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The subtle act of pitching to an Angel investor

In finance, Start ups on May 18, 2012 at 2:29 pm

This morning as I entered my neighbourhood coffee shop for breakfast. I saw a rich looking guy with a Ipad 2 and leather bag sitting with this pretty girl and taking notes. I seated myself behind them, which is my favourite place as it has a great view of some trees outside.

I didn’t pay much attention to them, though the lady was quite pretty with a great figure and slender legs, I also noticed she had missed her weekly or monthly waxing.

After about 30 mins, A tall guy in a IIT Bombay Tshirt walked in, shaking hands with the man with the Ipad 2, the guy nonchalantly apologised for being late. ( I loved the attitude, the late arrival was done on purpose so that pretty girl could get pally with the fund manager)

Now the IIT Bombay T-shirt had caught my interest and this guy had a audible voice! He was a cool tech Entrepreneur who had successfully lured this angel fund manager (as he was carrying a BB) into his mouse trap. The tech Entreprunuer was coolness personified, at no point of time while discussing E-comm, media planning. funding and PR did he show any emotion or fear. Everthing was under his absoulte control. The fund manager by this time was salivating, thinking about all the $$$ he would add to the portfolio.

The pretty lady in the meanwhile groomed to be just that, at no point of time did she take her eyes off the fund manager, except a couple of times she looked back at me, and appreciated my glances. Also the pretty lady who was an employee and at no point of time locked eyes with the geek Entrepreneur Boss. (which is important as it indicates there is no conspiracy and she adores the fund manager).

After talking for an hour, the tab was picked up by the tech Entreprunuer, they bid bye, and this was the only time the tech entreprunuer showed his human side. He complimented the fund manager by jokingly enquiring about what he was doing as exercise as he looked very fit. (which he was not). It also indicated that they knew each other and it was not the first time they were meeting.

So my take on this act of pitching? What worked and what didnt?

Ofcourse I will never know if these guys actually sign on the dotted lines and get a cheque.

What i liked about the act was

1) The techie Entreprunuer looked confident (though he was shitting in his pants)
2) The pretty girl had played her part well, only thing she should wax her arms and legs.

What i didn’t like

1) The whole talk there was no food ordered, and they were almost sitting there for about 1.5 hours.
2) And of-course they need to careful about story tellers like me, who have nothing better than to observe people.
3) I don’t like emotionless cool acts!


The Startup Bible ” the dip” by Seth Godin

In Start ups on March 25, 2011 at 1:51 am

Seth Godin with "the dip"

Now almost 99% new businesses fail, is often quoted by some guru’s which I feel is utter rubbish, but still i do believe  that the failure rates among new busineses could be as high as 75%.

Everyone has a favorite book, this book by Seth Godin is my bible, I just wouldn’t have the courage to do what I am doing if I had not read this book, it is just supendously insightful and tells you very upfront on your chances of succeeding in your current business, though you may not agree, but this 76 page book gave me more courage than any other business book, maybe the book was written for the likes of me.

What this book will tell you is when to quit (give up) and when to stick around, and I am sticking around thanks to this book.

P.S I am not going to lend you my copy even if you pay me 100 $.