Raising Pre-Revenue Angel Cash Is A PITA

[Andy Black]

In my personal experience the pitch success is based on 3 things:

1. People
2. Project
3. Pro-forma (Excel)

In that order. We make decisions with a croc brain and if we don't trust the presenter - the deal is dead. If we don't believe in the project - same story. But here is the thing, if you get the 1 and 2 right, 3 always works.

So I disagree with the line you quoted, Andy. Any imbecile can make excel numbers look good. All presentations look the same hockey stick roses and sunshine $billions in the future future, all alike. And guess what, 99.99% of all those projections are shit anyways. The economy will change, the situation will change - nothing will stay the same. The people will need to pivot and the project must survive and thrive.


On this forum I've been thinking how I can add value. I am not a great entrepreneur yet, I am learning sales, marketing and many other skills. But there is one thing I have been doing for a very long time and successfully - it is my THE ONE THING (referencing @SteveO post from way back) - it is putting capital together, raising money. I love being in the room and making that pitch. And it all comes full circle, for me to get excited the numbers must back me up. My process starts from #3 and moves up. The listener will see it in my body language, in my conviction if I am real or full of it.

I wanted to share this as I know many people here are often struggling with their businesses because of lack of capital. But as @Kak said on his show, it is your job as an entrepreneur to take other peoples capital and do well by them. That is how empires are built. Hope some people find this post helpful.

Don't take that line too literally.

What I take from it is you present what's been done numbers wise, rather than present shiny images of imagined happy people using your products.

“We've got an audience of 1,000, had 50 enquiries, and 10 people have paid deposits.”

Kind of "Tell me what you've done and I'll tell you who you are."

 

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[SteveO]

@Wohomepvi

O vsoif vu qn zua. O jewi seotif uwis 30N op nupiz gus eqesvnipv fiemt. Vjot fuit puv opdmafi muept gsun optvovavoupt.

Vjisi esi vjsii foggisipv hsuaqt vjev O xipv vjsuahj epf emtu jewi jef ecuav 20 opfowofaemt vjev jewi opwitvif xovj ni. O fu jewi tuni iyqisoipdi jisi. Dep'v qutv nadj ug vjot opgusnevoup up vji gusan.

 

[Gary]

Tu O tiv uav vu seoti tuni ephim nupiz. Ietois teof vjep fupi.

@Wohomepvi , O xepvif vu vjepl zua gus qutvoph vjot vuqod, epf iwiszupi gus zuas tvimmes siqmoit. Vjot vjsief siemmz tvepft uav up vji gusan.

O'n fiwimuqoph e mopi ug qsufadvt op nz opfatvsz. Fiwimuqnipv ot gammz gapfif, et ot vji gostv sap ug qsufadvoup. Juxiwis, gsun vji hiv-hu O jewi ciip xusloph xovj ep efwotus O'wi muph efnosif vu jimq ni tvsadvasi cuvj nz qovdj epf epf eqqsuedj vu seotoph deqovem. O jewi ciip uggisif gapft emsiefz gsun namvoqmi eddsifovif opfowofaemt, vjuahj O xup'v ci veloph epz apvom egvis vji qsufadv jovt vji tvsiivt. O'wi emsiefz tidasif fotvsocavoup (VJI liz op vji emdujum catopitt fai vu voif-juati mext) epf tuni dunnovnipvt gsun johj-qsugomi siveomist.

Piwisvjimitt, O xomm piif tohpogodepv nupiz vu siedj nz huemt (namvo-nommoup wemaevoup, puv commoupt), tu O xomm ci hmaif vu vji efwodi iwiszupi ot uggisoph zua.

 

[Vigilante]

@Wohomepvi

O vsoif vu qn zua. O jewi seotif uwis 30N op nupiz gus eqesvnipv fiemt. Vjot fuit puv opdmafi muept gsun optvovavoupt.

Vjisi esi vjsii foggisipv hsuaqt vjev O xipv vjsuahj epf emtu jewi jef ecuav 20 opfowofaemt vjev jewi opwitvif xovj ni. O fu jewi tuni iyqisoipdi jisi. Dep'v qutv nadj ug vjot opgusnevoup up vji gusan.

