How To Approach a Venture Capitalist For Company Funding

When you’re starting a business, one of the biggest challenges is finding the money to get it off the ground. You may have considered seeking venture capital (VC) funding but don’t know where to start. This article will walk you through the process of approaching venture capitalists for funding.

 

Decide If a Venture Firm or VC Funding Is Right For You

Before you even bother to approach a venture capitalist, you need to decide if this type of funding is right for your business. There are many types of businesses that are venture-funded materials, not just software companies. Typically, VCs are looking to invest in companies that have the potential for high growth. They want to see a business with a large addressable market, a strong team, and a unique product or service. If your business doesn’t fit these criteria, you may want to look into other funding options, such as small business loans or crowdfunding.

 

Research Potential VCs & Network

There are hundreds of venture capitalists (VCs) and venture capital firms out there, so you need to do your homework to find the ones that may be a good fit for your business. Start by looking at VC firms that have invested in companies in your industry. Then, narrow down your list by looking at things like the size of investments they typically make and their investment stage preferences. You can also check out VC portfolio companies such as Crunchbase or PitchBook.

Although many entrepreneurs and firs time founders prefer a warm introduction there is nothing wrong with emailing, especially if they are not directly in your network.  That being said, the best way to approach a VC is through a personal introduction. See if you have any mutual connections that can introduce you. If not, many first-time founders try attending industry events or conferences where VCs will be in attendance.
 

 

Know How VCs Assess Companies

Before networking or pitching to a VC, entrepreneurs need to understand what most VCs want and how they assess companies. They are looking for a few key things:

• A large addressable market: They want to see that your product or service has the potential to be used by a large number of people.
• A strong founding team: Venture Capitalists invest in people as much as they do in ideas. They want to see that you have a strong team in place that has the skills and experience necessary to execute your plan.
• A unique product or service: They want to see that you have a differentiated offering that can’t be easily replicated by your competitors.

 

Develop A Solid Venture Capital Business Plan & Create a Pitch Deck

Once you understand what VCs tend to look for, you need to develop a solid plan that addresses these key points. Most entrepreneurs’ plans include things like a company mission and vision, an executive summary, a market analysis, a competitive analysis, and your go-to-market strategy.

In addition to a business plan, you’ll also need to create a pitch deck to present to potential investors and VC partners. Your pitch deck should be around 10-20 slides and cover topics like problem/solution, the business’s initial approach, market opportunity, business model, founding team, and financials.

 

Prepare For Due Diligence & Get A Valuation 

If a VC is interested in investing in your company, it will likely do a thorough due diligence process. This is when they will dig into your financials, your business model, your competitive landscape, and anything else that could potentially affect their investment. It’s important to be prepared for this process and have all of your documentation in order.

Getting a valuation is one of the most important aspects of raising venture capital. This is because it will determine how much equity you will have to give up in order to raise the money you need. There are a few different methods that VCs use to value companies, so it’s important to understand these before you start pitching to investors.

Common Methods to Value Companies

1. The venture capital method is typically used for early-stage companies that don’t have much revenue. This method values a company based on its potential future returns.
2. The discounted cash flow method is typically used for more established companies that have a history of revenue and cash flow. This method values a company based on its expected future cash flows.
3. The comparable companies method is typically used for public companies. This method values a company based on the valuation of similar companies in the market.

Knowing which method VCs will use to value your company will help you determine how much equity you will need to give up to raise the money you need.

 

Know Your Financials And Other Metrics

In addition to knowing your valuation, it’s also important to know your financials and other key metrics. This includes things like your burn rate, your churn rate, your customer acquisition costs, and your lifetime value of a customer. This information will be important when you are pitching to investors and negotiating your investment.

 

Rehearse Your Pitch

Once you have everything in order, it’s time to rehearse your pitch. This is where you will practice delivering your presentation to make sure that you are confident and polished when you meet with potential investors. Practicing will also help you memorize all the details so you can focus on delivering a great pitch.

You can practice your pitch with friends, family, or even VCs themselves. The more you practice, the better you will be at delivering your pitch and closing a deal.

 

Ask Them Questions

Finally, don’t forget to ask the VCs questions during your meeting. This shows that you are interested in their opinion and that you value their input, while also ensuring that the one you choose is the right VC for your startups. Asking questions also gives you an opportunity to get feedback on your business and see if there are any areas that you need to improve.

Some great questions to ask VCs include:

• What companies have you invested in?
• What kind of companies are you looking to invest in?
• How much money do you usually invest?
• What is your role in the companies you’ve invested in?

Pitching to VCs can be a daunting task, but it is necessary to get the funding you need to grow your business. By following these tips, you will be better prepared to approach VCs and close a deal.

 

Frequently Asked Questions