Digital Startups: how to get money from investors? | Giulia Gazzelloni - Digital Yuppies

Digital startups: how to get money from investors?

Top tips about Angels & VCs

Giulia Gazzelloni Co-founder @LeCicogne Board Member @InnovAction Lab Alumni

About me

Managing investor relations it’s a full-time job

After two rounds… we have learned

the lesson!

Digital = cheap but

Digital Startups = $$$ BLN

à “scalability”

Do I really need investors’ money?

BAs invest

their own money

≠ VCs invest

someone else’s money

We need them in order to gain a great market advantage

VCs like to co-invest

VCs like to co-invest because

any investor who co-invests with you

is one less investor who could fund a competitor

Investors always say what they really care about is

the team.


the team.

Actually what they care most is

your traffic,


the team.


your traffic, then what other investors think,


the team.


your traffic, then what other investors think,

than the team

It’s easier when you do not have traffic

It’s easier when you do not have traffic

It’s not enough to be promising:

you have to be delivering results

VCs are afraid of looking bad – angels take greater risks

Investors are human

Investors are human

1.  They are emotional

Investors are human

1.  They are emotional

2.  They make mistakes

“On June 26, 2008, our friend Michael Seibel introduced us to 7 prominent investors in Silicon Valley.

We were attempting to raise $150,000 at a $1.5M valuation. That means for $150,000 you could have

bought 10% of Airbnb. Below you will see 5 rejections. The other 2 did not reply.”

BRIAN CHESKY CEO of Airbnb






“He’s just not that into you”

Most common answers:

Most common answers: You are not in my investment focus


You are asking too much


You are asking too much You are asking too little


You are asking too much You are asking too little

We are excited about your project, let’s keep in touch as you develop it further

How do you know if they want to invest?

How do you know if they want to invest?

Look at your hands

Rejection is a question, not an answer. do not say “We suck” – ask yourself “Do we suck?”

Common mistakes

1.  You kind of ask “permission” to start your company

Common mistakes

1.  You kind of ask “permission” to start your company à investors greatly prefer if you don’t need them

Common mistakes


2.  You try to convince them with your pitch.

Common mistakes


2.  You try to convince them with your pitch. à start by understanding why your startup is worth investing in, for you.

No one knows whether a startup is going to succeed.

No one knows whether a startup is going to succeed.

Investors are looking for a sufficiently good bet.

a sufficiently good bet:


1.  Formidable founders


1.  Formidable founders the one who seems like he’ll get what he wants, regardless of whatever obstacles are in the way

2. Promising market it does not have to be big yet à trends







Smart guys Good stories Big Markets

Smart guys Good stories Big Markets ..great introductions.

The startup of

YOU.

The startup of

YOU. Thanks! [email protected]

Digital Startups: how to get money from investors? | Giulia Gazzelloni - Digital Yuppies

Investor Relations