Investment Winning Criteria

I’ve been asked for my opinion on the Investment Winning Criteria and decided to share it in my blog too.

After spending over 10 years on dedicated development of a drastically new type of products, our team decided to hit a Big Market and build a sales/service organization worldwide. You can imagine how easy it can be done these days. During the past years, we came through many adventures: acquired a few customers, generated interests from large and midsized corporations and investors. However, to go ahead we were needed a strong sales/service organization that is capable to provide local customer support, and yes, we need money to succeed.

Profit – is the keyword to be backed by the external investment. You have to convince the Investors that your capability can generate Profit (ROI); in simple words you have to profitable. Therefore, we are currently building our sales/services organization worldwide. We are inviting the business and technology champins to share our risks and success.

There are no miracles, the investment winning criteria are quite clear:

• Clearly show how you will generate Profit.
• Determine a growing market niche for your..
• … Suitable (demanding) products (simplicity of the offering expedites sales)
• Demonstrated growth in sales history
• Strong management team with demonstrated experience in:
  – Financial planning (deep understanding) and management
  – Sales and Marketing
  – Business Administration
  – Staff management
• Be realistic; investors are not idiots. Many of them have came through the same journey as you are.
• Do your job. Investors can give you money, but they are not willing to do your job. You are on your own; so, do it yourself.
• Get a team. If you cannot convince a suitable team to start working with you for “free” and be compensated later (means use your accomplishments and earn on success), you won’t be very successful in convincing investors, who must pay you upfront.
• Just BE LUCKY by being at right time in right place with right pitch for right products, having right team with right attitude, be ready to take responsibility on other people lives… …be ready to take your fortune. … it sounds like “be rich and healthy…. that’s right, you have to have enough guts to dedicate years of your life, take your personal risk, receive support and understanding from your family against your believe in success, apply your energy, knowledge, discipline, money….. otherwise…
• If you cannot do your job properly, if you are not ready to BE LUCKY, stop lying to yourself and to others, get away; get a job and do not bother.