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Networking with Investors

By October 21, 2019September 21st, 2020No Comments
J. Kelly Hoey - Build Your Dream Network

Seeking funding for your startup or business venture? Contrary to popular networking practice, start forging connections with investors well before you need their money.

Key takeaways:

  • Too many entrepreneurs fail to connect with investors
  • Early stage investors invest in people
  • Ideas without a network don’t launch, scale, or sell
  • Build your peer network
  • Communicate consistently with your network

What to listen for:

  • 01:43 Investors are not endless funding resources – they invest in people
  • 03:50 When should you begin building your relationship with investors?
  • 06:20 Advice on how to connect with investors

Quotes:

“Yes, investors are interested in ideas and the overall size of the market – but ideas evolve and markets can change. People do not. It is imperative that you keep this in mind: investors invest in people.” [02:11]

“When should you begin your relationship building with investors? As soon as you have an idea…. Investors want to know how founders approach identifying and creating solutions for a problem. It’s the stuff of observation, over a period of time.” [03:50]

“I realize you’re working on your idea 24/7 but somewhere in the day you have to prioritize relationship building. Relationships add fuel to your ideas.” [05:23]

Before you start sending out pitch decks randomly to investors or annoy your start-up community connections with “do you know any?” emails, carve 10 minutes in your schedule to listen to this Episode of the Build Your Dream Network podcast.

J. Kelly Hoey

J. Kelly Hoey is a problem solver who believes that most professional challenges—whether funding, landing a board position or getting a new job—are solved by tapping into networks.Kelly is a popular speaker on networking, community building and investing issues, especially as they relate to women, and has worked with the IEEE, PGA, Bank of America, Apple and countless others. Follow Kelly on Twitter @jkhoey and on Instagram @jkellyhoey and join the #BYDN community at www.buildyourdreamnetwork.com