Pitching for funds or wooing a girl? One and the same!

I recently attended a session of the Economic Times Power of Ideas in Delhi in June and while listening to all of the entrepreneurs, whether young or old, there was one thing that continuously struck me. This was that pitching to VC’s for funding is very similar to wooing a girl. I shall elaborate further.

1. Choose the right VC/ Girl
   Choose a VC who is interested in investing in a sphere that you are operating in. Know what kinds of companies have been funded by this VC. Pick a girl who is compatible with you and you actually stand a chance with! Try to know what kind of guys the girl has previously dated or fallen for. For both, the VC and/or the girl thorough research is required.
2. Business Plan/ Life Plan
   Be prepared with a compact, concise and clear business plan. A VC will glance through it very quick and your plan must immediately impress him. You must have your life ahead mapped out. Women should sense that you know what you are doing and where you are going.
3. Presentation style
   You have to be able to sell your business to the person across the chair. You have to be passionate, enthusiastic and full of self conviction so as to make the VC believe in your plan. You have to market yourself in such a way that the girl begins to believe that you are the one stop shop for all her needs.
4. Build Credibility/ Win trust
   Show the results of your organization and make the VC believe that you can continue to perform. Be chivalrous, be polite, be a complete gentleman and be there for her. She needs to know that you are more than eligible for her and can trust her life in your hands.
5. Competitors/ Other suitors
   Never mention to a VC that there are other organizations which are bigger than or capable of quickly overtaking you. Make a girl believe that you are the only one she should be interested her and she shouldn’t waste her time elsewhere. At times, this could involve painting a false picture!

So choose the best fit for yourself, arrange for timely meetings/dates, use appropriate terminology/pick up lines, leave a remarkable first impression, be passionate, sound convinced, behave confident, continue to do what you believe in and you will automatically build yourself an astronomical valuation. And the rest as they say will be history!