You are an entrepreneur ready to discuss their investment proposal or invention to an Angel Investor looking to invest in early stage, seed, concept or an existing businesses. Let us start this article with a question to test your knowledge as an entrepreneur.
Question:
How long do you think your elevator pitch should be to an Angel Investor who is serious about investing in you or your idea?
Answer:
A: 30 Seconds
B: 60 Seconds
C: 5 Minutes
D: 15 Minutes
E: 1 hour
If you had indicated that your elevator pitch is anywhere between 5 minutes to 1 hour as an appropriate time for your elevator pitch to an Angel Investor than this requires adjustments on your part.
If your elevator pitch is anywhere between a 30-60 seconds, then this is a more appropriate duration for your elevator pitch.
30-60 seconds will be a great pitch and since this is designed for your initial meeting with a potential Angel Investor, you need to get every key point across in a concise and effective manner. The objective of an elevator pitch is to get a follow up meeting where the finer details will be presented in your actual investment proposal pitch.
The following information prepared by Venture Giants will guide you in improving your winning elevator pitch:
Keep your elevator pitch concise
This is an elevator pitch so keep it concise so you can deliver the entire investment proposition in 30-60 seconds.
Use simple language
Use language that appeals to the masses and avoid jargon. It’s much more important that the message is clear and easily understood.
Design your elevator pitch with a specific outcome in mind
Too many elevator pitches are unstructured as the entrepreneur has failed to think about the way he/she would like the pitch to begin and end, without sufficient thought as to what the key points are.
Think carefully and visualise the sixty seconds you will have in front of your Angel investor, and then plan out the entire pitch in summary form using bullet points on MS word.
Shuffle them around accordingly and only then begin to write your elevator pitch with your specific outcome in mind.
Concentrate on the hook
This is the element that grabs the Angel Investor’s attention – make sure you have a hook in the elevator pitch and make it powerful.
Make it Powerful
When you draft your elevator pitch on an A4 paper, do the words jump out at you?
Make sure your elevator pitch contains powerful words that will grab an Angel Investor’s attention.
Create visual images in an investors mind
Choose your words wisely to create a visual image that will leave a lasting impression. Make sure your elevator pitch evokes imagery in the Angel Investor’s mind that makes it memorable.
Is your elevator pitch unique?
Does your investment pitch tell a good story that a prospective Angel Investor can readily identify with? This is best demonstrated with a short story that either solves a problem or deals with tragedy. It may be especially powerful to target your elevator pitch to the Angel Investor you are planning to meet.
Venture Giants Insider’s Edge:
Stay focused on the investor: Your purpose in the elevator pitch is to sell investors on your business and yourself as a capable and potentially successful entrepreneur – do not only focus on your product or service