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Yesterday, I came across a pitch that left me reflecting on the importance of preparation when seeking funding from seasoned venture capitalists. This young entrepreneur stood before a panel of experienced investors—individuals who have spent their careers building wealth and scaling businesses. He was pitching his company, offering a stake in exchange for investment. The questions came fast and hard: “What was your revenue for the past four years?” His answer? “Zero.” It’s common for startups to have little or no revenue early on, one thing was clear—these investors weren’t just looking for potential. They wanted evidence of progress, traction, and results. Even if the business wasn’t yet profitable, they needed to see that the entrepreneur had turned an idea into something tangible. Venture capitalists are experts at valuation—it’s what they do for a living. You can’t walk into the room selling hope alone. They want to invest in something that has substance, a foundation they can help scale. If you’re planning to pitch your idea to investors, remember this: Show results, not just dreams. Even if the numbers are small, they matter. Demonstrate that you’ve built something. Traction is more valuable than theoretical potential. Understand your valuation. Investors will scrutinize it—be ready to explain it. Selling hope is easy. Building trust through results is the real challenge. What’s your take? Should investors give more weight to a founder’s vision, or is tangible progress non-negotiable? Let me know in the comments! Follow me for more insights and conversations around entrepreneurship, innovation, and professional growth. Let’s grow together!

For today’s founders, hiring the right advisors will prove a critical key to success. But how and when should you do so? In my latest Entrepreneur article, I outline how to hire and retain the right advisory team effectively. Read more here and look forward to thoughts! Entrepreneur Media Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP #entrepreneurship #founder #advisor #investment #venturecapital #startups

The right advice, particularly in a company's early stages: how to surround yourself with the right minds. https://lnkd.in/gNbBkcPK #surrounding #right #minds #advisoryteam #need #role #earlystages #startups #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship

How a 3-Hour Flight Delay Brought Clarity to My Entrepreneurial Growth Path. On my way back from GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World 2024, a 3-hour flight delay felt like an inconvenience at first. But sometimes, life throws surprises that reshape your perspective entirely. This was one of those moments. As I waited, I started a casual conversation with the person sitting next to me, whose flight to Mumbai was also delayed. What started as small talk quickly turned into one of the most insightful conversations of my life. I was speaking with Arun Srivastav, a leader with 25 years of experience working with global giants like Verizon, General Motors, British Telecom, and Morgan Stanley, and now the CEO of Capital Gambit: an innovative wealth management platform catering to ultra-high-net-worth clients. Arun generously shared his journey, and what he revealed wasn’t just knowledge; it was the kind of insight that, when applied, could lead to million-dollar profits. Here are the lessons that improved my perspective on business and leadership: 1️⃣ The Power of Ethics in Business: Even as a founder, Arun Srivastav gets his salary reviews approved by HR. Strange, right? But it’s true. He also ensures every team member gets opportunities to learn and grow. 2️⃣ From Service to Product: The Big Leap: Want to move from services to products? Master the language of VCs and dive deep into finance first. Building software? Think about patents before you think about products. 3️⃣ The Importance of Networking: Young founders (like me) need three things: the right network, an evolving perspective, and patience for sustainable growth. 4️⃣ Acquisitions & Investments: Arun explained how big firms operate with startups and the art of making a product acquisition-ready even before it’s launched. Understanding these dynamics early can give startups a competitive edge. 5️⃣ Young Founders & Perspective: Arun’s focus isn’t just on profits but on building something that lasts. He emphasized how young founders need to evolve their approach for long-term growth; focusing on sustainability, learning, and wealth creation beyond immediate success. By the end of those 3 hours, what started as an inconvenience became a life-changing masterclass in business strategy and leadership. Arun’s insights didn’t just inspire me; they provided clarity on how to navigate my entrepreneurial journey with the right mindset and actionable strategies. Sometimes, an unexpected delay can become your greatest opportunity. So be open to the possibilities; you never know when a chance encounter might turn into your next million-dollar profit. Have you ever had a similar experience that completely changed your perspective? Let’s share stories in the comments! #StartupWisdom #EntrepreneurLife #Gitex2024 #TechInnovation #BusinessOpportunities #Al

I will be taking down August’s topic and posts from my profile next week. This is your last chance to save, download, and read them later. Check out the featured section on my LinkedIn profile and download/save accordingly. Good luck on your startup journey! 🚀

How to Prepare Your Small Business for Impactful Investor Partnerships That Go Beyond Funding! Entrepreneurship is a journey of grit, vision and strategy. While many entrepreneurs focus solely on securing capital, true business growth often demands more than funding. It requires the strategic mentorship of an investorpreneur — an investor who provides financial backing and serves as a mentor, guide and partner in your journey toward success. Investorpreneurs are redefining the relationship between entrepreneurs and investors by blending financial support with expertise, real-world insights and access to networks. An investorpreneur is a transformational ally, offering far more than just financial support. Unlike traditional angel investors or venture capitalists, investorpreneurs combine their capital with active mentorship, helping you make informed decisions, build connections and scale effectively. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent investorpreneur, played a pivotal role in Airbnb's rise to success. Hoffman didn't just provide funding — he mentored Airbnb's founders, helping them refine their business model, expand into new markets and navigate industry challenges. His strategic advice during critical growth stages propelled Airbnb into becoming a global leader in hospitality. Investorpreneurs invest more than money — they bring their experience, insights and networks to the table, turning promising startups into industry leaders. This article explores how you can prepare your small business to engage with an investorpreneur, unlocking new opportunities for growth while building a resilient foundation for your company's future. #entrepreneurship #investorpreneur https://lnkd.in/dQxXav68

