Tag: pitching

The Endless Quest for the Perfect Investor Pitch – Failures and Tips

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

As a startup founder, I’ve pitched to investors many times.

Each pitch is a challenge – creating the perfect one is tricky.

I try to make my pitch better each time, but there’s always something that doesn’t quite work for someone in the audience.

The Challenge with Pitch Decks

Every time I make a pitch, it feels like I’m repeating myself, but there’s always something new to fix.

The slides I make to show my business idea can sometimes confuse people. Even if I fix things, someone always has different advice.

Some people don’t get it when I talk about the problem my business solves.

They might think my idea isn’t unclear or don’t see how big the opportunity is.

And when it comes to money, everyone has a different opinion on whether my goals are realistic.

Choosing the right colors and graphics for the slides is tricky, too.

If I use too many pictures, people can’t understand my message.

If I put too much information, they can’t read it all in time.

The Rush of the Pitch

When I pitch, I only have five minutes.

That’s like the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.

In those five minutes, I have to share everything about my business. It’s tough because every detail matters, and I have to move fast.

Seeing Both Sides

I’ve also been a judge for other people’s pitches.

I’ve seen that nobody’s pitch is perfect. Being a judge has taught me that what one person likes, another might not.

So, I’ve learned that a pitch has to change depending on who’s listening.

Learning from Each Pitch

Every time someone gives me feedback on my pitch, I learn something.

I take their advice and make my pitch more straightforward and more powerful.

Even when the feedback is tough, it helps me get better.

My pitch changes with each presentation, and that’s a good thing. It shows that I’m working hard to improve.

The Road Ahead

I’m ready for more pitches and more changes.

Every time I pitch, I get to make my business look better to investors.

The comments and different opinions aren’t just problems; they help me learn and grow.

I’m excited to keep on pitching.

With each pitch, I’m telling the story of my business, and one day, that story will be about success and never giving up on finding the perfect way to share my dream.

Photo by Matthew Osborn on Unsplash

Lessons Learned

Through all these pitches, here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Flexibility is critical: A pitch deck is never finished. It changes based on who you’re talking to.
  2. Feedback is a gift: Even when it’s tough to hear, feedback strengthens you and your pitch.
  3. Time is precious: In a short pitch, every second and every word has to count.
  4. Understanding your audience matters: What works for one person might not work for another.
  5. Perseverance pays off: Even if the perfect pitch is a myth, striving for it will lead you to greatness.

Every pitch is a step on the journey of a startup.

It’s not just about convincing investors; it’s about refining your vision and learning how to share it with the world.

The best way to learn about entrepreneurship is by learning about the failures. Check out my latest eBook, “Startup Survival”.

https://mazlanabbas.gumroad.com/l/startupsurvival

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The Eternal Pitch: A Startup Founder’s Journey in the Court of Investors

As a seasoned startup founder, the world of investor pitches has become a familiar, yet perpetually challenging, battleground.

The quest for the perfect pitch is a Sisyphean task; with every roll of the deck up the hill, comments on its weaknesses seem to bring it back down.

It’s a dance of adaptation and resilience, where the music never stops and the steps are constantly changing.

The Paradox of the Pitch Deck

Every pitch feels like déjà vu with a twist.

The slides, those colorful beacons of hope, often seem to betray me. Despite countless revisions, each presentation is met with a new wave of critique.

It’s a canvas that refuses to dry, forever wet with the ink of “just one more tweak.”

It starts with the problem statement—too vague for some, too narrow for others.

My solution, crystal clear to me, often morphs into a mirage for the audience.

The market size? A figure either too optimistic or too conservative, depending on who you ask. As for financial projections, they are met with raised eyebrows—either too ambitious or not ambitious enough.

Uniqueness? A debate ensues: is our solution truly innovative, or just a shadow of something already out there?

Color schemes spark discussions not unlike those in art galleries, while the balance between graphics and text teeters on a fine line between enlightenment and confusion.

Too many graphics, and the message is lost in a sea of pixels; too much text, and the slide becomes a dense novel no one has the time to read.

