Episode 61

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Published on:

27th Jul 2021

How to Pitch Your VC and Investor Friends

Raising money is essential for the success of your startup or small business. But many first-time entrepreneurs are not confident about finding investors in the early stages of their business development. A quick thought might be to approach friends and family for financial support. But combining your business life with your personal life can be tricky since you wouldn't want to hurt your relationship over money. So instead of asking your friends directly for cash, why not look at them as a resource for testing your business idea and finding investors.  Ask them if they know of anyone who would like to invest in your business. If you have a solid proposition, they might consider writing you a check. 

To give you a headstart, Sharran put together this quick 3-step guide to putting your pitch together and increase your chances of finding someone who will trust you with their money.

“Our job is to use our network for their network, not use our network for what they do.” 

- Sharran Srivatsaa

Timestamps:

00:00 How do you get your VC friends to take you seriously

01:20 Know the job of an investor 

02:24 Two things you have to remember when approaching an investor

04:19 Money vs. advice -- which one do you need

04:40 The first thing you have to do is work on yourself

06:24 Polish your pitch with the advice you get 

08:18 Ask for potential investors or advisors within the same industry 


Resources:

- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for Free


Connect with Sharran:

- Website

- LinkedIn

- Facebook

- Instagram

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About the Podcast

Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa
Business School is hosted by Sharran Srivatsaa, President of Real (TSX: REAX) (NASDAQ: REAX), the fastest-growing, publicly-traded, real estate brokerage in the world. Sharran grew Teles Properties by 10x in 5 years to $3.4 Billion in sales and eventually sold the business to Douglas Elliman. Sharran is also an accomplished “deal guy” and private equity investor. He is the Chairman of private equity firm Highland Prime which focuses on investing in service-businesses and also the Chairman of ARC Multifamily Group which focuses on value-add multifamily investment projects.

Sharran is a former Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse banker and a sought after keynote speaker and is the creator of the wildly-popular 5am Club call for Entrepreneurs.

On this podcast, Sharran shares his best secrets on how to grow your business strategically, how to build your brand elegantly, most importantly integrate the profits in your business with an overall joyful life.

For more free resources visit Sharran.com

About your host

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Sharran Srivatsaa

Sharran is a serial entrepreneur, sought after keynote speaker, and a respected thought-leadership resource for publications such as the Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS magazine, Huffington Post and Forbes.

While Sharran has had 5 exits in the last 19 years, and also a several humbling failed investments and business initiatives. He talks all about them on his top rated Spotify podcast, Business School.

Most recently, Sharran led Teles Properties’ unprecedented 10x growth over 5 years and a 4-year consecutive streak on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies list resulting in its acquisition by national real estate powerhouse Douglas Elliman.

Prior to Teles, Sharran worked at both Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, where he collaborated with management teams of fast-growing businesses around the country on investment advisory and corporate strategy. Sharran also spent several years building recreational programs in the Caribbean, Middle East, and Hawaii for some of the finest international resorts such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, also has deep experience working with technology companies such as Lightera (acquired by CIENA) and Obopay, a fast-growth mobile payments company.

Sharran is a Principal at Srilo Ventures, a multi-factor private investment fund that focuses investing in and advising technology companies and operating businesses in the consumer space. Having successfully completed many acquisitions, joint-ventures, management buyouts, mergers, and capital raises, Sharran serves as a director and advisor on numerous company boards.

He is also a member of the Genius Network, the highest-level marketing mastermind in the world led by whizkid Joe Polish, and also a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO).

After competing on the professional tennis tour, Sharran received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Luther College and his MBA with Honors from Vanderbilt University.