How an advisory board makes it easier to raise investment
Julia Elliott Brown, one of our trusted and expert Funding Accelerator mentors, recently led a workshop which introduced the concepts of formal and advisory boards to our startup founders, and how having a board can help raise investment. Here Julia summarises the key points to help you demystify what an advisory board is, why they […]
Market research for pitch decks and how to evidence your market size
Gideon Barker, founder of Customer IQ and one of our trusted Funding Accelerator mentors, recently led a workshop about how to use market research within a pitch deck to build credibility with investors. He shared some fantastic practical tips on how to conduct market research on a tight budget, and offered insight into how to […]
Why having a co-founder in your startup can make you more appealing to investors
The journey to securing investment is often a challenging one. But, there’s a strategic move that might just tilt the scales in your favour: teaming up with a co-founder. I recently spoke with SME Today and explained how having a co-founder in your startup can make your business more appealing to potential investors. Having raised […]
How to show the problem and solution slides in your pitch deck with a customer journey
Framing the issue – or societal/customer problem – that your startup is tackling, and how it solves that issue, acts as a hook to capture the attention of investors and get them nodding along in agreement with your pitch. The ‘Problem’ and ‘Solution’ slides are commonly used at the beginning of pitch decks to help […]
Funding for startups: A guide to bridge funding
Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A are all terms that are probably familiar to you if you have, or are looking to, raise funding for startups. Bridge funding may be a term that is less familiar, but as the name suggests it often provides crucial short-term funding for startups and more established companies, helping them to […]
What angel investors look for in start-ups
Angel investors play an important role in the growth and expansion of startups. According to the 2021 Scale-Up Institute Annual Review on the State of UK Scale-ups, it revealed that 60% of scale-up businesses in the UK have received Angel Investment as an integral part of their funding towards their growth journey. It’s a mark […]
Pitch deck: How to include your go-to-market strategy
A ‘Go-to-market’ (GTM) strategy is a must-have in any pitch deck. It’s where founders showcase their approach for entering their market successfully, and the slides often cover a lot of ground, from market dynamics and target audience to distribution channels. Often founders find creating these slides challenging, as they need to strike the balance between […]
How to build confidence before pitching for investment
Presenting is often cited as most peoples’ “greatest fear”. It’s unsurprising then that founders often lack confidence when pitching, especially if pitching is new to them. Layered on a high-stakes environment where a great pitch could open up a wealth of funding and business opportunities, a group of strangers, and a handful of tricky questions […]
Master engagement marketing: and you’ll future-proof your startup
Investors expect a clear, well-targeted startup marketing strategy if you are going to attract their investment. But, pre-funding when you are still in “hustle mode”, and experimenting with various marketing channels, your startup marketing strategy may lack coherence. It can feel like having puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit together, leaving you with an incomplete […]
