What's the best way to create copy for an IT Startup who look to get angel investors?

14 replies
Hey guys, I need to find a way around this. Anyone ever provided copy in relation to stuff like this?
#angel #copy #create #investors #startup
  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by Quicklancer15 View Post

    Hey guys, I need to find a way around this. Anyone ever provided copy in relation to stuff like this?
    https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...rs+for+startup

    Lots of info on this topic, even here at WF in archives. Many copywriters have written sales letters to Angel Investors, it is important to have the much talked about Message to Market Match. Suggest a read of the Gary Halbert Letter on the Water Purifier ad ran in IBD. Google is your friend, unless you have enough moolah on hand to enter serious discussions with experienced copywriters in this field?

    GordonJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
      Hey Gordon,

      Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of ''moolah'' to speak with the top dogs. But when you watch certain TV programmes, you begin to wonder if there's that ''X-FACTOR'' each angel investor is looking for in a startup and how these people can actually pitch to these investors, or having the right pitch when the sales copy is being written. I agree google is my friend, but there's so much nonsense online now that you don't know what to believe and which is effective when creating your copy.
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Originally Posted by Quicklancer15 View Post

        Hey Gordon,

        Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of ''moolah'' to speak with the top dogs. But when you watch certain TV programmes, you begin to wonder if there's that ''X-FACTOR'' each angel investor is looking for in a startup and how these people can actually pitch to these investors, or having the right pitch when the sales copy is being written. I agree google is my friend, but there's so much nonsense online now that you don't know what to believe and which is effective when creating your copy.
        I've raised money for a couple of start-ups, here is the best lesson I learned.

        I asked friend and Angel Investor Burt Morgan to fund a project, he turned me down, but, he said my best bet would come out of my "students" and followers. He was right. My angel came from someone in the niche.

        Someone who was INTERESTED in the subject. Someone who spent time and money ALREADY being a part of the niche and the market.

        Look at SillyCon Valley, where many start-ups have died while others have become monsters...tech invests in tech. They get it. They understand it.

        Likewise, depending on what your start-up is about, you may find the fastest success crafting a letter to specific people already in that, have made themselves known as Angels or maybe just have the money and like you.

        YOU are as important (more so actually) than the concept.

        The letter is like a resume, it will only get you the chance to pitch your idea, then the "sharks/lions" will question you, and if you have a solid plan, they will consider your concept. At that point the numbers need to match the fire in the gut.

        The letter should be to ONE person, and the more you know about this person, then the better able you are to craft a letter of influence. Like a good resume, it is done one at a time, not a general resume shotgunned to the Angels, treat them as the unique people they are.

        Ask questions, I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has actually raised capital for a start-up from an Angel, others might offer different perspectives.

        GordonJ
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        • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
          Hey Gordon,

          These are very very insightful and useful tips - especially coming from someone who has raised capital before. I also like the point you raised about pitching to people in the same industry i.e tech investing in tech. If you don't mind stating, what sort of startup did you get funding for? IT, Fintech etc

          I know sales pitch and copy would be different and tailored to each Angel, but do you have a guideline or a particular one you've used in the past which can serve as a guide for me or any particular website which you found very helpful which enabled you to get information when you had to get the investment or in writing your sales pitch and copy?

          I have worked on copy for a client in the past, but his startup had already started up - no pun intended.

          So in essence, this is what I am requesting. 1) A pitch which you may have used in the past 2) A reliable website/websites where I can get reliable information from.

          Thanks
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          • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
            Originally Posted by Quicklancer15 View Post


            I have worked on copy for a client in the past, but his startup had already started up - no pun intended.

            So in essence, this is what I am requesting. 1) A pitch which you may have used in the past 2) A reliable website/websites where I can get reliable information from.

            Thanks
            Are you a copywriter looking for a swipe file? Do you have a client currently who has hired you? Thanks,

            GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author MeelisM
    I don't really understand what you mean by "get around this".

    Salescopy? You're not going to be selling a $7 wso to the investors.

