Preparing a Pitch for Investors

This is your stage and you have to direct the performance.....

If the audience doesn’t get it You are Done!

Who is your Audience?

7 Steps To A Winning Pitch

1. Preparation is key2. First Impressions matter3. Embrace brevity4. Know your numbers5. Conduct market research6. Be enthusiastic but professional7. Practise makes perfect

TOOOOO Short .... No wayJust too short on content

• I have been a member of MLA’s Selection Committee for three years and > 80% of presenters run out of time

• A Perfect round number is ten slides• With the right content you can present in 15 ‘• If you can’t explain your business to a nine

year old, you won’t be able to explain it to an investor

RecommendedTen Slides

For a Pitch

Market Need and Solution

• Define the problem or the market need, and outline your solution. Give “the elevator pitch” for your start-up

Company and Business Model

• Name of the Company and Organization• Products or services• How you will make money• Who pays you• Gross Margin

Product & Technology

• Define the technology behind your product or services (past, present and future development phases).

• Make sure you communicate the relevance of your product/services to market needs.

• Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”.

Industry & Market Sizing

• Define the characteristics of the overall industry, market forces, market dynamics and customer landscape.

• The investor needs to understand the industry of your company.

• Use third party data.

Marketing, Sales and Partners

• Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, pricing and partnership plans.

• Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones.

Competition and Competitive Advantage

• List and describe your competition. • Describe some of your company’s competitive

advantages.

Management Team

• Qualifications and roles of the top three executives and top three on your Board of Advisors

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

• How much money (if any) has management put into the venture? (not sweat equity)

• What is the level of capital funding sought during this stage?

• What is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Financial Forecasts and Metrics

• Project both revenues and expense totals for next three years, and past three years.

• What is the current valuation of the company?• Show breakdown and growth assumptions• No Hockey Stick graphs please!

Exit Strategy

• What is the timeframe of Return on Investment?

• What is the planned exit strategy? • What is the timeframe for the exit? • What is the rate of return expected for the

investor?

Gerard Buckley, BBA, FICB, ICD.DPresident and CEO Jaguar Capital Inc.(C) 416-884-9522(W) 416-646-6789g.buckley@jaguarcapital.ca

www.jaguarcapital.ca

@jaguarcapital @gerardbuckley