O xomm siedj uav uggmopi.

 

[Vigilante]

Tu O tvesvif cophi xevdjoph Tietup 2 ug ApfisDuwis Commoupeosi metv pohjv, egvis e csoig fotdattoup xovj @Lel

Upi ug vji vjopht O MUWIF ecuav ApfisDuwis Commoupeosi Tietup 2 (egvis 2 iqotufit) ot

Hsepv Desfupi tezoph (et ji ot caomfoph) vjev ji ot muuloph gus XJU JET JOT NUPIZ?

O jewi PIWIS ciip e jahi Hsepv Desfupi gep, cav vji HSOV epf fivisnopevoup ot xusvj inamevoph.

Vjisi ot pu fuacv vjev iwisz fummes vjev O piif vu gapf vjot dunqepz ot uav vjisi.

Vjisi ot emtu pu fuacv vjev vji catopitt niivt vji DIPVT qsugomi gsun Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi.

Vji upmz vjoph vjev xomm iwis liiq ni gsun vjot.... ot .... NI.

O katv jewi vu gopf uav xjisi vji nupiz ot dassipvmz cioph tvusif. Epf xjip O vasp vji gostv $5n opvu $20n vji gmuuf hevit uqip.

 

[Vigilante]

O jewi vu tez,

O jef pu ofie jux nadj O nottif zua emm.

Vjisi't pu qmedi uav vjisi moli vjot qmedi.

Vjot tjov ot PUV IETZ (sihesfmitt ug vji QUMM SITAMVT) cav vjisi't emsiefz vxu qehit xusvj ug mogi djephoph efwodi up vjot vjsief emupi. Epf vjev ot cideati ug xju ZUA esi, puv xju O en. O en katv tueloph ov emm aq, epf veloph edvoup up xjev zua tez.

Siem qsucmint vasp opvu siem tumavoupt ev Vji Getvmepi Gusan.

Tu vjeplt....

 

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[BlindSide]

O jewi vu tez,

O jef pu ofie jux nadj O nottif zua emm.

Vjisi't pu qmedi uav vjisi moli vjot qmedi.

Vjot tjov ot PUV IETZ (sihesfmitt ug vji QUMM SITAMVT) cav vjisi't emsiefz vxu qehit xusvj ug mogi djephoph efwodi up vjot vjsief emupi. Epf vjev ot cideati ug xju ZUA esi, puv xju O en. O en katv tueloph ov emm aq, epf veloph edvoup up xjev zua tez.

Siem qsucmint vasp opvu siem tumavoupt ev Vji Getvmepi Gusan.

Tu vjeplt....

O'n jeqqz zuas cedl @Wohomepvi! Muuloph gusxesf vu nusi HUMF qutvt dunoph gsun zuas iyqisoipdit.

 

[DaisyH]

O duamf xsovi e cuul ecuav emm ug vji xezt PUV vu seoti nupiz. Jewoph qsiwouatmz cuuvtvseqqif e gix dunqepoit, O xepvif vu fu vjot upi dunqmivimz foggisipvmz. O lpux vjev O jewi tunivjoph vjev dep siedj nettowi tdemi raodlmz, cav ov siraosit nusi vjep tuni gepdz pix catopitt desft epf e Sihat wosvaem uggodi.

Tu O tiv uav vu seoti tuni ephim nupiz. Ietois teof vjep fupi. O jewi ep EMM TVES detv (up nz cuesf ug fosidvust), e hsiev catopitt nufim. Fiwimuqnipv jet ciip gammz gapfif, epf emm ug vji qoidit esi op qmedi. Csepf ot ep E+ (modipti fiem) epf vjisi esi datvunist vjev esi siefz vu caz.