    Angels don't really invest based on your e-mail salesletter. You might be able to get an opportunity to pitch your idea to them. I suggest you go to events and places where VCs and angels hang out and network with them. Chat with them and be awesome. If the person actually likes you, you have so much higher chances of getting that investment. Or getting an opportunity to get that investment.

    Your presentation and pitch is what you have to master. Because keep in mind - VCs and angels get A LOT of people pitching to them. And Don't try to fool the investors. You have to have a freaking awesome business that you build your pitch on. The kind of business that you don't have to sell. You are the one picking who you let invest into your business. Because the business is freaking awesome and one of a kind. Opportunity of a lifetime.

    How does your business stand out?
    Why will your business be 1 of 10 that will bring their money back 10x? Unlike the 9 that will die.

    Who is your team? What makes it special? If you're alone, your chances of getting invested are drastically smaller.
    What are your and your team's past successes? What makes you the person that will earn the investor a fortune?

    Wher does your money come from? How many users do you have? How many users come back and stay using your service? How will you scale your business 100x? Do you have the system in place which allows you to do so? If not, how are you going to do it?

    How are you going to use the invested money to grow your company? What are your goals with that money? When will you have those goals achieved? What's te proof that you will achieve your goals?

    Why do you want that specific investor to invest in you, not someone else? How would your symbiosis work? What good is the investor's expertise and knowledge and network? Why are you specifically reaching out to him/her? Or are you just randomly sending emails to 100 people and hoping anyone will put money into it?

    Why do you even need the investment?
    How long will that investment last?
    What's your burn rate? How much money are you spending per month and on what exactly?

    There are so many things you should think of.

    I suggest you read this:

    https://medium.com/boost-vc/5-rules-...85d#.npaizkjkb

    You will get a lot of good info here

    I hope you got some good ideas,

    MeelisM
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    • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
      Hi Meelism,

      Thanks for responding to this thread. I'm not looking at any way around it. All I need is for you to share your ideas and insight which you have clearly done.

      The investment won't be based on an email sales letter, rather, it'll be based on how the copy can be written, to ensure that it sells the business, and makes it attractive for Angels to have a look at it initially - something catchy to draw their attention.

      Pitching the idea will be something on the other hand, but you need something to reel them in first, and I believe one way to do this will be ensuring you have a powerful copy.

      In terms of the idea of meeting and networking, I never considered that, and believe it is a good idea and one worth exploring. I also agree that you need a powerful business model to match the pitch you intend to build on as it can be a one-off opportunity which may never come again.

      Finally, the following questions you raised are also critical and would be taken into consideration when looking at what the pitch will be like and the business on its own:


      How does your business stand out?
      Why will your business be 1 of 10 that will bring their money back 10x? Unlike the 9 that will die.

      Who is your team?

      What makes it special?

      What are your and your team's past successes?

      What makes you the person that will earn the investor a fortune?

      Where does your money come from?
      How many users do you have?

      How many users come back and stay using your service?

      How will you scale your business 100x?

      Do you have the system in place which allows you to do so? If not, how are you going to do it?

      How are you going to use the invested money to grow your company?

      What are your goals with that money?

      When will you have those goals achieved? What's te proof that you will achieve your goals?

      Why do you want that specific investor to invest in you, not someone else?

      How would your symbiosis work?

      What good is the investor's expertise and knowledge and network? Why are you specifically reaching out to him/her? Or are you just randomly sending emails to 100 people and hoping anyone will put money into it?

      Why do you even need the investment?

      How long will that investment last?

      What's your burn rate?

      How much money are you spending per month and on what exactly?

      The link you sent will also be looked at.

      Thanks for your help!
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  • Profile picture of the author gingerninjas
    Hi,

    If you're looking for angel investors I would think that your business plan and pitch deck would be first and foremost what they want to see anyway.

    I've written copy for this sort of thing and usually it is landing pages or very simple pages that outline what the concept is, but first and foremost the main priority is the business plan and pitch deck, getting the forecasting right and setting up the SWOT, marketing strategies and all of the business back end of things, this is what the investors are interested in.

