If Hollywood can tease a two-hour film in 30seconds, you can tease a 45-minute meeting.”
T
aking a leap of faith and starting your own business is never an easy feat. You’ll face new challenges and be put through the emotional wringer of the start-up rollercoaster. But hopefully, as time goes on and you begin to see success, you’ll look back, humbled at how far the journey has taken you personally and professionally. In the meantime, to make things a bit easier, I’ve compiled a list of tools, gleaned from my experience working with hundreds of founders, to help you make it through.
1) FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
Building a start-up is often a lonely endeavor. Friends and family may not be able to support you in the way you need, as they might not have experienced the start-up rollercoaster themselves. That’s why it’s crucial to prioritize your health and mental wellbeing and find a support system of fellow entrepreneurs who have previously walked in your shoes.
2) MAKE IT, DON’T FAKE IT.
Before going out to raise capital, build as much of the business as you can. VCs invest in people, and they want to see that you won’t let anything get in the way of making your dreams come true — even a lack of money.
3) CRAFT A COMPELLING STORY.
When creating a pitch deck, craft it as a story. As Eric Paley, managing partner at Founder Collective (a venture capital fund) recently tweeted, “When getting ready to pitch VCs, founders often jump right into assembling a slide deck. I’d suggest that you start by writing 20 headlines that sum up your start-up, and only then build the slides. This is more like writing a 30-second commercial about your start-up. Why is 20 percent of your equity worth $3 million–$5 million? The answer, and that script, should be the backbone of your pitch. If Hollywood can tease a two-hour film in 30 seconds, you can tease a 45-minute meeting.”
Create a free account to keep reading.
