admin
12-26-2007, 07:25 PM
Laura Bennett recently co-founded Embrace Pet Insurance after securing $1.1 million of angel funding. Her top tips:
1. Network shamelessly: Be a resource for your network and your contacts will often follow through with what they can do for you. Ask for connections and follow up using your connector's name (with permission).
2. Get your pitch down cold: Practice endlessly but sound conversational and confident – saying the same thing but slightly differently every time helps. Prepare for every question they could throw at you and gather new questions from every presentation.
3. Know your audience: Don't waste time pitching to the wrong person. If you are in front of someone who is not going to invest, ask for feedback on your idea and use the opportunity to get an introduction to someone who might.
4. Listen: It's easy to get defensive and 'push back' in the face of negative criticism but it doesn't harm to ask yourself "what if they are right?" Remember the ego on the other side of the table, too.
5. If you haven't heard "No" today, you aren't working hard enough: Every no brings the next "Yes" closer.
Her company: http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/
Her blog: http://blog.embracepetinsurance.com/
http://www.americanventuremagazine.com/articles/768
1. Network shamelessly: Be a resource for your network and your contacts will often follow through with what they can do for you. Ask for connections and follow up using your connector's name (with permission).
2. Get your pitch down cold: Practice endlessly but sound conversational and confident – saying the same thing but slightly differently every time helps. Prepare for every question they could throw at you and gather new questions from every presentation.
3. Know your audience: Don't waste time pitching to the wrong person. If you are in front of someone who is not going to invest, ask for feedback on your idea and use the opportunity to get an introduction to someone who might.
4. Listen: It's easy to get defensive and 'push back' in the face of negative criticism but it doesn't harm to ask yourself "what if they are right?" Remember the ego on the other side of the table, too.
5. If you haven't heard "No" today, you aren't working hard enough: Every no brings the next "Yes" closer.
Her company: http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/
Her blog: http://blog.embracepetinsurance.com/
http://www.americanventuremagazine.com/articles/768