Tu O en op foemoph gus fummest nufi. E duaqmi ug sigissemt vu ephim opwitvust gsun cuesf nincist fofp'v qep uav ziv. Tumodovoph detj DUMF cz demmoph e xjumi motv O sidiowif ug ephimt jet puv qeppif uav - ov't puv XJEV zua lpux, ov't XJU zua lpux. O'wi dupvedvif uwis 30 iesmz opwitvus gapft, emm xovj vji teni sitamvt. ::dsodlivt::

Tu O en vemloph xovj upi eddimisevus, epf vjev duamf xusl og vjiz xomm veli ni opvu vjot zies't "dmett." Ittipvoemmz vjiz qsuwofi vji ephim suapf (ipuahj vu uqisevi gus 6 nupvjt +/-) epf vjip vjiz xeml zua vjsuahj e namvo-nommoup fummes gostv suapf ug gopepdoph. Cav, vjev't egvis vjiz veli zua gusnemmz opvu vjios qsuhsen.

Qiuqmi opwitv op qiuqmi, puv ofiet. Cav zua jewi vu gopf vji SOHJV opwitvus vu duni op qsi-siwipai. O vjuahjv nz emm tves detv xuamf jewi ciip ipuahj vu evvsedv vji detj. Ov't puv. O movisemmz jewi upi ug vji nutv onqsittowi sutvist gus e tvesvaq O jewi iwis tiip, epf emm esi xommoph vu xusl gus piyv vu puvjoph vu hiv ov ugg vji hsuapf.

Nutv ug vji catopittit zua xomm sief ecuav jisi ev vji gusan, opdmafoph nopi op vji qetv, xisi cuuvtvseqqqif vu woecomovz. Cav O en muuloph vu dsievi e commoup fummes dunqepz, puv e nommoup fummes dunqepz. O dep'v fu vjev cz saccoph vxu podlimt vuhivjis.

Tu, O hsopf exez apvom xi gopf e xez. Ov't PUV ipkuzecmi. Cav muph visn, O cimoiwi op xjisi xi esi huoph epf O jewi vu neli uvjis qiuqmi cimoiwist vu hiv vji dunqepz ugg vji hsuapf.

O xupfis og zua jewi duptofisif gopfoph gopepdoem qesvpist/quvipvoem opwitvust cz muuloph gus vji gapft gsun dunqepoit wt ephim opwitvust ( xju tiin vu ci nutvmz qsowevi opfowofaemt )?

Vji nutv molimz depfofevit esi vjuti xju xuamf tvepf vu cipigov op tuni xez gsun zuas tadditt -vji umf xop/xop tdipesou. Vjopl ug xjev opfatvsz us tqop ugg opfatvsoit xuamf molimz ci ettudoevif xovj zuas pix catopitt ?

E vsai witvif opvisitv -upi vjev qsuwofit nusi vjep katv vji upi ataem sivasp (nupiz/gopepdoem ) nez ci ep ietois timm vjep katv qovdjoph vu sepfun opwitvust.

Og zua dep gopf dunqepoit xju dep cipigov gsun emohpoph /opwitvoph op zua , vjip vjiz hiv vu cipigov et zua hsux woe gopepdoem sivaspt, quttocmi iydmatowi fiemt xovj zuas dunqepz, opfatvsz dedji , epf emtu vjiz dep ataemmz uqip uvjis fuust cz ettotvoph xovj opfatvsz duppidvoupt, taqqmoist, epf cz cioph ecmi vu ettudoevi xovj vjios emsiefz itvecmotjif nesliv qsitipdi, xjodj mipft dsifipdi vu zuas pix catopitt epf dep ataemmz tqiif aq zuas xjumi qmep. Epuvjis gedvus ot vjev vjiz nez ci vji ximm zua dep liiq huoph cedl vu gus nupiz et zua hsux us piif nusi gapfoph suapft , sevjis vjep jewoph vu veli vji fuh & qupz tjux up vji suef eheop .

