Before the meeting

Research the investor

Always research investors before meeting with them. Read their blog posts, interviews, check out their social media, check out their portfolio companies and their news. Log everything you were able to find in your CRM ().

Try to understand what the investor is looking for in startups, what she/he likes, what do you have in common. Use this information at the meeting.

Examples:

• Found that this investor wrote a blog post about moats? Make sure to empathize on your defensible moats when pitching.
• She/he just got back from a vacation? Mention that during a small talk to build rapport.
• The investor invested in a startup you know? Mention that too.

Be prepared

• Learn your pitch by heart.
• Know your numbers: revenue, growth rate, retention, etc.
• Know your market: size, competitors and their news, trends.
• Prepare a FAQ. Have a slide for each question in your appendix part of the deck.