Part 2: Working With Venture Capitalists to Raise Business Funding With Brett Sharenow

Guest: Brett Sharenow of Broadscope Consulting

💡 Who is Brett Sharenow?

Brett is a trusted advisor in the world of raising venture capital, making him a true fundraising specialist. He focuses on raising capital for startups, as well as high growth companies. With three decades of experience under his belt, he has raised upwards of $800 million for his clients.

You can learn more about Brett via his website: https://www.broadscope.com/

And you can follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/broadscopeconsulting 

💡 Brett is back for a second episode as we kick off season two of the Scale By Numbers podcast. With his expertise in fundraising, he’s the perfect guest to share smart strategies to raise capital for your business. This is part two of Brett’s value-packed interview, so be sure to listen to the previous episode with the first half of our conversation. 

In this second part, we discuss:

•   What venture capitalists are looking for from business owners pitching them for funding

•   Advice for finding the right investors to present to so you can get money as quickly as possible

•   How venture capitalists really view a company’s valuation and handle negotiations

•   How to present yourself in every pitch meeting you attend on behalf of your business 

💡 Highlights From This Episode

How does a venture capitalist know if they want to entertain a meeting with a founder to potentially invest? First, they’re looking for warm introductions to the founder of the business. Oftentimes, someone the venture capitalist knows will either recommend or pre-screen the business, sometimes because they have insider knowledge on the product or service. Having systems in place and screening businesses beforehand helps this process go smoothly.

Is there a way to research potential investors to go after? Yes! There are databases you can buy into that will allow you to look up their previous investments. In doing this, you’ll be able to see which venture capitalists stepped up as leads and which ones were simply follows. Founders need to look for the venture capitalist who is going to lead the round, so make sure to pitch to a number of potential leads.

How should a founder present themselves during a presentation to potential investors? They should have a confident and grounded presence but never come off as arrogant. Instead, know the solution your product or service offers so you can clearly communicate the value it has to offer.

Finally, If you want expert support with your next capital raising efforts or business strategies Brett Sharenow with Broad Scope Consulting should be your next call.    In the last three decades, he’s raised more than $780 million for his clients. He’s worked in the U.S., Europe, and India and has deep experience with Venture Capital and Private Equity investors—he’s a go-to professional for start-up and high-growth companies. 

Need CFO Level guidance and support? Check out our new membership program  The CFO Thinking Partner here!  Within the membership,  you’ll have access to LIVE support, dozens of resources, helpful tools, and we will connect you with experts who are ready to give you a hand up and over any obstacle that’s stalling your company’s growth.