Why does your differentiation matter

Founders, every pitch deck contains a chart or table showing you offer features your competitors don't.

Make sure your customers care enough about those differences or they don't matter.

Make sure your investors have a way of understanding why your clients care about those differences.

It's not enough that they matter or that you say they matter, help us validate that they matter. Then it's easy to invest.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 1 Nov 22

#TodayI

Posted about paying for blue ticks on Twitter.
Prepared a backup website because Squarespace had issues.
Was figuring out how to switch the DNS settings.
Saw Squarespace had resolved their issues and didn't need to (wipes brow).
Had breakfast with Paul Matthews of Ravenscroft Group.
Had a call with a professional adviser.
Spoke with Jonathan Nwosu.
Chatted with a founder who has previously bootstrapped and is starting a raise.
Checked the WIP FAQs on my site and they look OK.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Blue ticks

Elon Musk wants to charge $10 or $20 a month for a blue tick on Twitter.

I would pay without hesitation. It adds credibility and it would take me years to get a blue tick.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update (delayed by Squarespace bug) - 31 Oct 22

#TodayI

Submitted funds for an investment.
Was pitched by Abhishek Dadoo of Fewcents.
Had a call with a VC to share investment areas.
Posted my typical investment size.
Had coffee with Robert Dorey of Astaara .
Submitted funds for another investment!
Was pitched by Michael Blakley of Equitas.
Was pitched by John Downie of SteadyPay.
Was pitched by a founder who wishes to remain anonymous.
Got a work in progress FAQ up on my website.
Thought I'd broken my website because black writing on black backgrounds.
Spotted there is an issue with Squarespace that is the cause.
Am waiting for them to fix it and am nervous I broke it while trying to fix it.
Got the bus home.
Went trick or treating with sons 3 & 4.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Investment size

I invest £50k first tickets into startups. I can invest up to £200k in total into a business.

The first £50k is easier to get than the next £150k because I could invest it into three new things and have better portfolio diversification.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 28 Oct 22

#TodayI

Spoke with Matthew Bradley of Tikto Capital and shared our respective investment strategies. Matt is looking to "buy breakeven or profitable tech companies in Europe and provide them with growth capital, knowledge and network."
Had a no-show.
Was pitched by Abhimanyu Dasgupta and Vijay Anand of Unravel.
Was pitched by a founder who wishes to remain anonymous.
Had a second call with a founder. We will have a third next week.
Had to postpone another second call with a founder.
Attended a board meeting.

#NowI

Need to sleep.

Have a great weekend everyone.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Percentage ownership

I don't care about my percentage ownership in a business.

I care about investing the right amount of money at the right valuation in incredible businesses.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 27 Oct 22

#TodayI

Posted about info for founders new to venture capital.
Spoke with Victoria Ross (CCBI) and Mairi Henderson of Scottish Development International. Their role is to help Scottish startups find potential investors. They keep a list of your criteria so you only get sent what is relevant. If you are an investor and want to be less London-centric you should contact them.
Had a call with Philip Fortuna, founder coach extraordinaire. We are making plans. I am getting free coaching/counselling in the process!
Shared Jonathan Nwosu, Dakshesh Dharmadhikary and Min Sang Kim of ClimaView AI's video pitch
Attended a Black Founder Demo Day run by Barclays Eagle Labs. A pleasant surprise to hear Gary Izunwa present.
Signed docs on an investment.

#NowI

Have to take son number two to football training.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Public Pitch - Jonathan Nwosu, Dakshesh Dharmadhikary and Min Sang Kim of ClimaView AI

Delighted to share, with permission, Jonathan Nwosu, Dakshesh Dharmadhikary and Min Sang Kim of ClimaView AI's pitch.

ClimaView AI is building the next generation of AI software to power sustainable finance.

Please let me know if you would like an intro.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Founder resources

I sometimes meet founders with great ideas but no knowledge of venture capital which they need to be able to raise.

What are some great resources to point them to, please?

