How to get investors “on the hook”

Your business needs investment. You are out there networking and pitching like crazy but despite your best efforts investors remain elusive. It’s a familiar story. How do you get investors “on the hook”? The Allbright Academy which supports female entrepreneurs, approached Hatty Fawcett, Founder of Focused For Business and an AllBright Academy Ambassador, to ask her advice for finding, approaching and pitching to investors. Here Hatty shares her top tips.

Ten tips for getting investors "on the hook"

Always be ready to pitch

Investors can be almost anyone. When I raised investment for my business my investors included customers, suppliers, professional investors and even people who knew me through a shared hobby. The point is, almost anyone can be an investor, so you need to be ready to pitch at any point.

Approach people you know first – people who see firsthand the hard work you are putting into your business. Why not approach friends, family, employers, suppliers to the business and even your customers. They can help you get an investment round started. It’s a lot easier to attract new investors when you already have your first few on board!

Keep it short and sweet

Professional investors – sometimes called Business Angels – tend to be busy people; it can be difficult to find these people and even harder to get their attention. You will need to have a short pitch (sometimes called an “elevator pitch”) that you can use – in either written or spoken form – to quickly give investors an introduction to your business, giving them enough information to pique their interest.

Get an introduction

It is often easier to get a meeting with a business angel if you have a mutual connection to introduce you. If you have someone in mind that you’d like to approach, use your network (and LinkedIn) to try and find someone that can make that introduction. If you’re not sure who you want to approach, another way of getting started is to reach out to your network explaining what you are doing and asking for any suggestions they have as to potential investors.

Have a short prepared summary

A one-page executive summary of the investment opportunity (not of your business plan) is a key tool in your investor toolkit. Written well, this should give investors the information they need to make a decision as to whether this is an opportunity for them. Whatever you do, don’t send your pitch deck. A pitch deck should be presented and isn’t a standalone introduction to your business, save that for when you actually meet the investor.

All investors are individuals – they have their own particular interests, focus and areas of activity. Professional investors (such as business angels, private offices and equity funds) will often not agree to meet you – or perhaps even to talk to you – until they have seen something of the opportunity first.

 

Arrange a meeting

Don’t expect professional investors to back you after just one conversation. They will need to get to know you and your business. This is best done face-to-face so your initial aim should be to get a meeting or a skype session in the diary.

Follow up every lead

Professional investors are busy people. Don’t assume they will get back to you. You need to take the initiative and keep the conversation alive by following up with them. After every conversation, meeting or pitch, schedule time to follow-up with the people you have spoken to and get their feedback on your investment opportunity. Ask if they have any questions or concerns and – of course – whether they are interested in investing.

Keep the story moving

Professional investors back businesses that are going places, so you need to
demonstrate that your business is evolving and growing every day. When following up with a business angel be ready with a juicy piece of new information that demonstrates your business is continuing to grow. This could be news that you have secured a new contract, delivered a key partnership, or the results of a new marketing campaign.

Don’t take “no” personally

Not everyone you talk to will back your business. Get used to hearing the word “no” and moving on. It’s better to know that someone isn’t interested in your opportunity than to waste time talking to them when they have no intention of investing. Move on!

Ask for feedback

Use every interaction as a chance to learn something. Ask everyone you speak to for feedback – even if they are not interested in investing. Their feedback can improve your understanding of how others perceive your business and can help you adapt your positioning, if necessary. Ask for help from the people you speak to too – who do they know who would be interested in this opportunity? Will they introduce you?

Positivity is key

Raising investment is hard work. It can feel relentless and if you have a run of “nos” it can bruise your confidence. Do what it takes to stay positive and keep your energy up – take an afternoon off and do something you love to boost your morale. Then get back to it, refreshed, revitalised and believing good things come to those who persevere!

*************************

Is your Startup ready to attract investors?

Take the Startup Investment Scorecard to discover if your Startup is ready to attract investors. Start here

Further reading
Why your executive summary is your most important investor document
How to find and win investors
How to create a business valuation that gets your start-up funded

Latest Blog & News

problem and solution slide banner.

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
Funding for startups: How to raise bridge funding.

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
Redefining angel investment for female founders

Female Founders: Redefining angel investment to inspire inclusion

Friday (8th March) marks International Women’s Day (IWD) with this year’s campaign theme being ‘InspireInclusion’. I can’t help but feel despondent though, last year
What angel investors look for in startups.

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
Pitch deck: Go to market slides banner.

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
Startups Magazine article: How to build confidence before pitching for investment.

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
Future-proof your startup with engagement marketing.

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
Startups Magazine: Networking with startup investors banner.