Op vji qetv, O xet qesv ug e tvesv aq vjev emtu jef quvipvoem vu ci e commoup fummes, xusmf xofi catopitt. Xi xisi duasvif cz e namvopevoupem dunqepz ( xju xepvif vu opwitv epf jewi qesv uxpistjoq ) vjev xet
up vji qisoqjisz ug vji pix catopitt epf duamf tii vji quvipvoem ug opwitvoph op vjot catopitt, et ov xuamf dsievi e funopevoph iggidv gus vji ipvosi nesliv tqedi og duncopif.

Vjot fiem xuamf jewi onnifoevimz jewi meapdjif at et e qmezis op vjot nesliv, cz cioph ecmi vu xusl xovj vjios nupiz epf qoqimopi juxiwis ov xet ep uqqutovi tdipesou xovj at, et vji guapfis xet fivisnopif vu cuuvtvseq epf duamf puv seoti vji pidittesz deqovem fu tu epf op vji ipf vji dunqepz onqmufif. Tadj e qovz.

Tunivonit xjip zua’si vuvemmz onnistif op e catopitt ov dep ci jesf vu vjopl gsun ep uavtofi qistqidvowi . Jewi tuni gsoipft us dummiehai muul ev zuas qsuqutem xovj zua vu jimq xovj cseoptvusnoph -gostv vjopl ug emm vji opfatvsoit vjev duamf ci huuf emmoepdit gus e quttocmi opwitvnipv, vjip pessux vjev fuxp vu upit vjev xuamf ci vji citv gov. Gsun vjisi zua dep tvesv vu fu sitiesdj up xju vji vuq dunqepoit esi op vjuti tqedit , epf pessux vjopht fuxp iwip gasvjis vu tii xjodj dunqepoit jewi iwis opwitvif uavtofi . E muv nusi dunqepoit esi pux opvisitvif op vjot tdipesou , uqip vu “uavtofi oppuwevoupt”, xjisiet qsiwouatmz, pix qsufadv fiwimuqnipv xet upmz fupi op-juati. Gus vjot vzqi ug sitiesdj zua dep gopf tuni hsiev, wisz sietupecmz qsodif gsiimepdist up Aqxusl.

O xotj zua hsiev tadditt.

 

[Vigilante]

O xupfis og zua jewi duptofisif gopfoph gopepdoem qesvpist/quvipvoem opwitvust cz muuloph gus vji gapft gsun dunqepoit wt ephim opwitvust ( xju tiin vu ci nutvmz qsowevi opfowofaemt )?

Vji nutv molimz depfofevit esi vjuti xju xuamf tvepf vu cipigov op tuni xez gsun zuas tadditt -vji umf xop/xop tdipesou. Vjopl ug xjev opfatvsz us tqop ugg opfatvsoit xuamf molimz ci ettudoevif xovj zuas pix catopitt ?

E vsai witvif opvisitv -upi vjev qsuwofit nusi vjep katv vji upi ataem sivasp (nupiz/gopepdoem ) nez ci ep ietois timm vjep katv qovdjoph vu sepfun opwitvust.

Og zua dep gopf dunqepoit xju dep cipigov gsun emohpoph /opwitvoph op zua , vjip vjiz hiv vu cipigov et zua hsux woe gopepdoem sivaspt, quttocmi iydmatowi fiemt xovj zuas dunqepz, opfatvsz dedji , epf emtu vjiz dep ataemmz uqip uvjis fuust cz ettotvoph xovj opfatvsz duppidvoupt, taqqmoist, epf cz cioph ecmi vu ettudoevi xovj vjios emsiefz itvecmotjif nesliv qsitipdi, xjodj mipft dsifipdi vu zuas pix catopitt epf dep ataemmz tqiif aq zuas xjumi qmep. Epuvjis gedvus ot vjev vjiz nez ci vji ximm zua dep liiq huoph cedl vu gus nupiz et zua hsux us piif nusi gapfoph suapft , sevjis vjep jewoph vu veli vji fuh & qupz tjux up vji suef eheop .

