Feb. 16, 2024

182. The Two Things I'm Looking For In A Deck

182. The Two Things I'm Looking For In A Deck
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Season 4

Text your thoughts directly to Rich.

When a start up comes into my inbox cold or through another investor, there are really only two things I'm trying to figure out: 1) Is this for me?  2) Is this interesting?

About AVL Growth Partners
AVL Growth Partners, founded in 2009, is the leading fractional Finance and Accounting firm supporting organizations in pivoting from growth to scale. AVL brings an experienced team of CFOs, Controllers, and Accountants to your organization, delivering transparent, strategic actions for short and long-term success. Transform your financial approach affordably with AVL, supporting companies coast to coast - get to know AVL Growth Partners at avlgrowth.com. (Sponsored)

About SpringTime Ventures
SpringTime Ventures seeds high-growth startups in healthcare, fintech & insurtech, and logistics & supply chain. We look for founders with domain expertise, forging a path with a truly transformative technology. We only invest in software-based businesses in the USA. We bring a people-focused approach, work quickly, and reach conviction independently. Our initial check size is $600k. You can learn more about us and our approach.     

WEBVTT

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Happy Friday, everybody.

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Allyson's episode from yesterday sparked a thought for me.

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When a start up comes into my inbox cold or through another investor, there are really only two things I'm trying to figure out.

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First, is this for me?

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Second is this interesting?

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For the first question,"is this for me," I'm running down a mental checklist.

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Is this in the right industry?

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Is it in one of our focus areas?

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Is this the right geo?

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We only invest in the U S.

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Is this the right stage?

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Somewhere in the seed phase.

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And second, is this interesting.

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This is where Allyson's point about specificity comes into play.

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In order to evaluate if this is differentiated and truly transformational, I need to understand the problem and the solution.

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I love Allyson's example about specifying the benefit to your customer.

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Leaning on a phrase from my sales days, focus on the WIIFT: What's In It For Them.

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I need to understand the problem and the solution The latter, which can be demonstrated to through outcomes.

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Other things that make us start up interesting are incredible team, not just faces with logos, but why you.

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And up-and-to-the-right traction always makes a startup more interesting.

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Many times you just need to flip the switch that lights that light bulb above the investor's head and gets them saying,"oh, well, this is interesting." That switches them from skimming, into reading.

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If it is for me and it is interesting, I'll read more and most likely take a meeting.

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And that's really all you want from an intro email and an intro deck: the first meeting.

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A special, thank you to AVL growth partners for sponsoring VC minute.

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AVL's team brings significant years of finance and accounting expertise.

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They ensure your path to success is crystal clear.

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Why go fractional?

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Picture this: a CFO with an average of 19 years of senior finance CFO experience, alongside controllers and accountants with 15 years under their belts.

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This isn't just bookkeeping.

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It's the expertise your company needs to navigate economic challenges.

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If you want to take your company to the next level and need the experience required to make it happen.

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Visit AVL growth.com right now.

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And thank you for joining us.

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Time is our most precious asset.

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And I'm grateful that you would spend some of it with us.

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Have a great long weekend.