Déjà Partners announces the launch of a new seminar on how to confidently and effectively pitch your business to investors. The seminar will be delivered through our channel partners comprising incubators, accelerators and state agencies across Europe...
For startup founders, the process of raising money for their business can be a daunting and mystical challenge. There are a growing number of investment options to consider, as well as practical considerations that can impact the success of your fundraising efforts.
To help demystify the process and help startups navigate the fundraising process, Déjà Partners has launched a seminar on creating a successful fundraising strategy. Led by an expert team who have worked as senior executives in the tech industry as well as in leading European venture capital firms, this seminar will help demystify the fundraising process and give startups the tools they need to navigate it successfully.
Whether you’re just starting to think about raising money for your startup or you’re ready to start actively pitching investors, this seminar will provide you with the information and insights you need to succeed.
Who should attend?
This seminar is designed for companies who are interested in learning how to succeed at fundraising or taking their fundraising skills to the next level. It will be of particular interest to startup entrepreneurs and leadership teams who want to take a more active role in engaging with institutional investors.
What will you learn?
This seminar will teach you critically important things you need to know about raising institutional money for your business. You will learn about the venture capital model, developing an investment proposition, building a compelling technology roadmap and positioning your business for success. Whether you are a startup looking for seed funding or an established company looking for growth capital, this seminar will provide you with actionable steps that you can implement immediately to improve your fundraising skills.
Module 1: The Venture Capital Ecosystem
In the business world, venture capitalists occupy a special place in the ecosystem as investors and risk-takers. They provide the capital that allows new businesses with high growth potential to get started and quickly grow. In turn, they expect to see a significant return on their investment through equity ownership and profits from the ultimate sale of the business.
However, what many entrepreneurs fail to realise is that securing venture capital is only the beginning of a long-term partnership. Venture capitalists are not simply interested in providing funding; they also want to help grow the company and create value for their investment. As such, it is essential that entrepreneurs take the time to get to know their potential venture capital partners. What are their investment strategies? What kinds of companies do they typically invest in? How hands-on are they in the operation of the business? Answering these questions will help you determine whether a particular venture capital firm is right for you. And remember, even if you do find the perfect partner, don’t expect things to be plain sailing all the time. Relationships with venture capitalists can be volatile, so it’s important to be prepared for the ups and downs.
This module will help entrepreneurs to understand the venture capital ecosystem and to gain critical insights into their decision-making process and what they are looking for in a potential investment. With this valuable information, you will be able to make informed decisions about seeking venture capital investment and be one step closer to achieving your business goals.
Module 2: Creating a Robust Positioning, Messaging and GTM Strategy
Most startups go through a period of intense soul-searching when it comes to finding their niche and key differentiators in the market. There is so much talk and confusion about what the product / market fit is – which is compounded by founders being in love with their product – not in love with what customers want. This is especially true when it comes time to raise money from investors.
In this module, Déjà Partners will explain how your startup’s positioning, messaging and Go-To-Market strategy (GTM) are all important factors that will influence how well you are able to communicate your value proposition to potential investors. Positioning is all about how you position your product or service in the market. Messaging is closely related to positioning, and refers to the specific language and copy you use to communicate your value proposition. Most startups begin with messaging and reverse-entry into positioning. And lastly, your GTM strategy outlines the specific tactics and channels you’ll use to reach your target market.
Investors want to see that you have a clear understanding of your place in the market and that you have a well-thought-out plan for reaching and acquiring target customers. A strong positioning, messaging and GTM strategy will give them the confidence that you know what you’re doing and that you have thought through the challenges – which will increase the chances of their investment succeeding.
Module 3: The Role of a Product Roadmap in Raising Funds from Investors
Any business owner seeking investment knows that one of the key components of a successful pitch is a comprehensive product roadmap. The roadmap should outline the current and future state of the company’s technology, and details the rationale and plans for how this technology will be developed and implemented as well as the proposed timeline for introducing new products or services.
By taking the time to develop a thorough roadmap, entrepreneurs can demonstrate to investors that they have a clear, market driven and achievable vision for their business and are aware of the challenges involved in achieving their goals. A well-crafted and credible roadmap will help build investor confidence in the company and the ability of its management team to address those challenges.
In this module, Déjà Partners will guide the attendees on how to develop a product roadmap as part of their preparation for seeking investment. We will also provide attendees with templates and resources to assist in this important activity.
Module 4: The Less is More Framework
A pitch deck is a presentation that entrepreneurs use to explain their business idea to potential investors. A great pitch deck should be concise, visually appealing, and easy to understand. It should tell the story of the business in a way that is clear, compelling, and convincing. However, it is important to remember that the pitch deck is only as good as the entrepreneur’s ability to sell their idea. If you’re looking to raise money for your startup, make sure you have a killer pitch deck – and be prepared to deliver it with passion and conviction.
In this module, Déjà Partners will look at some of the best and worst examples of pitch decks from some of the world’s most well-known startups. Some of the decks that we will analyse are powerful and straightforward, while others are too complicated or filled with too much jargon. One common thread among the best decks was a clear focus on the problem the startup was solving and how their product or service was the solution. The worst decks, on the other hand, tended to be overloaded with information or failed to communicate a clear value proposition.
While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for a perfect pitch deck, these examples can provide some valuable insights into what works—and what doesn’t. But with so many different elements that can be included, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why Déjà Partners will guide attendees through its own pitch deck template called “The Less is More Framework.” With this framework in hand, you’ll be able to create a pitch deck that is tailored to your business and showcases your unique value proposition to potential investors.