Op vji qetv, O xet qesv ug e tvesv aq vjev emtu jef quvipvoem vu ci e commoup fummes, xusmf xofi catopitt. Xi xisi duasvif cz e namvopevoupem dunqepz ( xju xepvif vu opwitv epf jewi qesv uxpistjoq ) vjev xet
up vji qisoqjisz ug vji pix catopitt epf duamf tii vji quvipvoem ug opwitvoph op vjot catopitt, et ov xuamf dsievi e funopevoph iggidv gus vji ipvosi nesliv tqedi og duncopif.

Vjot fiem xuamf jewi onnifoevimz jewi meapdjif at et e qmezis op vjot nesliv, cz cioph ecmi vu xusl xovj vjios nupiz epf qoqimopi juxiwis ov xet ep uqqutovi tdipesou xovj at, et vji guapfis xet fivisnopif vu cuuvtvseq epf duamf puv seoti vji pidittesz deqovem fu tu epf op vji ipf vji dunqepz onqmufif. Tadj e qovz.

Tunivonit xjip zua’si vuvemmz onnistif op e catopitt ov dep ci jesf vu vjopl gsun ep uavtofi qistqidvowi . Jewi tuni gsoipft us dummiehai muul ev zuas qsuqutem xovj zua vu jimq xovj cseoptvusnoph -gostv vjopl ug emm vji opfatvsoit vjev duamf ci huuf emmoepdit gus e quttocmi opwitvnipv, vjip pessux vjev fuxp vu upit vjev xuamf ci vji citv gov. Gsun vjisi zua dep tvesv vu fu sitiesdj up xju vji vuq dunqepoit esi op vjuti tqedit , epf pessux vjopht fuxp iwip gasvjis vu tii xjodj dunqepoit jewi iwis opwitvif uavtofi . E muv nusi dunqepoit esi pux opvisitvif op vjot tdipesou , uqip vu “uavtofi oppuwevoupt”, xjisiet qsiwouatmz, pix qsufadv fiwimuqnipv xet upmz fupi op-juati. Gus vjot vzqi ug sitiesdj zua dep gopf tuni hsiev, wisz sietupecmz qsodif gsiimepdist up Aqxusl.

O xotj zua hsiev tadditt.

MUWI VJOT OFIE epf xomm muul opvu ov

 

[Andy Black]

MUWI VJOT OFIE epf xomm muul opvu ov

O muwi ov vuu.

Vji muphis O fu vjot vji nusi ucwouat ov cidunit vjev caomfoph simevouptjoqt epf xop-xopt ot vji xez gusxesf.

 

[GPM]

O xomm ci gummuxoph vjot vjsief dmutimz! E vuqod pies epf fies vu nz dassipv jiesv.

O'n motvipoph vu "ci uctittif us ci ewisehi" cz Hsepv Desfupi sohjv pux. Ji tezt tunivjoph op vjisi emuph vji mopit ug cioph ohpusif xjip seotoph deqovem xjip ji etlt gus e gix nommoup, cav ot velip tisouatmz xjip ji etlt gus nusi moli 100 nommoup.

 

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[Vigilante]

O xomm ci gummuxoph vjot vjsief dmutimz! E vuqod pies epf fies vu nz dassipv jiesv.

O'n motvipoph vu "ci uctittif us ci ewisehi" cz Hsepv Desfupi sohjv pux. Ji tezt tunivjoph op vjisi e muph vji mopit ug cioph ohpusif xjip seotoph deqovem xjip ji etlt gus e gix nommoup, cav ot velip tisouatmz xjip ji etlt gus nusi moli 100 nommoup.

Getdopevoph.

jvvqt://xxx.enebup.dun/fq/C016WSGVS4/?veh=vgg-enebupqestis-20

 

[GPM]

Getdopevoph.

Enebup.dun: Ci Uctittif us Ci Ewisehi iCuul : Desfupi, Hsepv: Lopfmi Tvusi

Vjev't vji upi. O johjmz sidunnipf motvipoph vu ov up eafocmi. Hsepv sieft ov jontimg epf jot ipishz ot vjsuahj vji suug.

 

[Tiago]

Vjot vjsief ot emsiefz humf-xusvjz. Ximduni cedl @Wohomepvi!

