This presentation will give you a crash course on how to tweak and optimize your AngelList presence so that you can raise a successful round.
It was originally presented to all of the companies at Tandem, Silicon Valley's mobile industry incubator.
2. Intro to AngelList
1. Start private; build a great profile first.
2. Add your team and choose a good referrer.
3. Get introductions; build “social proof”.
4. List publicly once your round is 40-60%
subscribed.
5. Monitor & respond fast; keep your profile updated.
8. • Think of this as your
Executive Summary.
• Include numbers.
• Provide examples and
evidence.
• Focus on traction:
how many customers
do you have and are
active? What is your
viral coefficient?
• Don’t focus too much
on the press.
9. • Think of this as your
Executive Summary.
• Include numbers.
• Provide examples and
Try to keep this in paragraph form, one evidence.
paragraph, maximum 8 lines.
• Focus on traction:
- Sentence 1: Catchy high level description. how many customers
- Sentences 2, 3: Describe what makes you special, better
do you have and are
than the competition, and indispensable to your customers.
Can be features, design, strategy, whatever. active? What is your
- Sentence 4: Hint at where you’re going; the ultimate coefficient?
viral
potential of your product.
• Don’t focus too
- Include a link to the site (if your site has a login, don’t make much
investors sign up to see the product - send them a username
and password).
on the press.
http://fundable.co/2011/01/angellist-style-guide/
10. Example • Think of this as your
Petspets.com is Facebook for Fido: a website that lets any animal create an
online home in just a few minutes. Pets can set up profiles, connect with
Executive Summary.
other pets through public notes or private messages, and share hints and tips
in community forums. In the future, pets will be able to automatically order • Include numbers.
food, treats and toys through RFID-enabled collars linked to a network of
partner stores. Check it out at http://petspets.com (username: kittydog, • Provide examples and
password: ineedtopee). evidence.
• Focus on traction:
how many customers
do you have and are
active? What is your
viral coefficient?
• Don’t focus too much
on the press.
11. • Don’t forget to add
your whole team, with
full profiles.
12. • You only get one
referrer, so choose
wisely.
• Be careful about
adding investors as
advisors (“why aren’t
they investing?”).
13. Company Profile Tips
• Why your referrer matters:
• They are endorsing you. In the
endorsing section they’ll get a
“referrer” badge.
• They’ll be the first person who
shows up in your followers list.
• They will show up as your
referrer whenever they share
things.
14. Company Profile Tips
• Why your referrer matters:
• They are endorsing you. In the
endorsing section they’ll get a
“referrer” badge.
• They’ll be the first person who
shows up in your followers list.
• They will show up as your
referrer whenever they share
things.
15. Company Profile Tips
• Share.
• Take advantage of your network: they can share
your profile with their networks.
16. Company Profile Tips
• You can share your own profile with your followers too.
• Or share anywhere else using the secure link.
• Just turn the secure link off when you’re done raising your round.
17. Company Profile Tips
• More investors is generally better, but make sure
they’re significant.
• Investors “requesting an intro” shows traction.
l0 is a good target.
• Investors and advisors leaving positive comments
is more powerful than other entrepreneurs.
3 is a good target.
• Announce progress and raising money.
Keep your profile active.
18. Company Profile Tips
• Be fast to respond.
• Create some template responses so you’re ready.
But don’t let them sound pre-written!
• Find investors by market/geography.
• Ask for intros, or meet through a 3rd party.
• Add offline investors/advisors to AngelList too.
(Make sure people on AngelList can see all the
progress you’re making outside of AngelList as well!)
19. Company Profile Tips
• You can get introduced to investors that are in your
advisors/endorsers’ networks via “nudging.”
20. Company Profile Tips
• You can get introduced to investors that are in your
advisors/endorsers’ networks via “nudging.”
21. Company Profile Tips
• You can get introduced to investors that are in your
advisors/endorsers’ networks via “nudging.”
22. The Bottom Line
The fundamentals still matter.
• Investors still look for the same criteria as always:
• Strong team
• Meaningful milestones
• Differentiated product
• Showing traction AngelList is a fast and efficient way
• etc. to reach a network of investors, but
the same rules apply.
23. The Bottom Line
• Investors invest in momentum.
• Show traction in your updates and profile content.
• List on AngelList when you’re partially subscribed.
Give yourself a head start, but don’t wait too long.
• Then get out and start researching your network,
and targeting investors!
Read http://j.mp/TractionArticle for more on how to show traction.
29. List skills,
markets, and
locations so you
can be found.
Try not to make up your own or
choose ones with little traction.
30. AngelList Takeaways
• List publicly when you’re partially subscribed.
• Show momentum and traction; include numbers.
• Use your network for intros, comments & shares.
• Hustle and follow up quickly.
Just like anything any other fundraising effort!
Questions?
31. Thanks!
Visit Tandem on
http://facebook.com/TandemCap
Or
Apply Now
http://tandemcap.com/apply.html
Slides prepared by Michael Silverwood for Tandem Entrepreneurs on
January 17, 2012