Kevin Jurovich

Why do investors keep saying NO to you? 🚫💼

There are several reasons investors pass on a deal. Usually, it's:
→ Doubts about your ability to execute
→ Not enough traction to prove your business's viability

While you can't magically create traction, you CAN improve investors' perception of you as a founder.

My friend Robbie Crabtree shared this fire post about what makes for a weak investor meeting and how to level up - a must-read for any founder looking to secure funding:

𝟭. 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀

When meeting with an investor they need to feel that you are their peer.

Coming into a meeting with too much deference or awe creates immediate red flags. That's because the founders or fund managers who can deliver results have a sense of confidence and conviction in themselves.

Present to investors like they are lucky to have this chance.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀

When an investor hears rambling responses, two thoughts occur.

This person doesn't know what they're talking about.
This person isn't a clear thinker.

Which inevitably leads to... "this is a waste of time."

Prepare ahead of time by building your go-to answers and your set pieces to draw on for surprise questions.

𝟯. 𝗡𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀

When an investor meets a founder or fund manager who takes control of how the process will play out, good things happen.

Why?

It lowers the cognitive load and demonstrates leadership. This type of leadership speaks highly of the ability to run the same type of process when recruiting, building partnerships, and selling to customers.

Plus great investors want to see a great close to show them that fundraising won't be an issue in the future.

𝟰. 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻...𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘁

When an investor meeting is dominated by the "pitcher" there's a sense of desperation.

Sell, sell, sell. That's what it comes across as and that's not a winning strategy. If you're having to sell, you aren't in demand.

Instead, invite questions, ask questions of your own, and challenge the investor to demonstrate their thinking and value if they were to join your company.

𝟱. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

There's no investment if there's no emotion.

Numbers are cold. Stories are warm. That's why the storytelling sets the frame for the number of discussions.

Not only that, but storytelling flows from great leaders.

Jobs
Bezos
Oprah
Blakely
Chesky

Numbers matter in that they support your story.

Fix these 5 mistakes and you will see your success rate massively improve.

Fix these and win big. 

#startups #venturecapital #investing

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