Empowerment by crowdfunding How to pitch yourself to growth Nicolette Loonen Amsterdam – 26 May 2014

A short introduction

Agenda What is VERA Community? Why does VERA Community exist? Why should you invest? Why should you crowdfund? What does it take to crowdfund? Lets get to work

What is VERA Community? Crowdfunding: involved and patient capital Campagne support: online and offline Coaching & advice  network of professionals  partnerships Focus on female entrepreneurs with the WOW-factor

Why does VERA Community exist?

It is time to really INVEST in women! Funding cap for female entrepreneurs Strengthen equity for start of growth Creating a level playing field for equity funding Acces to ‘untapped market’ Investors Entrepreneurs Mobilizing female investors

Why should you invest? Earn a potential return Experience the joy of being a shareholder Low threshold to invest: everybody can be an investor! Support female entrepreneurs Investing through via VERA Community gives 5 times ‘ROI’ Investment Impact InvolvementInspiration Incentives

Why should you invest?

Why should you crowdfund? Mobilise your network and beyond Marketing and PR tool to promote your company Strengthen equity position Create a network of fans Acces to informal investors

What does it take to crowdfund? Engage with your audience Think and act from investors perspective: what’s in it for me Have a profound business plan with evidenced potential Be likable, create sympathy Be creative Work hard Have a great elevator pitch

Create an elevator pitch that sells Pitching is…….. Storytelling Sales Conversation

A good elevator pitch…. Tells a story that people can relate to Has relevant data, examples Informs your audience on the problem that you are solving Gives your vision what the world would look like with your idea All of that in 60 seconds

A good elevator pitch…. Who: Hi, my name is X from company Y What: Company Y is ….. Why: The problem that we are solving with company Y is ….. How: Our approach to solve this problem is ….. Strong oneliner that people remember SMILE! It’s okay to have fun when you’re pitching

Let’s get to work Write down your own elevator pitch and practice it for a few minutes Find someone to pitch for Each couple chooses a winner Each couple joins another couple and chooses a winner Each quartet joins another quartet and chooses a winner And so on…. The winner is…….