Three ‘nuggets’ for pitching to Angels

Very few entrepreneurs are successful in their first attempts to pitch to Business Angels.  If you are not one of the few, the trick is to get through your early pitches as quickly as possible, so you can excel on your fourth or maybe fifth attempt.  It’s not just about getting in more practice, but resolving problems en route that make the difference. 

When an Angel does show interest in your proposition, it is very easy to take less money than your idea is worth in order to get your business off the ground.  Not only is it a bad idea to allow your business valuation to be manipulated like this, your cash management skills now look suspect too.  If you needed £100,000 yesterday and only £70,000 today, you are not in control of your business.

Get it right and you should be able to choose the investors you work with. Seek out investors that can bring something other than cash to the table and can contribute say finance, marketing or social media skills. A good lawyer is often a great investor too, especially when familiar with your industry or market sector.