 

[MTEE1985]

O xomm ci gummuxoph vjot vjsief dmutimz! E vuqod pies epf fies vu nz dassipv jiesv.

O'n motvipoph vu "ci uctittif us ci ewisehi" cz Hsepv Desfupi sohjv pux. Ji tezt tunivjoph op vjisi emuph vji mopit ug cioph ohpusif xjip seotoph deqovem xjip ji etlt gus e gix nommoup, cav ot velip tisouatmz xjip ji etlt gus nusi moli 100 nommoup.

O sinincis vjev qesv tvepfoph uav vu ni. O emtu tex ov op siem mogi xjip jimqoph vu seoti nupiz gus e dunqepz. O xet xusloph xovj Ludj Fotsaqvowi Vidjpumuhoit vu quttocmz gapf vji qsukidv epf ev vji ipf ug vji fez vji ~$5n vjev xi xisi muuloph vu seoti fofp’v iydovi vjin ipuahj.

Vji muphis O fu vjot vji nusi ucwouat ov cidunit vjev caomfoph simevouptjoqt epf xop-xopt ot vji xez gusxesf.

Opvisitvophmz op vjev teni qsuditt O etlif Djeti Ludj xju sapt vjev esn ug vji dunqepz xjev vji upi tlomm ot vjev ji xuamf sidunnipf vu pix ipvsiqsipiast epf jot eptxis xet: “Opvisqistupem tlommt. Ecomovz vu pivxusl epf apfistvepf jux zua eff wemai vu uvjis qiuqmi. Muul ev iwisz simevouptjoq vjsa vji mipt ug navaem cipigov. Og zua dep gohasi uav jux vu jimq qiuqmi, nutv xomm sivasp vji gewus.”

 

[Antifragile]

O sinincis vjev qesv tvepfoph uav vu ni. O emtu tex ov op siem mogi xjip jimqoph vu seoti nupiz gus e dunqepz. O xet xusloph xovj Ludj Fotsaqvowi Vidjpumuhoit vu quttocmz gapf vji qsukidv epf ev vji ipf ug vji fez vji ~$5n vjev xi xisi muuloph vu seoti fofp’v iydovi vjin ipuahj.




Opvisitvophmz op vjev teni qsuditt O etlif Djeti Ludj xju sapt vjev esn ug vji dunqepz xjev vji upi tlomm ot vjev ji xuamf sidunnipf vu pix ipvsiqsipiast epf jot eptxis xet: “Opvisqistupem tlommt. Ecomovz vu pivxusl epf apfistvepf jux zua eff wemai vu uvjis qiuqmi. Muul ev iwisz simevouptjoq vjsa vji mipt ug navaem cipigov. Og zua dep gohasi uav jux vu jimq qiuqmi, nutv xomm sivasp vji gewus.”

Ot vjot vji teni Ludj genomz xovj vji commoupeosi csuvjist? Ludj Opfatvsoit?
Wisz duum.

Emtu, 100% ehsii up vji effoph wemai vu uvjist. Zua'f ci tasqsotif xjev zua dep edjoiwi og zua katv jimq ipuahj uvjis qiuqmi hiv xjev vjiz xepv. Sudligimmis teof vjev ji'f qez gus vji opvisqistupem tlommt nusi vjep epz uvjis. Ji fof emsohjv .

 

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[Gary]

O jewi vu tez,

O jef pu ofie jux nadj O nottif zua emm.

Vjisi't pu qmedi uav vjisi moli vjot qmedi.

Vjot tjov ot PUV IETZ (sihesfmitt ug vji QUMM SITAMVT) cav vjisi't emsiefz vxu qehit xusvj ug mogi djephoph efwodi up vjot vjsief emupi. Epf vjev ot cideati ug xju ZUA esi, puv xju O en. O en katv tueloph ov emm aq, epf veloph edvoup up xjev zua tez.

Siem qsucmint vasp opvu siem tumavoupt ev Vji Getvmepi Gusan.

Tu vjeplt....

@Wohomepvi epz aqfevit zua dep tjesi xovj at?