The Five-Minute Sprint

Pitching is an art constrained by the unyielding frame of time. Five minutes—the breadth of a coffee break—is all I have to encapsulate years of toil and dreams.

It’s a sprint where every second counts, every word must earn its place, and every slide is a scene in a rapid-fire storyboard.

This is no leisurely stroll through the park; it’s a race against the clock where the stakes are as high as the hopes that buoy my pitch.

On Both Sides of the Pitch

Sitting on the other side as a judge, I watch other founders navigate the same treacherous waters.

Their decks, too, are imperfect vessels, subject to the capricious winds of opinion.

As a critic, I’m part of a panel with as many tastes as there are members. What I find compelling, another may dismiss.

A problem statement that resonates with me might not echo in the corridors of my peers’ thoughts.

This duality of roles has taught me that the pitch deck is not a one-size-fits-all garment but a bespoke suit that must be tailored to each audience.

It has shown me that while feedback is invaluable, it is also a reflection of personal biases and expectations.

Improving Against the Odds

The continuous cycle of pitching and revising is a relentless teacher. It hones my message, sharpens my focus, and refines my delivery.

Each critique, each furrowed brow, and each nod of understanding are lessons in disguise.

They are the subtle hints that guide my revisions, pushing me towards that ever-elusive perfection.

I’ve come to embrace the impermanence of my pitch deck as its strength. It is not a static set of slides, but a living document that evolves with each presentation.

It’s a testament to the journey, not just a tool for the destination.

Here’s to Hundreds More

I toast to the next hundred pitches and the next hundred changes.

Each one is an opportunity to perfect my craft, to sway the skeptics, and to ignite the imaginations of those who hold the keys to the future.

The comments, the critiques, and the ever-shifting sands of preference are not hurdles but stepping stones.

I stand ready to walk this path, deck in hand, resilience in spirit, and an unwavering belief in the vision that set me on this course.

May each pitch be a thread in the tapestry of a story that, when finally told in its entirety, speaks of success, perseverance, and the inimitable spirit of a founder who never gave up on the quest for the perfect pitch.

Pitching Through Uncertainties: Our Early Startup Journey And The Uncharted Waters Ahead

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Entrepreneurial journeys are riddled with moments of triumphs and setbacks. Over the first two years of building my startup, I extensively engaged with pitching competitions and venture capitalists.

Though laden with promise, our pitches frequently hit the wall, falling short of impressing the custodians of funds and support.

Sowing Seeds: The Birth of Raqib

Raqib emerged as a beacon of hope and innovation, designed meticulously to monitor senior citizens and pilgrims during the Hajj.

With a prototype that garnered praise from close circles, we were buoyed with optimism.

Despite the initial acclaim, the product found itself ensnared in the challenging terrains of market traction and customer acquisition while trying to perfect its pricing model.

Facing the Judges: The Pitch Dilemma

Pitching competitions revealed the chasm between promise and tangible success.

Although well-received by friends and followers, our presentations consistently failed to strike a chord with judges and venture capitalists.

The lack of market traction and the product being in the pilot stage were recurrent points of contention and disqualification.

Navigating a Pandemic: Pivot to IoT

Covid-19 cast long shadows over ambitions and plans, immobilizing Raqib’s progress for nearly two years. In these challenging times, we shifted our focus towards an IoT platform, a direction that promised market traction and renewed hope.

IoT: A New Hope with Old Challenges

With the IoT platform, we re-entered the pitching arenas with vigor. However, the questions about scalability and current profitability resurfaced, turning prospective victories into learning experiences.

While we inch closer to profitability, the lengthy sales cycles and gradual market adoption for IoT products present hurdles we are still learning to overcome.

Towards Resolution and Improved Pitches

The journey continues with an unyielding spirit and lessons learned from each pitch.

As we approach a new phase of profitability and strive to resolve scalability concerns, I harbor hopes of delivering a pitch that not only resonates but wins unequivocally.

Seeking Collective Wisdom: Your Feedback Matters

Your perspectives, feedback, and suggestions are invaluable as we navigate these challenges.