My goal: Each week I will cover a number of topics on LinkedIn, just content, no flash. File it away and when you get a chance give it a read. Hi founders, If you’d like any of these topics and posts just open up my featured section on my LinkedIn profile and save/download. In August we covered some topics in detail: Topic 1: The Perfect Networking Elevator Pitch Topic 2: 90 Questions asked by VC Topic 3: Business grants, funds and supports for startups Topic 4: What a VC looks for in a Start-up Topic 5: VC versus Angel Investor Topic 6: Division of equity in a company Topic 7: Difference between an inventor, founder, and CEO. Topic 8: Roles and responsibilities of a Start-up Non-executive Director Topic 9: Finding your co-founder Topic 10: What makes for an excellent co-founder Topic 11: Setting up a data room for VC and others Other personal LinkedIn posts: Top 20 reasons startups fail 5 Best Drag & Drop Tailwind CSS website Page Builders 10 social media tools to manage your social media presence 21 AI Productivity Tools to Improve Your Workflow What are TAM, SAM and SOM Due diligence by angel investors 12 best market research tools for reliable data analysis Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and investors Networking for VCs What VC and angel investors look for in a startup Questions to ask a possible Co-Founder Startup traction without revenue for your pitch deck Seed rounds explained 17 Questions To Ask a VC Good luck with your start-up journey! Please repost to help fellow founders. Slowey Start-Up Process Programme #Founder #entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #company #investment #fundraising #Innovation #learning #education #CustomerAcquisition #BusinessGrowth #StartupJourney #BusinessStrategy #BusinessEducation #mentorship #Startup #Startups

💼 The Role of Advisors and Board Members in VC-Backed Startups: Mentors, Guides, and Game-Changers! 🚀 Behind every great VC-backed startup is a team of advisors and board members helping steer the ship. These unsung heroes bring experience, networks, and strategic insights to the table—exactly what a growing business needs to succeed! 🌱💡 So, what do they actually do? 1️⃣ Advisors: They provide specialized expertise in areas like product development, marketing, or scaling. Think of them as the startup’s personal Yoda, offering wisdom without running the day-to-day. 🧠✨ 2️⃣ Board Members: These heavy-hitters ensure governance and accountability. They monitor performance, help set goals, and offer a big-picture perspective. Plus, they connect startups with more funding opportunities. 💼📊 Together, advisors and board members are key to navigating challenges, unlocking new growth, and ensuring the business is on track to scale. Without them, startups would have a much harder time achieving sustainable success. 💬 Got questions about advisors, board roles, or VC-backed startups? Or just want to brainstorm some deals and opinions? Reach out—we’d love to chat! 🔍 Let’s connect and explore what it takes to build the next unicorn! 🦄 Drop your thoughts below: What’s the best advice you’ve received from a mentor or board member? 👇 #VentureCapital #Advisors #BoardMembers #StartupGrowth #InvestSmart #Entrepreneurship #LinkedIn

Who Are the Real Power Brokers in VC Investing? Most 'investors' who reach out can't actually invest in your startup. Here's the hard truth. As a founder/entrepreneur, your job is to talk to "qualified investors" who are most likely to give you capital, and importantly, who have the power to do so. Here's what I've learned: • Don't waste time with every investor who shows "interest". I made this mistake in the early days. • Be wary of messages like this: "I'm an investor at BigCorp VC. We have $X billion under management, and we're early investors in BigCompany1, BigCompany2, BigCompany3, etc. We love what you're doing and we want to learn more." • These senders are rarely decision-makers. They typically have titles such as: Investors, Investment scouts, Associates, Principals, Investment directors, etc. Their goal? Gather intel on the latest trends/tech/buzz and report back. They aim to talk to everyone, but sadly, they can't really make investment decisions. • 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐆𝐏𝐬). They can actually invest and be true champions of your venture inside their firms. Genuine interest from power brokers looks different: • They'll seek warm intros through your existing investors or network • They won't send generic outreach messages Key takeaway: I've never received funding from this type of cold outreach or by engaging first with non-decision makers. Success came when decision-makers and non-decision makers teamed up and spoke with me. Remember: Your time is precious. Focus on those who can actually write the check. If you had a different experience or a different take, I’d like to hear from you. — ♻️ Like, connect/DM, or comment if you found this helpful. Follow me to learn from both my mistakes and insights on entrepreneurship. #StartupAdvice #TeamBuilding #ProductMarketFit #Innovation #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #Startup #Startups #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Fundraising #EntrepreneurshipTips #VC