The Business Show Guide November

ABOUT THE SPONSOR
2013 SHOW FEATURE
PITCH
PERFECT
Are you an entrepreneur looking to take your business to
the next level? You’ve found the right partner to help you!
Rockstar Mentoring Group is the UK’s Number 1 mentoring
and funding organisation for entrepreneurs looking to grow
or raise finance. They fast track profit growth and investment
by providing experienced and successful mentors on a
one-to-one, face-to-face basis.
The Midas Touch panellists will be the
Rockstar mentors who have on average
built up and sold one of their companies
for a sale price of £18million! Regular
panellist Jonathan Pfahl, an ex-Goldman
Sachs Private Wealth Manager, founded
Rockstar Mentoring Group in 2007.
Since then, he has built a phenomenal
team of over 70 mentors from more
than 25 different industries. Each mentor
is experienced in taking good ideas and
turning them into real life £multi-million
businesses, and they are on the hunt
for new and exciting investment
opportunities.
We move swiftly to invest the capital for
businesses that are ready for investment
and provide the support they need. And
if Rockstar feels certain tweaks need
to be made to the business plan,
valuation and management team, they
are also able to provide this feedback
first, before raising investment when
they are investor-ready.
If you’re selected to take part in Midas
Touch, it’s a great opportunity to get
in front of an active investor base from
varying sectors of the same network.
This promises to give you not only up to
four honest and varied opinions on the
viability of your business, but a genuine
‘next step’ for everyone who pitches,
which will either involve writing a
cheque or getting you investor-ready to
then raise investment.
SOME KEY TIPS
BEFORE PITCHING
1. START your pitch with the key
points; (i) your name and business
name (ii) how much are you seeking
and what equity % you are offering
(iii) what projected return on investment
you are expecting and over
what period of time.
2. PROVE you have a market for this
product or service! Be prepared to
state what sales you have made to
date, how many people have been
offered your product or service and
of that, who has bought? If you
haven’t sold anything yet, be honest
and tell the investors but make
sure your valuation takes that into
consideration.
3. IDENTIFY the problem you are solving!
In today’s economy, companies
solving big problems affecting lots
of people or businesses are the ones
that stand the best chance of fast
growth and eventual success. Ensure
you have the proof to back up the
industry’s size and the real life feedback
you have gained from existing
or potential customers.
4. PRACTISE your pitch and build
confidence! We are looking to back
the individual just as much as the
business. How you come across
when you pitch is very important. So
given you only have five minutes to
get your key points across, do not
use too many slides but focus on the
above key points.
To fast-track your chances of investment,
please have all the above points included
in your pitch, be prepared - and enjoy the
experience!
Be clear and concise. What are you
offering? What do you want? Make
sure your focus is clear and easily
understood.
Pitch in laymen’s terms – not
everyone will understand your
idea as well as you do, and using
superfluous or technical terms could
just add to the confusion.
Forecasts and projections: your pitch
could be redundant without them.
Remain ambitious, but realistic.
On that note, make sure you know
your finances inside-out. Nothing will
infuriate investors more than sloppy
self-knowledge.
Practise makes perfect: pitch to
people who can give you honest,
critical feedback.
Keep it short and sweet. You only
have five minutes, and you cannot
go over. Time yourself – it’s best to
be under than over, so be disciplined
with what you want to include in
your pitch.
Are you unnecessarily repeating
yourself, or giving inconsequential
information? Don’t!
Pace yourself, don’t rush.
If you already have investor backing,
let the panel know.
A laptop, screen and microphone are
available if needed. But if you decide
to use them, practise beforehand -
especially if you aren’t familiar with
the equipment.
Feel free to use props for
demonstrations, or give out
handouts, but make sure they
enhance your pitch, not detract
from it.
Try not to fidget. It’s a sure sign of
nerves that will tarnish your pitch.
Don’t forget to smile. However
daunting, it should be enjoyable.
IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH
NOVEMBER 2013 THE BUSINESS SHOW | 39