This document provides guidance on pitching startups to investors. It emphasizes the importance of traction and introduces the concept of using middlemen to get introductions to investors. Some key points:
- Investors care most about actual traction (e.g. revenue, customers) which demonstrates product-market fit. The more traction a startup has, the more likely they are to get funding.
- Rather than directly pitching investors, startups should try to get introductions through effective middlemen who are well connected and trusted by investors, such as other entrepreneurs or investors.
- To pitch middlemen and investors, startups should use tools like an elevator pitch emphasizing traction, product, team and social proof, a