How can you build investor relationships in a virtual environment?

The first step is to create a pitch deck that is not just visually appealing but also effectively communicates your startup’s story. You need to keep it simple, focusing on key elements like the problem you're solving, your solution, market potential, traction, team, and what you're seeking from investors. Tools like Canva or Pitch can assist in creating professional slides. Regularly practice your pitch with peers or mentors to refine your delivery.

Antes de presentar tu pitch, entra en la mente de tu oyente, sé consciente de que reciben propuestas a diario y no puedes ser uno más. Inicia captando su atención con un problema intrigante. Tu meta: lograr una conversación genuina para evaluar la compatibilidad mutua, ambos estáis valorando el encaje. Este desafío es exigente; la persistencia es clave, no decaigas. Luego, construye un pitch directo y conciso con estos elementos: - Problema - Solución y mercado - Hitos y roadmap - Equipo - Beneficio para el inversor No intentes abarcar todo en 10 minutos; busca la siguiente reunión para detalles. Si llegas a ese punto, ¡enhorabuena! Hay interés mutuo y estás un paso más cerca de conseguirlo.

Your pitch deck is your chance to impress investors, so keep it straightforward, short, and persuasive. Stick to a clean design, don't overload slides with text or complicated terms, and focus on key points like the problem you're solving, your solution, the market, your progress, your team, and what you need from investors. Tools like Canva, Pitch, or Slidebean can help you create polished slides. Practice presenting your pitch with your team, mentors, or friends, and listen to their feedback on what works, how you deliver it, and how long it takes.

Investors appreciate founders who understand their preferences. Before reaching out, extensively research potential investors. Know their investment history, the type of startups they favor, and their specific criteria. Platforms like Crunchbase or LinkedIn can provide valuable insights. Tailor your pitch to align with their interests, showing why your startup matches their portfolio.

Investors get anywhere from 10 - 100 approaches a week. Most of these tend to sit in a catergory of 'I have an idea, I need an investor, are you interested book in a call.' - so 99.9% will either go unanswered or rejected and deleted. What stands out is doing the research and identifying WHY you want to connect with that individual. What is it about their profile, their investments, or posts that make you think they could be a good partner for your captable other than capital. Even if they aren't deploying this approach tends to garner at least a warm response, and sometimes a nod in the right direction.

Before you approach investors, take the time to learn about them. Research their background, what kinds of startups they usually invest in, and what stage they prefer. Look into their portfolio and see if they've funded similar companies. Find out what they bring to the table for startups they invest in and what they usually ask. You can use tools like Crunchbase, AngelList, or LinkedIn for this. Customize your pitch and messages to each investor, showing them why your startup aligns with their interests and criteria.

This is the easier said than done approach, much like cold asking for cash for your idea. A warm intro helps but often if it's not relevant it feels like wasted time, understanding why the warm intro makes sense and backed off research is still neccersary. For this reason alone and a general lack of research means Cold approaches which are researched can be just as successful as warm ones for results. However this dynamic shifts the moment you have a lead investor because they are taking on the charge to help complete the round alongside you. They aren't doing the work, that still sits with the founders, but they can be more invested in the intro's and that can help build momentum. So be aware of which phase you are in.

Warm introductions can significantly enhance your chances of getting noticed. So make use of your existing network, seeking introductions from co-founders, advisors, mentors, or even satisfied customers. A well-crafted introduction email, highlighting the relevance of your startup, can help you pave the way for a smoother connection. Remember to express gratitude and promptly follow up on any introductions.

To connect with investors, aim for warm introductions from people they trust. Tap into your network, including co-founders, advisors, mentors, customers, or fellow founders, to find these connections. Request introductions via email or social media, explaining why you're reaching out and why you're interested in speaking with them. Be courteous, appreciative, and prompt in your follow-ups.

When presenting to investors online, select the platform that aligns with your requirements and preferences. For live presentations and interaction, consider video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. Alternatively, for asynchronous viewing and engagement tracking, explore pre-recorded video platforms such as Loom, Vidyard, or Pitchtape. Before your presentation, ensure you test your equipment, internet connection, and audio quality to avoid any technical issues.

Choose the platform that has the least audience & chances of getting the response are very high. The more easier network to video conference solution will works the best.

I think this is one of the key and most overlooked things to do. Of the successful founders I have worked with - I would say around 95% have built an audience and connect with them regularly. It's a slow burn but a neccessary way to build up your investor database. Do this right and the right investors will come to you. Create and engage with your audience. - Be seen as an authority in your space. - Don't 'ask' for something right away. - Add value - Be authentic

Pitching online presents its own set of challenges, including distractions and technical glitches. To captivate your audience and maintain their focus, employ storytelling, visual aids, and product demonstrations to illustrate your progress and offerings effectively. Project confidence, enthusiasm, and authenticity, utilizing eye contact, gestures, and voice modulation to convey your passion and personality. Encourage engagement by asking open-ended questions, actively listening to responses, and addressing any queries or hesitations promptly and comprehensively.

This is the one skillset alongside the effort on research which can make of break winning over an investor. If you have actions at the end of the first call, or just following up on your outreach. Having a couple of reasons why that investor would be of interest or relevant can help win over attention span. If you don't follow up, simply you get forgotten. The act of chasing investors is a signal for alot of investors on how you as a founder or team do sales. Great tech is great, but it isn't going to have a commercially successful outcome if you can't follow up and close out deals. Be it fundraising or selling. Pop a note in the diary two weeks after your initial outreach, or follow up within 24 hours of a call. Simple. OpenRound.vc

Following up with investors after an online pitch is crucial for building rapport. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, reiterating your value proposition and attaching your pitch deck and relevant documents. Keep them informed about your progress, milestones, and any news updates, and invite feedback or referrals. Maintain responsiveness, respectfulness, and transparency, demonstrating your commitment, coachability, and credibility. This ongoing communication helps nurture relationships and enhances your chances of securing investment.

Most startups make the key mistake of only trying to communicate with investors when they're looking for money. But the relationship building process (especially in a virtual environment) needs to start much sooner. Reach out to investors before you've started to raise capital to let them know about your product and get them on your investor mailing list. Send monthly updates about your progress. That way when you're ready to ask for funding, they already know about your product, they are familiar with your team, and you have a good rapport going into the pitch. This can make virtual pitching much less daunting and "cold."

Be in the place they hang-in, it can be the informal, format or semi formal places. Build the rapport & showcase influence, so if they reach out without you asked, it creates the huge impact.