14 Advancing Women Conference Denise Faguy Less than five percent of venture capital funding worldwide goes to women-led startups according to a presentation by Nafisa Mahabub, at the FEAD Table Top Conference. Only two to four percent of VC Funding worldwide goes to women-led startups, and women only receive three percent of the amount of VC funding which is distributed. The statistics were shared as part of the FEAD Conference which was part of the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference held in Calgary in March. FEAD is the Female Entrepreneurs in Agri-Food Development non-profit that is dedicated to empowering and advancing women entrepreneurs in the dynamic food processing sector. Mahabub presentation was about Women Raising Money – Preparing for Venture Capital (and other types of investment). She shared that one of the most important strategies when making your pitch is to ensure that you position yourself as a leader. It is important to demonstrate that you are a strong leader with the ability to drive long-term growth. “It is not about your product, it is about you and your business,” Mahabub affirms. Below are the key points Mahabub suggests should be part of your VC pitch: • Include a one-sentence summary of your business and the value it provides for customers. Aim for simplicity, imagine a 140-character X post. • If you decide to include a comparison to a well-known brand, be sure that it is relevant, do not just name drop. • Identify the core problem or unmet need your product or service fulfills, clearly define your target customers, and why solving the problem is essential. Be sure to mention the current market solutions. • Be sure to tell a relatable story to make the problem real and engaging for investors. • When outlining your solution emphasize how your solution solves a problem, also emphasize why your approach is superior. Be sure to use visuals and storytelling techniques. • How does your product make money? What is the business and revenue model? • Be sure to mention the competitive landscape and how your business is better. • Be sure to talk about your marketing plan, how you got to this point, but also what you will do in the future. How do you acquire customers? • When showing your financials keep it to the top levels and have financial projections and use visuals. • Be sure to show major milestones you have already attained (Example, doubled customer base in 2 years). Your milestones should demonstrate that you had a plan, executed the plan, and met your goals. • Show them how you will utilize the investment funds. With these tips, Mahabub hope that more women will be more successful at getting Venture Capital funding. FEAD is an initiative of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and is proudly supported by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund. LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING GOES TO WOMEN. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PITCH FOR FUNDS - USE THEM WISELY. “It is not about your product, it is about you and your business.”
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