Yesterday, February 26th 2020, after placing second at the Ghana National Pitch Competition, I received a few questions about successfully pitching to investors.

Pitching at the Ghana National Competition

I wrote what is probably one of the most popular articles on my website almost a year to this date after pitching at Georgetown and Harvard University. I think that content is widely applicable to the question about pitching investors so I have linked that article below.

This is what I learned from pitching my African startup at Harvard and Georgetown's Africa Business Conference

Still, there are a few other points I would like to reiterate a year after that article, and especially in light of my recent work advising a portfolio of companies in Ghana with fundraising. With the advantage of now serving as a consultant, I see some pain points that must be re-addressed and emphasized.

***These tips are for those pitching to competitions or to panels of some sort, and not to investors 1-on-1***

You have to know how to WRITE a compelling case for the applications!
And if you don’t, hire a writer, honestly. I have had to revise and advise on many application responses from brilliant entrepreneurs who otherwise would not make the pass to pitch competitions because they do not know how to sell their business or what they do in WRITING! This is where I truly bring tremendous value as a seasoned writer in the media and as a creative writer with an Amazon #1 New Release poetry book. Even if you know how to speak well and have great business traction, no one will get to hear you speak if they are not convinced enough to move you from paper to the stage! Get it right on paper!!!
You have to FOLLOW the general pitch format
Yesterday, I saw a doctor pitch their highly impressive med-tech business in a really confusing manner. For one reason or another, he started his presentation with his revenue, amount raised, and financials, things no one cares about if they do not know your business, what problem you are solving, and why your solution is the right fit. There is a standard pitch deck template that generally works because it aligns with the way people process information. Do not deviate from that. You can be creative after you get the core. Book a time with me if you want my pitch template.
Sell YOURSELF first
This is something I learned at the Harambe Alliance Symposium and something I hold dear henceforth: not undervaluing your schooling, expertise, personal experience, etc. People buy into your pitch/business because of YOU, not necessarily because of the product or service. Let me provide a clear example: if you sell shea butter from women in the North and you believe in women’s rights, fare wages, given them access to health and medical care, then stating your training or certification as say, an MPH - Masters in Public Health matters. It may not seem like it is directly related to that work, but in fact, it informs your mission and values as a business on both a conscious and subconscious level.
Get a team &/or advisors AND speak to their contribution
I tell all of my portfolio companies to include their advisors - picture and title - in their deck. Perhaps you may be new to business or not have the highest credentials in the business in which you are starting the business but should you be able to rally a team of experts in that field to back your vision and work, then you are in a great position to success as a business. Do not discount that! That deeply elevates and furthers credibility in you and your business.
Find competitions, accelerators, investors that are aligned with your business
Why? Because none of this matters if you are speaking to the wrong person. If the competition/VC is only interested in bio-tech and you only care about creating a mobile application to collect church offerings, then you will be knocking at the wrong door. There are many pitch competition opportunities and I believe there are fitting opportunities within those for every type of entrepreneur.

Want to discuss further or get my help with fundraising? Why not book a time?

Also, if you enjoy my writing, please support my work by purchasing my debut book, ‘Should I Return’. If you are as passionate or interested in Africa, the African Diaspora, and/or our collective identity as I am, then you will enjoy it.