Many investable entrepreneurs dream of becoming a ‘unicorn’. The term was first coined by venture capitalist Aileen Lee back in 2013. At that time, there were only 39 unicorn startups in existence. Today, there are more than 900 unicorn startups around the world. What is a unicorn? A unicorn is when a startup reaches a…
This is another question that investable entrepreneurs frequently ask us, thinking there must be some ‘one size fits all’ answer. But the question has two parts, and it’s essential to get both those parts right if you’re going to land the investment you’re looking for. Part 1: How can you connect with investors? 1. Leverage…
Your pitch will get their attention. But showing an investor that you’ve done your homework and explored ways to minimise their financial risk and make investing in you even easier will push them closer towards taking action. It will also underline that you’re not just focused on the creative “look what an investable idea this…
The answer to that question is simple and straightforward, and it’s not the answer that a lot of founders expect. This is because investors have a unique mindset, and the term ‘traction’ can mean different things to an investor than it does it for a founder. When founders hear the word ‘traction,’ they think ‘customers’.…
When you’re an entrepreneur who’s focused on doing as much as you can to raise investment, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture – getting obsessed by the details at the expense of your success. For a while now, we’ve been wondering if one of those areas might be an under or over-reliance…
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are made for.” Many startup founders are aching for the ocean, but if you set sail before you understand your route and the possible obstacles you’ll encounter, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Instead, take the time to know the ocean before you…
It doesn’t matter how compelling your pitch deck might be, it’s just a beautifully constructed paperweight if you don’t have a coherent fundraising strategy. You need to put a lot of serious, calculated thought into targeting the right type of investors and creating opportunities to get your pitch in front of them. You’ll also need to strategise how you’ll…
As a startup, you know that you need something that helps your company stand out. Something that makes you unique and gives customers a reason to choose you over competitors. Many founders assume that means they need a groundbreaking new technology to start a company. However, recent history shows that technology is not the only…
Do you believe in magic and myths? This article explores one that we see all the time. The ‘unicorn startup myth’ where it’s believed that successful startups can grow rapidly to become multi-billion dollar companies. It’s something to aspire for, but is it all that it’s cracked up to be? When you’re the founder of…
Starting a new venture means exciting and busy times ahead of you. Chances are that you will need to convince investors that your business has a bright future. One of the most important things investors want to know about is the size of your potential target market. Here is how to assess your market. A…
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