Empowerment by crowdfunding

How to pitch yourself to growth

Nicolette LoonenAmsterdam – 26 May 2014

A short introduction

Agenda

What is VERA Community?Why does VERA Community exist?Why should you invest?Why should you crowdfund?What does it take to crowdfund?Lets get to work

What is VERA Community?

Crowdfunding: involved and patient capitalCampagne support: online and offlineCoaching & advice

network of professionals partnerships

Focus on female entrepreneurs with the WOW-factor

Why does VERA Community exist?

Why does VERA Community exist?

It is time to really INVEST in women!

Funding cap for female

entrepreneurs

Strengthen equity for start

of growth

Creating a level playing field for equity funding

Acces to ‘untapped

market’

InvestorsEntrepreneurs

Mobilizing female

investors

Why should you invest?

• Earn a potential return• Experience the joy of being a shareholder• Low threshold to invest: everybody can be an investor!• Support female entrepreneurs

Investing through via VERA Community gives 5 times ‘ROI’Investment Impact Involvement Inspiration Incentives

Why should you invest?

Why should you crowdfund?

• Mobilise your network and beyond• Marketing and PR tool to promote your company• Strengthen equity position• Create a network of fans• Acces to informal investors

What does it take to crowdfund?

• Engage with your audience• Think and act from investors perspective: what’s in it for me• Have a profound business plan with evidenced potential• Be likable, create sympathy• Be creative• Work hard

• Have a great elevator pitch

Create an elevator pitch that sellsPitching is……..

• Storytelling• Sales• Conversation

A good elevator pitch….

• Tells a story that people can relate to• Has relevant data, examples• Informs your audience on the problem that you are solving• Gives your vision what the world would look like with your idea

All of that in 60 seconds

A good elevator pitch….

• Who: Hi, my name is X from company Y• What: Company Y is …..• Why: The problem that we are solving with company Y is ….. • How: Our approach to solve this problem is …..• Strong oneliner that people remember

SMILE! It’s okay to have fun when you’re pitching

Let’s get to work

• Write down your own elevator pitch and practice it for a few minutes• Find someone to pitch for• Each couple chooses a winner• Each couple joins another couple and chooses a winner• Each quartet joins another quartet and chooses a winner• And so on….

The winner is…….