The investment game
When we were introduced to the investment as part of the venture building training, we were dumbfounded as we do not know what and how to attract the attention of investors. Furthermore, we are confident, yet, we know that our assets and information that we prepared is lacking. We have a hard time trying to convince our self, especially on the market sizing part of the pitch deck. However, we carried on forward and remain confident throughout the whole game. Our confident are based on the training that we have received and trust in our own ability. Even though, we might be lacking here and there.
Long story short, the DLT Pratu team won the game with an estimate of 4.5 million worth in valuation. We help the first investor that invest in us, tripled in portfolio evaluation. Of course, our confidences are shared among the investors and participants. Yet the truth is that of what mentor Fred mentioned. The pitch doesn’t start when the game begins, it start even beforehand. People asked why did we won the game? How did we manage to have our very first investor to invest such a big load for us? The truth is we know that person. We have build a relationship with the person even before the game started. Which is in line with what Mentor Fred mentioned, the pitch started even before the starting bell rang. My team and I managed to jump into to other people’s pitch to listen to what they have done and their pitch. We realized that some have done tremendous work, some might be lacking in credibility and some do not convey enough to the investors. Yet, by no way that we are 100% better then the rest, we realized from other people pitch on what we lack and what we should have added in. We will continue to improve on what we’ve done and invest in relationship as well.
Lastly, something memorable from the game. There were one statement and one question that strikes me. The statement was from a investor that we pitch to. She mentioned after we finishing pitching that she has already invested in us. The team and I were surprised, we asked her what makes her believe in us even before we talk to her. She said that, among the investors there has been talk among themselves on which company that they are interested in investing or invested already. This is in line with what our mentor Edward and Dr Alex Lin mentioned, they mentioned that if a entrepreneur seeking for investment went to a investor to pitch, they have the time of a cup of coffee, after the cup of coffee if the investor is stilling interested in talking to you, you are up to something. Yet, if the investors stop after the coffee, your rumour as entrepreneur will spread among the investors, they will tell other investors of the impression that they had of you. The image will stick. The circle is small. Therefore, I think that the pitch itself, yes, it is important. However, like what mentor SJ mentioned, homework has to be done. Lots of homework on the personal that you are gonna to talk to. Leave the best impression so that the impression will last not only on the investor alone, but the circle and network that the investor have.
Lastly, the question that I still can’t answer, the investor asked, why is it your team that will be the team that lead the project to success? I still can’t answer that question. I think that that is the hardest question during the game. However, I will continue to search for an answer, an answer that people will be satisfied and most importantly, for myself to believe in and trust in.
