsel the founders of new ventures to first seek funding from family and friends. They know you better than anyone, and they're investment is an endorsement of your character. To put it simply, why would an angel investor who doesn't know you at all invest in you if the people who know you best haven't. To this advice, I often hear: "But, my family and friends don't have money." My response: You have two choices. 1. Find a better class of family and friends. 2. Find an occupation other than entrepreneurship. My response may seem brutal. But, the venture landscape is not sentimental. Only the fit survive! Venture With Vision 😎