Fund Raising help

The winning fundraising presentation

Telling your company’s story

Defining and telling your company’s story Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

Goal of the presentation‌ Succinctly communicate how all the pieces making up your business fit together to create a compelling investment opportunity

Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

What’s needed Investors want to learn if…

• There is a solid business concept and business model • Management is smart and experienced • There are competitive advantages to exploit • Realistic financial projections have been set • There’s a good chance to make money on the investment Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

The pitch presentation Overview company presentations are “pitch meetings” with investors Three considerations 1. What—the content 2. How—the delivery of the pitch 3. Who—know your audience; different investors have different hot buttons, so customize to meet their expectations and mindset Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

What—Sample structure 10 slides or so…

1. What you’re after 2. Company overview and elevator pitch, i.e. mission/mantra/vision 3. The team 4. Problem buy-in—market and opportunity size 5. Your solution—products and benefits 6. Competition

Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

Sample structure, continued…

7. Marketing and leverage points—how you’ll overcome the competition; distribution 8. Success metrics; revenue projections 9. Status, timeline, use of funds 10. What all this means and why it’s a compelling investment opportunity; call to action PLUS, have answers ready to any “rude” questions that might come up (“So why were you fired from XYZ 10 years ago?”)

Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

About the “what” Create. Edit. Trim.

And edit again.

Because…

“Less is more.”

Mies van der Rohe

Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

The “how” Tell your story by…

1.

2.

3.

4.

Capturing the imagination Showing, not telling Building trust; telling the truth Supporting your presentation with slides with no more than 2-3 points each (unlike this slide); do not read the slides; hand them out after the presentation 5. Adjusting to the audience (watch the nuanced body movements) Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

The “how,” continued…

Grab and keep their attention (change their pulse) with…

• Vocal variety—avoid the monotone • Non-verbal communication—gestures, expressions, movement • Tell stories—use to communicate details, timing, purpose Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

The “how,” continued…

Keep it clear • Avoid MBA and geek speak • BAD: We’ve developed a collaborative and interactive B2B value generator that facilitates data transmission between the enterprise and internal partners.

• GOOD: We streamline communications between headquarters and field sales.

• Avoid acronyms, e.g. NIMBY,NOCs

Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

The “how,” continued…

Be visual; avoid bullets Which is easier to grasp?

Fast growth • 100% increase 2001 over 2002, from $1 million to $2 million • Gross margins increased from 10% of revenues in 2001 to 25% in 2002

OR

10% profit

Fast growth 2002

$1 million in sales Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC

25% profit 2003

$2 million in sales

Thank you‌

Helping companies navigate the marketing maze.

Nimble Strategies LLC 206.948.2980 Winning business plans

Copyright 2006 by NimbleStrategies LLC