If you feel you’re ready to pitch investors to get funded, contact me about presenting at our next CONNECTpreneur meeting on August 26, 2021.

“Thanks, but no thanks.” If this is the response you get from potential investors, chances are that you have a value proposition that doesn’t resonate. Dianna Booher, an author, keynote speaker and expert in corporate communications sums it all up with her statement, “If you can’t write your message in a sentence, you can’t say it in an hour.”

In my article entitled “Blueprint on How to Open Doors to Start-Up and Next-Stage Growth Funding,” I noted that potential investors give presenters an average of three minutes and 40 seconds of time to pitch their business or product. The crux of that presentation is your value proposition, or the “why” to indicate what is special about your offering. Investors expect the value proposition to be clear and compelling. After all, if you can’t articulate the unique need your product or service fills in the market to an interested investor, how are you going to convince consumers to buy it?

Changing Your Value Proposition to Meet the Market

Startups have a clean slate to develop the value proposition, but it gets a little more complicated for a scale-up, next-stage growth, or turnaround company looking for additional funding. In these cases, it is important to revisit your value proposition as your products, services, target market, competitor capabilities, or points of differentiation may have changed.

Take Microsoft and Bill Gates as an example. Early on, he wanted to develop a smaller, cheaper alternative to the bulky and expensive computers on the market. Very quickly, his value proposition and vision changed to “a computer on every desk and in every home” that revolutionized the market.

Likewise, your value proposition should align with your market goal. For example, are you a disrupter in the market or are you looking to gain share by offering something better?

Consider Uber disrupting the transportation-for-hire industry or Airbnb disrupting the residential rental market. On another note, consider Whole Foods’ approach to carving out a niche in the grocery and consumer packaged goods market focusing on high-margin specialty foods known for being organic or free from additives and preservatives.

Where to Go From Here

To learn more on how to create a winning value proposition as part of an effective 1-page executive summary and pitch deck for startup or next-stage growth company funding, contact me for a complimentary consultation by phone at 314-578-0958 or by email at ilebow@transformationsolutions.pro.

Ines LeBow is the CEO, Transformation Executive for ETS. She is a known catalyst for business operations, bringing 30+ years of hands-on experience. Ines has a long history of being recruited into senior executive roles to improve the execution of business operations and to drive revenue growth. You can see her LinkedIn Profile at www.linkedin.com/in/ineslebow, view the ETS website at www.transformationsolutions.pro, or email her directly at ilebow@transformationsolutions.pro.