Transcript

Pimping Your AngelList Profile"

Brendan Baker!V2.03.28.10!

Build first. Pitch second."Itʼs easier to pitch something that exists.!

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Brendan Baker!

Youʼre in a market for funding."

Be different. !Donʼt take it personally. !

Nobody cares about your problems.!

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Brendan Baker!

ASM: Always Show Momentum."

(see Glengarry Glen Rossʼs ABC for inspiration)!

Venture investors invest in momentum. !Set expectations: ʻweʼre still in private beta but…ʼ !

Use absolute and growth numbers.!

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Brendan Baker!

Youʼre going. They can come if they want."

Even if you need their money, you donʼt need their money.!Conviction convinces: use present tense and strong wording. !

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Brendan Baker!

Your job is to capture their attention."

Donʼt tell your life story. !Focus on memorable highlights.!

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Brendan Baker!

The best info, as concisely as possible."

Be focused. !Second draft = first draft – 25%. !Third draft = second draft – 25%.!

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Brendan Baker!

Give them something to touch right away."

Provide a demo with login details or failing that, screenshots. Donʼt rely on a 2 minute demo video. Busy investors wonʼt

watch it.!

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Brendan Baker!

80/20: 80% what youʼve done, 20% where youʼre going."

Investors extrapolate your past success to predict your future progress. This is different in other pitching contexts.!

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Brendan Baker!

Evidence trumps potential."Every time you call yourself a ʻvisionary,ʼ a puppy dies. !

Youʼre not a gamechanger, seasoned professional, innovative, next generation, or any other overused catchphrase.!

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Brendan Baker!

Geeks rule."AngelList is a technical community. Broadcast your geeks.!

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Brendan Baker!

Associate yourself with success."

Capture the gold from your investors, !past employers, customers, etc.!

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Brendan Baker!

Get Help."Ask your advisors, investors and supporters to share your profile,

leave comments, vote it up, etc. Social proof is important, and everyone likes a winning team.!

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Brendan Baker!

Thank you. "Thank you for building kick-ass companies.!

[email protected]!

Brendan Baker!

8 Words* that truly suck."1)  Gamechanger/ing!2)  Visionary!3)  Next-generation!4)  Seasoned professional!

Bonus Fun"

Brendan Baker!

5)  Groundbreaking!6)  Innovative!7)  Disruptor!8)  © ® TM!

Actual  Progress  Number  of  2mes  these  words  are  used  in  your  pitch    

=  β  Baker’s    

Formula**  

*  fine  -­‐  and  symbols  **  Sample  size:  thousands.  Trust  me.  I  know,  cause  I’m  a  seasoned  professional,  mmmkay?  


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