Michelle E. Messina, CEO Explora International Tel: +1 Silicon Valley Ecosystem & the Fundraising Process
Uniquely Organized to Support Startups
Change is Constant
Startups Need Lots of Help
Help can be More Important than Money
Nestgsv diagram
Entrepreneur = Super Hero + Risk Taker
The Standard is Really, Really High
40% of US Venture Capital in California or ~$20B USD
Socialize Your Ideas to Improve it
Be Transparent. Within Reason.
Listen to Everyone. Follow No One.
Ideas Are Cheap. Execution is Priceless.
Diverse Teams = Better Companies
Female Economic Power
Comfort with Extreme Uncertainty
Organize for Speed and Intensity
Be Global. From Day 1.
Watch for Repeating Patterns
Can the Company Scale?
Go Big or Go Home
Fail Early. To Succeed Sooner
It Takes a Long Time to Build Value
Driving Experience Required
Serendipity & Luck Have a Role, too!
Gravity is in Full Effect
Fear is both Natural and a Catalyst
Paralysis in not Natural
Pay it Forward
US “Presence” Required If Seeking US Funds
VC’s WILL Have Say
Funding in Month Chunks
VC’s Pan for Gold
What Investors Look For
Compelling Story
Low or Manageable Risk
It’s Not the Technology; It’s About the
Market Validation
Great Extended Team
Your Credibility
Timing
Momentum
Patterns
Milestones
Build Value
Fundraising is Fulltime Job
Fundraising Tools
The 10 Slides
Contact Information
Problem
Who is My Customer?
Distribution And Support
Business Model
Who are the Competitors and How are You Different?
Execution over the Idea
What are the Milestones?
1. Cover slideCompany info—name, contact, 2. ProblemCustomer’s problem—in economic terms 3. SolutionYour solution: how & why it works, the value to customer 4. MarketWho the market is & how large it is 5. DistributionHow do you sell? Direct, channels, service, support 6. Business ModelHow do you make money? 7. Competition Who else solves problem & how they compare against you 8. TeamKey players, relevant background, why you are the right team 9. MilestonesWhat financeable results $ will you achieve 10. FinancialsHow big, how fast, cash needed, key assumption s The 10 Slide Presentation
Raising Capital Top Ten List
Not About Product or Technology
Easier to Raise $ When its Not Need
Tell a Compelling Story
Know Your Audience
Mark Twain Said, “If I had more time I would have written a shorter letter.”
Milestones
Not About Numbers. It’s about Assumptions
Find Points of Leverage
It is a Very, Very Small World
3 Most Important Rules Of Fundraising
Don’t Run out of Money
Do Something That Matters
Now….Enjoy the Journey
Michelle E. Messina, CEO Tel: Skype: michellemessina