    If you haven't done this, the content isn't going to really matter as the investors want to see the dollars and what they get out of investing in your startup.

    I think if you're at the stage where you already done this and your next step is to set up a website then I would not 'find a way around' engaging and professional copywriter to create engaging copy that resonates with your investors.

    You don't get second chances so I would invest in this.

    I am doing some work with an entrepreneur at the moment who has great ideas and is constantly working with investors and his first step is planning everything on paper, and I mean everything and then once he gets a little bit of interest then he will create landing pages and collateral.

    All the best
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    • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
      Hi Gingerninjas,

      I agree that the pitch and the sales desk is very important. This, for me, is very vital because most business ideas are either recycled or have a different model as there's nothing really new under the business climate, or else someone is really really innovative, or finds the cure for cancer

      As you've rightly said, what most investors are really keen to see is how much they can make, either in the short or long-term. For me, it is also essential that you present it in a compelling way - after all, you're selling something and the words you use and how you pitch to the potential investors is equally important as the idea.

      I really appreciate your input in this, and if you have any link to websites which you believe would be useful, please feel free to share this with me or in this thread.

      Thanks for your help!
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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    I encourage you to seek out Oren Klaff, author of Pitch Anything. Here's the gist:



    What you really need is a pitch and a pitch deck.

    Oren shows the way for someone like you who is just starting out.

    Good luck!
    Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
      Hi RickDuris,

      Thanks for sharing this information with me, and what the pitch and pitch deck will be needed for this sort of task.

      This will definitely go a long way in guiding anyone who requires help in this area.

      Thanks a lot!
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  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    An alternative to outside investors is to validate the product
    on sites like Indegogo.

    Customers will be your investors.

    The other alternative is to do what the Dollar Shave Club
    and the Dollar Beard Club did...create viral videos.

    Dollar Shave Club was recently sold for a cool billion.

    Producers of the biggest viral videos can be found here...

    UCC LIVE

    Best,
    Ewen
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    • Profile picture of the author Quicklancer15
      Hi Ewen,

      Many thanks for your insight. I have never heard about Dollar Shave Club, and I had a look and see that they had a different sort of pitch - humour. They also used YouTube for this, and is a testament to how powerful social media is and what can be achieved when you break the norm.

      This can also be incorporated into any sales pitch for a startup and I am glad you have brought this to my knowledge.

      Thanks for your help!
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      • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
        Originally Posted by Quicklancer15 View Post

        Hi Ewen,

        Many thanks for your insight. I have never heard about Dollar Shave Club, and I had a look and see that they had a different sort of pitch - humour. They also used YouTube for this, and is a testament to how powerful social media is and what can be achieved when you break the norm.

        This can also be incorporated into any sales pitch for a startup and I am glad you have brought this to my knowledge.

        Thanks for your help!
        This came from my associate a few minutes ago after speaking with
        a Facebook rep...

        "Just got off the phone from the guy high up in Facebook HQ.
        The 30 minute conversation consisted basically of him saying that branding is everything to reach the top, and video is how you do that.
        He pointed out that dollar shave club blew up from just one video, and had 12,000 subscribers within the first Two days!
        Imagine having 12,000 reoccurring monthly orders on your second day after launching!
        He spoke about how dollar shaves whole business to this day is leveraged off that one viral video they created a few years ago now, and the video is STILL on their website instead of a banner.
        Dollar shave club sold for $1 Billion about 5 weeks ago now, and Facebook HQ just told me all the businesses doing hundreds of millions like dollars shave place huge emphases on BRANDING & VIDEOS.
        So we're thinking of investing thousands into video productions, maybe even in a helicopter.
        As he said "If you can ace the branding like dollar shave, make a video that goes viral, you will can ultimately make the competition irrelevant."

        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        That link I gave you, has the creatives to make those viral videos.

        Best,
        Ewen
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