Fundraising Is Massive Curiosity

"If you think of anyone..."

"I read his blog"

"What do I have to do to get you to invest?"

Mulling over numerous conversations I've had with entrepreneurs over the past week. These are enthusiastic, sharp entrepreneurs who believe they have created the tech product the world needs and which the world will eat up in massive numbers once the product is financed. They have discovered a gap in a huge market, then researched, sourced, tested, designed, and re-tested their solution to this huge problem.

So what's the problem?

The discipline, rigor and curiosity they applied to the problem they are solving (and have thoughtfully laid out in their deck and pitch deck) vaporizes when they arrive at seeking outside investment.

Researching potential investors is part investment analyst and part archaeologist, part stalker, paparazzi and private investigator. It's the person behind that "investor" title - who are they, how do they think, what teams they invest in as much as the sectors/verticals - not simply the size of the checks they write. It's more than a website review, blog read and simple Google search. It's not simply choice (whole or 2%?) it's active selection.

That passion you've applied to creating your product? Apply the same level of relentless curiosity to researching potential investors. Create your investment thesis on why your tech product belongs in their portfolio. Show the investor the intensity and extent of your problem-solving skills beyond the product.