Please share your thoughts and insights, which could illuminate our path and contribute to crafting a compelling and victorious pitch.

Please engage with us through your comments.

Thank you for participating in our journey!

Conclusion:

The tale of Raqib serves as a poignant reminder that the journey is as crucial as the destination.

Regardless of its immediate outcome, each pitch is a stepping stone toward mastery and success.

While we recalibrate and prepare for upcoming pitches armed with IoT, your insights and support are anticipated and appreciated. Together, let’s steer towards a future where pitches impress and triumph.

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You can also follow my Medium Publications Aspiring Writer’s Journey, Influencer’s Journey, Startup Survival Journey, and IoT World.

A Tale of Two Pitches: Raqib’s Conception and IoT’s Uphill Battle

Embarking on an entrepreneurial voyage invariably involves exhilarating highs and perplexing lows.

In my initial two-year journey of crafting and nurturing a startup, extensive engagement with both pitching competitions and venture capitalists was a pivotal chapter.

Despite each pitch brimming with potential, our endeavors often encountered impassable barriers, failing to captivate those who held the keys to vital resources and backing.

Sowing Seeds: Raqib’s Inception

In this vibrant tapestry of experiences, Raqib was conceived as a luminous symbol of hope and ingenuity.

Its inception was meticulously planned, promising vigilant monitoring of elderly individuals and pilgrims navigating through the sacred rituals of Hajj.

Encouragement flowed from our immediate community, with the prototype receiving accolades and sparking optimism among friends and followers.

Nevertheless, the journey ahead was daunting, as Raqib struggled to navigate the complex landscape of market traction, customer acquisition, and fine-tuning its pricing strategy.

The Judicial Gaze: Navigating the Pitch Labyrinth

The arena of pitching competitions unveiled a discernible gap between potential and realized success.

While our initial presentations garnered affirmations from our close network, they consistently stumbled when facing the discerning eyes of judges and venture capitalists.

The absence of substantial market traction, coupled with Raqib’s ongoing pilot stage, emerged as recurrent themes of contention, often leading to disqualification.

Pandemic Shadows and a Strategic Pivot

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic cast a pervasive shadow over our aspirations, stalling Raqib’s forward momentum for an extended period. Amidst these turbulent times, a strategic pivot became imperative.

Our focus shifted towards developing an IoT platform, a venture that seemed to echo with the promise of market traction and offered a glimmer of hope amidst uncertainty.

IoT: Familiar Hopes Amidst Recurring Challenges

Armed with an IoT platform, we stepped back into the pitching spotlight with renewed enthusiasm.

Nonetheless, familiar challenges loomed large, with questions about scalability and immediate profitability undermining potential victories and transforming them into valuable learning experiences.

As the journey towards profitability continues at a measured pace, the extended sales cycles and hesitant market adoption characteristic of IoT products remain significant challenges to address and overcome.

A Resolve Towards Mastery in Pitching

With an indomitable spirit and insights gleaned from each pitching experience, the journey unfolds, revealing new horizons and possibilities.

As we inch towards profitability and grapple with scalability, I am hopeful of crafting a pitch that not only resonates profoundly but also emerges victorious in the demanding entrepreneurial battlefield.

A Call for Insights: Your Perspective is Invaluable

To our esteemed readers navigating through this narrative, your unique insights, constructive feedback, and sagacious suggestions are indispensable as we traverse these challenging terrains.

I extend a warm invitation for you to share your reflections and wisdom, potentially shedding light on our path and aiding in the creation of a compelling and triumphant pitch.

Engage with us through your comments, and thank you for being active participants in this enthralling journey.

Conclusion:

Raqib’s story serves as a poignant allegory, underscoring that the process is equally, if not more, significant than the destination. Each pitch, irrespective of its immediate results, is a crucial stepping stone towards mastery and eventual success.

As we recalibrate and gear up for the next series of pitches with our IoT platform, your insightful contributions and steadfast support are eagerly anticipated and deeply valued.

Together, let’s navigate towards a future where pitches not only dazzle but unequivocally prevail.