Human | Entrepreneur turned Investor | Founder of MVC & MEETYOO | Passionate Sales Guy | Dad of fantastic Girls | Triathlete
VC Mansplaining ... 🫣 I analyzed over 250 messages from female founders over the past few weeks and realized that most were longer and less assertive than their male counterparts. Another observation I made was that In most cases, the focus was more on impact and less on the investment opportunity. But investors want to make money first and foremost, and they scan everything for investment signals, starting with your first message: - Strong initial traction - Unique product offering - Special market advantage - Great, experienced founder Here are some (gender-neutral) recommendations for your initial outreach: ➡️ List 3-4 investment highlights (see above) ➡️ Keep your message short and use direct language, the storytelling starts when you pitch ➡️ Send a short teaser deck (10 pages) right away, don’t ask for permission (why another mail?) ➡️ Instead of "can we jump on a call" ask what is the best way to book a call (investors also have calendly) additionally share your own calendar. Happy fundraising! 💰 ____________________________ Sharing my experience as an entrepreneur and angel investor. Investing in early stage B2B SaaS startups. Happy to connect 👋
Rachael McCrary
5mo
I just don’t buy all these tactics and guides. If you’re an amazing entrepreneur with an amazing idea or company and you illustrate that well and that you know your job is to get an ROI to your investors and how you intend to do that, then it kinda doesn’t matter the format or whatever. Also be your authentic self to naturally attract those that are right for you. Just my experience and opinion. :)
Shelia Matthews
5mo
Hm.. three weeks ago, you posted that you've spoken to 4 female founders all year. Then you posted that you had 25 female calls booked. Now suddenly you've taken 250 calls specifically from women?? 🤡 Maybe there are other reasons women don't want to talk to you. 🤔
David Wagner
5mo
Tony E. Kula this post makes me sad, for you. You could offer advice without gender references. Maybe you just want to be controversial to get more LI reactions. Or maybe offer advice to VCs to listen differently to women founders. I’ve been involved with dozens of founders over the last four years. If you listen and work without a gender bias maybe that will help going forward.
Juliana Uto
5mo
Tony, this is valuable feedback for anyone seeking to raise capital, and it certainly doesn’t fall into the category of "VC mansplaining." As an investor, my foremost priority is securing a return on my investment. Period. The competition for investor capital is fierce, and those seeking funding must distinguish themselves by articulating a compelling reason for investors to support them. Being female and impact-driven, while admirable, is not sufficient on its own.
This is really helpful. A spotlight is often shown on how only 2% of VC funding goes to women, but I think few folks are looking at many of the preceding factors leading up to this statistic. How can women speak the language of VC? Or even before that, the language of their customers that leads to PMF? I’d like to see more focus on how women can build something great, align with the right partners, and position themselves for submitting the best 10 slides that represents their traction, positioning, and market size etc when it comes time for funding.
Therese Jacob
5mo
Understood, and I would like to raise the question of why women have to (again) adapt to the male world before they are heard and respected for their equally attractive cases. The fact is that companies founded by women outperform their male counterparts. This is something that male investors don't really want to miss out on if in the end it's all about making money. Restraint or not...
We have made the experience that we get more answers if we ask for permission beforehand. I don’t know why. Maybe some kind of respect which lots of investors are looking for?
Britt Corsi
5mo
Was that the primary reason that 4/250 converted into calls?
Co-Founder of Bolder Money 🚀 | Everyone deserves access to personalized, compassionate financial guidance 💸
5moPersonally, I’d like to see VC speak the language of women, rather than women always having to learn a different way of being in order to get where they deserve to be. But I get that it’s part of the game. I only hope that as more women do get funding and become in the VC decision making roles, they remember that it’s the structure that needs reshaping more than the individuals.