Pitch [im]Perfect
I enjoy watching and hearing other people’s investment pitches for their entrepreneurial projects. I’ve listened to every episode of The Pitch podcast, I watch clips of Shark Tank, and last fall I watched a handful of pitches in person at The Lion’s Den Event (not to be confused with the “adult” establishment of the same name that advertises on billboards on the interstate 😬).
When I pitched friends and family the idea of Taproom Coffee, it was a fairly straightforward ask: I had a little experience, I needed a little money, and it felt like it all hung on a wing and a prayer. When it’s come to Opo Coffee, everything has been magnified - more experience, larger scope, bigger team, more stakeholders, more money. Consequently, the pitch has been more detailed and more difficult to execute well on. Of course, I’ve done (I think) all the appropriate homework and research, and I’ve put together a polished pitch deck, a well-thought-out proposal, and a lengthy business plan for those who want to dive deep. But in that moment when I’m about to launch into a pitch - the stomach butterflies start flying.
I’ve been averaging maybe 2-3 pitches per week this year so far, to just a close network of people who know me well. Over and over the same theme comes out: This isn’t a unicorn VC pitch. This is me trying to build something special, and inviting others to join in the dream.
People have asked me really great questions... Why would you want to start a new company? How did you arrive at those numbers? Can you really quantify impact and fulfillment of intangible values and mission? Is the coffee industry going to survive COVID?
For every question, I’d like to think I’ve given acceptable answers. To be honest, I haven’t closed on every pitch (not that I was expecting to). I’ve had to accept the reality that investment in Opo is not for everyone, and that it’s not a vote of no-confidence when a friend or family member says that they’re not in. The pitch process has been a long-term lesson for me in continual improvement and perseverance, and every time I share about Opo I internalize the dream all the more. Each “no” or “I’m not sure about this” or “I just can’t right now” that I hear shouldn’t get me down, but should propel me forward - more resolved and better-prepared - to the next person who is eager to hear about it all and who just might be a “yes”.
And I have a lot to be confident in and smiling about because as of the publishing of this post, we’re almost halfway there in funding!
(and totally shameless plug: contact me directly if you’re interested in being one of those involved!)