JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

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Johns Hopkins Innovation Factory This deck includes common questions that investors often ask start-up founders. By preparing the answers to the questions outlined in this document, you will be better prepared to pitch your company to investors.

Transcript of JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

Page 1: JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PITCH FOR INVESTORS

S H A R K T A N K S T Y L E

Page 2: JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

This deck includes common questions that investors often ask start-up founders.

By preparing the answers to the questions outlined in this document, you will be better prepared to pitch your company to investors.

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PURPOSE

START-UP!

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

Page 3: JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

§ What is your idea/business?

§ How is your company doing?

§ What are your future plans for your company?

§ How did you come up with this idea?

§ Why would you need my money today?

§ What will you use my money for?

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COMPANY BACKGROUND

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

Page 4: JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

§ How much money are you seeking today?

§ What percentage stake will I get in the company for my investment?

§ Why is your company worth $XXX today?

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INVESTMENT OFFERING

§ How much money have you personally invested into this business?

§ Are there any other investors? How much have they invested in the company? What percent stake do they hold in the company?

§ Do you have a Board of Directors? Would my investment justify a position on the Board?

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

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§ What % of population has this problem?

§ How many people are in your market?

§  Is the market growing or shrinking?

§ Are there other markets that you could extend your offering to?

§ Where do you sell your products?

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THE MARKET

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

Page 6: JHU Innovation Factory - Preparing Your Pitch to Investors - Commonly Asked Questions

§ Do you have any revenue/sales?

§ How much do you sell each product for?

§ What was your revenue/sales in the last two years?

§ Do you have purchase agreements with any notable retailers?

§ How many orders have you had?

§ What is your projection of your future sales? Why?

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SALES/REVENUE

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

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§ What does it to cost for you to produce your product/service?

§ How can we lower the costs to produce your product/service?

§ Where do you currently manufacture your product?

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COSTS/EXPENSES

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

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§ What was your profit this year?

§ What was your profit since you founded the company?

§ What are your margins on each product/service you sell?

§ What can you do to increase the margins on your product/service?

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PROFITABILITY

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

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§ How do you plan on protecting your company’s intellectual property?

§ Do you have a patent? Is it a utility or design patent?

§ Who are your competitors?

§ What makes you able to compete effectively with other companies?

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & COMPETITION

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

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§ What’s your story? Why are you passionate about this business?

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FOUNDER(S) EXPERIENCE & THE TEAM

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY

§ Do you have enough knowledge of this field?

§ Have you ran a start-up before? Was it successful?

§ What makes you the person to tackle this problem?

§ Do you have a professional team?

§ What roles in the company do each of the team members play?

§ What expertise are you currently missing on your team?

§ Do you have a Board of Directors/Advisors?

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§ Do you have an exit strategy?

§ What is your exit strategy?

§ How will I recoup my share of the profit?

§ When will I get my money back?

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EXIT STRATEGY

JHU INNOVATION FACTORY