Networking with startup investors: 5 tips to network successfully

Raising equity investment becomes easier when you pitch to startup investors you have previously engaged with or spoken to, or have been introduced to.
Looking for startup investors? Our guide will help

Looking for funding? Here’s your step-by-step guide to finding startup investors

Starting a business is exhilarating, but finding the startup funding to fuel your dreams can be a daunting task. Not only will you have
Startup Funding: A guide to navigating the funding journey

Startup funding: A guide to navigating the funding journey

One of the most frequent questions we are asked is “What’s the best way to fund my startup?” Startup funding doesn’t have to mean
Hatty Fawcett, Finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023

What being a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards has taught me

My weak spot is I don’t like talking about my achievements. I think it dates back to my childhood when I was told not
How to choose your cofounder

Choose your startup co-founder wisely

So you’ve had a light-bulb moment, a world-changing idea – you’re excited and want to share it with the world. But where do you
Whats the best way to fund my business

“What’s the best way to fund my business?”: Ten founders give the lowdown on the best way to fund your business

One of the fundamental questions, and perhaps the most frequently asked when it comes to business growth, is “What’s the best way to fund
Funding Accelerator Mentor Elliott Gaspar explains what investors look for in a financial forecast for investors

3 Things Investors Look for in a Financial Forecast: The Perfect Blend

Much like brewing a delicious cup of coffee, a compelling financial forecast for investors requires a complex blend of data, strategy, and storytelling. It’s
How equity investors can better support underrepresented founders

How equity investors can better support underrepresented founders

Raising equity investment is a challenge for any startup, but especially for underrepresented founders. They don’t just face “the usual” questions about their business,
Raising investment in difficult economic times

Raising investment in difficult economic times

It’s tough raising investment right now. There are fewer investors and the amounts being invested are smaller. How should startups respond if they still
Jennifer Anderson explains how to weave storytelling into your pitch deck to keep investors' attention

How to weave storytelling into your pitch deck to keep investors’ attention

As founders we’re told to weave storytelling into our pitch deck, but we are not always told why. Luckily Pitch Coach and Funding Accelerator
Is equity funding the best option for your startup

Is equity funding the best option for your startup?

Equity funding isn’t for everyone. When you sell shares in your business you are, effectively, entering into a long-term relationship with your investors. Investors
Funding Accelerator mentor Tracey Rob Perera shares 3 things angel investors look for in your startup valuation

3 things angel investors look for in your startup valuation

Funding Accelerator mentor, Tracey Rob Perera, shares 3 things angel investors look for in your startup valuation. Tracey Rob Perera is not only a
Hatty Fawcett talks to Finance Digest about how - and why - to build productive relationships with your investors

How to build productive relationships with investors

You might think closing a funding round is the end of a journey. In fact, its just the start! Now comes the hard work
Funding Accelerator Mentor Chris Booth shares how to expand your team without it costing more

How to expand your startup team without it costing more

Funding Accelerator expert mentor Chris Booth of Findrs explains how to expand your startup team (and extend your headcount budget) by using AI. When
Hatty Fawcett Adviser of the Year 2022

Start-up funding adviser, Hatty Fawcett, wins Enterprise Nation Adviser of the Year 2022/23

Over the last few months, start-up founders and small business owners across the UK have been voting for the best and brightest business advisers.
How startup accelerators increase your chances of funding

How startup accelerators increase your chance of funding

While I’ve written before about the benefits of joining startup Accelerators (find out more here), now seems like the perfect time to revisit the
unit metrics that attract startup investors

3 unit metrics that attract startup investors and build a compelling story of growth

Did the conversation with potential investors fizzle out at the financial stage? It’s not just the vision, but the focus on detail that secures
Panel members at How to find and impress investors June 2022

How to find investors, and impress them

Have you ever wondered what it takes to find and impress investors? Well, who better to ask than leading VCs and angels themselves! Earlier
financial-forecast-charting-growth-1200-1

Investing your time where it counts – the numbers

How the right financial forecast is crucial to unlocking startup investment If you’re looking to secure startup investment, it’s inevitable that at some point
Find-investors-by-Herbi-B-from-pixabay

How to find investors for a startup…quickly!

A recent report from Beauhurst and SFC Capital* reveals that it takes, on average, 15 months to find investors for a startup and close
Should you raise startup funding from family and friends no words

Should you raise startup funding from friends and family?

So you think you need to raise funding for your startup? You may be right, but before you begin to raise startup funding from
7-Essentials-that-unlock-startup-equity-investment-600

7 Essentials that unlock Start-up equity investment

Start-up equity investment: Investors look for 7 Essential ingrediants when deciding whether to back a start-up – or not! Be succinct to get attention
Financial savings mechanism. Piggy bank formed by gears and cogs

Traction makes it quicker to raise funding for a startup

So you want to raise funding for a startup? To succeed, you’ll need to speak the language of investors. Investors will ask “how much
7 mistakes that stop you raising investment for your startup no words

7 Mistakes that stop you raising investment for your startup

Startup founders are resourceful and move quickly but sometimes that haste can work against them. They make mistakes. When it comes to raising investment
Doors within doors kilarov-zaneit-KjqNGd0sCTQ-unsplash

Why your executive summary is your most important investment document

When seeking investment for your business it pays to think like an investor, giving an investor the information they want rather than telling them