Kieran Hill’s Post

Interesting to see that our thinking with rppl.app is gaining traction from many levels.

How do I keep my potential investors informed of my progress with the intention that it helps them decide to lead my future fundraise rounds? This is the question I have seen most founders asking me. Here is my take, Divide the list of investors you want to keep updated into 3 buckets - a. Investor engaged with me in >2 conversations in the last 60 days and has provided inputs or suggestions on my next steps/challenges ahead b. Target list investors (whom I have spoken to) and want them to participate in my upcoming round c. General updates for everyone else to follow up on the past conversation and keep the thread alive Note, that potential investors whom you have not spoken to will fall into the new reach-out bucket. Now, imagine if you were an investor what would you like to see in an update, a. Crisp update - should fit in one screen. Data points which are easy to read and understand. [e.g.- Charts w/o labels are not easy to read] b. Brief description of the company. Challenges faced and steps taken to resolve? What challenges do you foresee and what are the next steps? c. Updates across GTM, Product, and customer feedback. [Note NO hiring, team size, money in the bank, other updates needed] d. Focussed list of next steps and action items. Next, the interval for the updates (We want to send updates which will make the reader essentially jump out of their chair or feel FOMO right?) - Thus monthly is not an option at all. Quarterly is the best bet which allows you to make enough mistakes and experiment and come up with a meaningful mail which may entice the reader. Feel free to change this interval to 4 or 5 months basis the stage of the company. But as you stabilise, you should aim for a quarterly one to show stability. So, now what is left is a sample mail. I will put those up in the comments for the different types of investors (3 emails primarily). I was thinking of doing a free session on writing emails and building networks across functions like HR, Sales, Investor Relations, Agency Scouting, and Generic checklists. Reply with your interest and we can think of cooking something up what say? Sayan Ghosh🦄Rajvardhan Mohite Pratik Sagar Mishra Victor C. Deepak Lamba Rohit Srivastav Vardhan Koshal Gaurav Verma

How Does a $100 Billion Private Equity Firm Scale Businesses? I’m Aaron Harper, CEO of Rolling Suds, a national power washing franchise with over 200 locations across 28 states, all achieved in under two years! Today, I’m sharing insights into how Vista Equity Partners, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, grows the businesses they invest in. Here's their playbook: 1. Data Collection: They start by gathering every bit of customer data possible—who they are, what they like, and what makes them convert. 2. Identifying the VIPs: They analyze the data to find their most valuable customers. Who’s delivering the highest return? 3. Laser-Focused Marketing: Finally, they concentrate their marketing efforts solely on those top customer groups, creating ads tailored to what these customers value most. This strategy sounds simple but is incredibly powerful. Tune in to learn how a data-first approach can drive serious growth. Follow me for more!

Clarity Made Simple. Useable In Anything!

The Truth About Equity Deals & What You Need To Know You are seeing 'equity' deals EVERYWHERE lately. Everyone is selling you a course, a book, a training, a webinar, a Substack-whatever. The goal? For you to get equity in companies. Here's the thing... Most companies never realize value through equity. For the right people in the right place-the $$$$ will transform their lives but... That's less than 3% of people. The rest are going to sign on for companies that won't produce, give services at discount (or free) in exchange for equity, and end up with nothing. Look-I love equity deals. Last four years I took equity in two companies. Both are doing well. But that's after vetting almost 850+ offers. Don't mistake chatter for demand-and do, do, do your research.

***ATTN STARTUPS: BEAT THE CLOCK STARTS TOMORROW*** Start the New Year off with a refreshed Pitch Deck and Logo! I have done hundreds of winning presentations for global giants like Adobe, Accenture, Coca-Cola, and Wells Fargo, and for dozens of startups and small businesses. Here’s what I have learned, and what many startups get wrong: ⭐ Your Pitch Deck needs to tell a story (not just follow a template). ⭐ Your Pitch Deck is about your business model (not just your cool idea). ⭐ Your Pitch Deck needs to anticipate investor objections—and address them. I will choose one founder each day before Christmas, and refresh their pitch deck, GTM strategy, and logo. Here’s what you get: 1️⃣ Refreshed 10-15 page Pitch Deck. 2️⃣ Feedback and recommendations on your go-to-market strategy. 3️⃣ HOLIDAY BONUS: Refreshed logo. Here's how to grab your spot: ⭐ Comment “BEAT THE CLOCK” below. ⭐ Connect with me to send me your Pitch Deck. ⭐ I will send you a few questions to help me understand your business. ⏳ Get your pitch deck in early! Spots are limited to one per day, and prices go up $100 each day until Christmas. ♻️ Know someone who could use this? Share this post to help a founder!

As a Venture Partner, we are practical in our approach, focusing on building long-term, sustainable businesses with exit strategies, both acquisition and IPO ambitions. Second, we want like-minded peers who have teams on the ground, and not the “fly-in, fly-out" leads. Lastly, beyond the rhetoric deck, the founders must demonstrate an ironclad determination to break barriers and cross chasms.

This is a very important post. Especially to my network of founders. A big issue is a lot of startups rush into Pitch Decks so quickly, when all that is needed is a more clear and concise idea. Building the pitch deck is arguably the easy part, knowing what you’re actually doing, asking your self the right questions and understanding the existence of your product is the most important part. Sometimes the root of the problem comes from the foundation instead of the canopy. A tree only collapses if the trunk breaks, not if the leaves fall off.

If you cannot tell an investor specifically how you plan to deploy the funds, you are not Investment Ready. It is fine in your intro pitch to say “we’ll spend on marketing, growing the team, and further product development”. But when an investor shows interest, you must go beyond the surface in subsequent conversations to demonstrate that you have a detailed plan for growth which the capital will finance. An investors first priority is the security of their capital. Your first priority should be demonstrating that their money is safe…in your business, and in your plan. Cheers DO

12 Slides That Will Hook Investors: When pitching to investors, you only need 12 slides to make an impact. Here’s what to include: 1) Introduction: Who you are and what you do. Overview: Brief company summary and why you’re here. 2) Problem: Define the customer pain point you're solving. 3) Market Size: Show the market potential and opportunity. 4) Team: Highlight the key players driving your success. 5) Solution: Showcase your product and why it’s the best. 6) Revenue Model: Explain how you plan to make money. 7) Go-To-Market: Lay out your customer acquisition strategy. 8) Competition: Discuss competitors and your unique edge. 9) Financials: Provide key financial projections. 10) Milestones: Share your progress and upcoming goals. 11) Summary: Recap why your business is worth the investment. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu