Sex & the investor John Wilson, Folio Partners “ Backing Great Ideas with Money & Management”

Who am I Male, married, 2 kids, 38yrs Partner at Private Equity Firm Career spent in capital markets and tech Harmonise tech & business My passion is finding problems for solutions I blog: www.greatapps.blogspot.com [email_address]

Male, married, 2 kids, 38yrs

Partner at Private Equity Firm

Career spent in capital markets and tech

Harmonise tech & business

My passion is finding problems for solutions

I blog: www.greatapps.blogspot.com

[email_address]

Agenda Sex & the Investor The courtship Getting “paid” The morning after Dating tips More Sexy stuff

Sex & the Investor

The courtship

Getting “paid”

The morning after

Dating tips

More Sexy stuff

Hooking up with an investor is like seeking a sexual partner The courtship You may have to chat up a lot of people initially “ Chat-up” lines don’t work You will have to expose yourself You will be asked tough questions about embarrassing subjects Sometimes there’s instant mutual attraction but don’t bank on it Honesty is important

The courtship

You may have to chat up a lot of people initially

“ Chat-up” lines don’t work

You will have to expose yourself

You will be asked tough questions about embarrassing subjects

Sometimes there’s instant mutual attraction but don’t bank on it

Honesty is important

Getting “paid” It can be great or simply awful and awkward One partner may not be enjoying the experience and want to leave asap Precautions can be essential to avoid unplanned consequences Talking things through may be embarrassing but usually improves things The euphoria of the moment soon turns to the morning after

It can be great or simply awful and awkward

One partner may not be enjoying the experience and want to leave asap

Precautions can be essential to avoid unplanned consequences

Talking things through may be embarrassing but usually improves things

The euphoria of the moment soon turns to the morning after

The morning after You are entering a long term relationship - make sure you want the same things Be careful what people get their hands on You may be left scarred by the experience Breaking up is never easy This is about money - its not personal

You are entering a long term relationship - make sure you want the same things

Be careful what people get their hands on

You may be left scarred by the experience

Breaking up is never easy

This is about money - its not personal

Dating tips

Rule 1 When the market does not care about your solution, or, worse yet, does not exist, no amount of management talent, hard work, or capital can remedy the situation.

When the market does not care about your solution, or, worse yet, does not exist, no amount of management talent, hard work, or capital can remedy the situation.

Other ground rules Ideas are free and almost never unique Ideas are like plants – they grow better when exposed to sunlight Features ≠ companies Investors won’t sign NDAs Money is plentiful; asking the right people and agreeing a price is hard Investors follow Parents advice – they rarely talk to strangers You will have to give up some control Investors don’t back lifestyle businesses

Ideas are free and almost never unique

Ideas are like plants – they grow better when exposed to sunlight

Features ≠ companies

Investors won’t sign NDAs

Money is plentiful; asking the right people and agreeing a price is hard

Investors follow Parents advice – they rarely talk to strangers

You will have to give up some control

Investors don’t back lifestyle businesses

Picking your investors This is harder than marriage Investor characteristics You have to get on with each other They know your market Actively involve themselves Open doors Teachers/Mentors

This is harder than marriage

Investor characteristics

You have to get on with each other

They know your market

Actively involve themselves

Open doors

Teachers/Mentors

Your pitch Simplicity 3 sentences or less Opportunity Is there one? Problem What is the serious problem your company is trying to solve? Target Market Name specific people in specific roles at specific companies that have decision-making power and would pay for the solution provided by the company

Simplicity

3 sentences or less

Opportunity

Is there one?

Problem

What is the serious problem your company is trying to solve?

Target Market

Name specific people in specific roles at specific companies that have decision-making power and would pay for the solution provided by the company

Your pitch cont Advantage Why you are going to be better Smart Acknowledge streghts and weaknesses Prudence How will you conserve my investment Energy Are you ready for the battle ahead?

Advantage

Why you are going to be better

Smart

Acknowledge streghts and weaknesses

Prudence

How will you conserve my investment

Energy

Are you ready for the battle ahead?

Your company plan How much? To do what? By when? Who with? Where? What qualifies as success?

How much?

To do what?

By when?

Who with?

Where?

What qualifies as success?

Most important lesson It’s important to know when to give up

It’s important to know when to give up

Online biz lessons Explain what you do upfront Registration Don’t make users sign-up – until they want to; email ≠ customer Easy user names & passwords Indecipherable confirm codes Unncessary data Promotion Easy & memorable site url; always visible Easy to post bookmarks Make referrals/recommendations easy Communication Be easily contactable in many ways Keep in touch Named contacts Browser support

Explain what you do upfront

Registration

Don’t make users sign-up – until they want to; email ≠ customer

Easy user names & passwords

Indecipherable confirm codes

Unncessary data

Promotion

Easy & memorable site url; always visible

Easy to post bookmarks

Make referrals/recommendations easy

Communication

Be easily contactable in many ways

Keep in touch

Named contacts

Browser support

More sexy stuff

Finetune

Springdoo

Zoho

Meebome

Timetomeet

Vyew

Koral

Scrybe

Cricinfo 3D