I will host the links here on the website.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 26 Oct 22

#TodayI

Posted about down rounds.
Was pitched by Sam Miller of Atlas AI (Techstars AI 2021) and ran significantly over time discussing AI.
Had to postpone a call with a fund.
Shared Daniel Sawko of Ship Shape's video pitch.
Had coffee with MATHEW GULLY at hidden treasure Patois.
Was pitched by Guy Manos of CineLogic Ltd.
Received confirmation I am in a round for a new investment.
Received docs to sign for another new investment.
Had afternoon tea at Christies with a friend (see photo).
Took sons 2, 3 & 4 to see Black Adam.

#NowI

Have to catch up on all my emails and get back to five founders.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Public Pitch - Daniel Sawko of Ship Shape

Delighted to share, with permission, Daniel Sawko of Ship Shape's pitch.

Ship Shape is a Search Engine that lets you search individual investors at venture capital firms, portfolio companies and investment entities.

Please let me know if you would like an intro.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Down rounds

Earlier in the year a founder said to me, "I won't do a down round."

Always do the thing for your business that maximises the end point share price.

If that's a down round don't hesitate.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 25 Oct 22

#TodayI

Was pitched by Daniel Sawko of Ship Shape and finally learnt how to pronounce his surname correctly.
Posted about attending The Maydays Improv Residential and learning by placing yourself in difficult situations.
Had coffee with John O'Neill.
Shared 🎥 Gabriel Isserlis of Tutti.space - We are fundraising! (EIS available)'s video pitch.
Postponed a call.
Was pitched by Jonathan Nwosu of ClimaView AI.
Was pitched by Nadim Takchi of Livret P..
Was pitched by Tahir Farooqui of Smartlayer.ai.
Attended a panel meeting.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Public Pitch - Gabriel Isserlis of Tutti

Delighted to share, with permission, Gabriel Isserlis of Tutti's pitch.

Tutti is the Opentable for creative spaces.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Improv and personal growth

Four years ago I read an article saying placing yourself in difficult situations was a fast ticket to personal growth.

Three years ago I attended an improvisation residential having never done any improv before. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I sucked at improv but I had an incredible time.

The weekend just gone I attended the same residential for the third time. To make it hard for myself I signed up for exclusively musical improv courses (singing).

On the final course of the first day, everyone had to improvise a solo song. I was last to be picked and chose to pass, I couldn't do it.

The following day, in the first three courses, I improvised and sang my own song. I've never done that before. It felt incredible.

Personal growth is hard. Put yourself in difficult situations. I've had the most incredible experience with improv, have met amazing people and have a new pastime I never would have considered.

Go for it.

The Maydays

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investingpublic

Evening update - 24 Oct 22

#TodayI

Flew back from Birmingham.
Shared CatherineAnn Reid of Doqit's video pitch.
Had a call with Joel Yeap who supports early-stage founders.
Chatted with Susan Kabani of Ugenie.io.
Was pitched by CatherineAnn Reid of Doqit.
Was pitched by 🎥 Gabriel Isserlis of Tutti.space - We are fundraising! (EIS available).
Had an excellent call with a professional service adviser.

#NowI

Am going to watch the Doctor Who finale with my boys.

#TomorrowI

Will write about the incredible The Maydays Improv Residential I just attended.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Public Pitch - CatherineAnn Reid of Doqit

Delighted to share, with permission, CatherineAnn Reid of Doqit's pitch.

Doqit aims to reduce the time, cost and stress of life's admin.

Please let me know if you would like an intro.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 19 Oct 22

#TodayI

Posted about Chantal Epp of ClicknClear and Sky Nyla and the difficulty of female founders having children.
Spoke with Peter Mitchell of Future Planet Capital.
Was pitched by Rohit Shetty of ArtBrowser TV.
Was pitched by Andy Taylor of Payful.
Shared Carlo Fedeli of FlexSea's video pitch.
Was pitched by Bobby Devins of Odondo.
Had a call with Gary Izunwa from ZINC.
Met with a professional service adviser.
Flew to Birmingham and got an Uber to my hotel.
Listened to the football.
Got back to seven founders.

#TomorrowI

Am attending an improv residential run by the amazing The Maydays so am off for a few days.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Public Pitch - Carlo Fedeli of FlexSea

Delighted to share, with permission, Carlo Fedeli of FlexSea's pitch.

FlexSea aims to redefine single-use plastic packaging with an innovative seaweed-derived material.

Please let me know if you would like an intro.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic