Researching and Finding Investors for Startup Funding

In this episode, T.A. McCann, venture investor and serial entrepreneur, shares insights on how to find the right investors and successfully pitch to them. T.A. is a five-time founder with three successful exits, and is now a partner at Pioneer Square Labs. He also invests his own money into startups, making him well equipped to provide valuable advice from both sides of the table.

We take a deep dive into identifying the right investor for your venture and navigating the tricky waters of funding rounds. T.A. shares his expertise on the types of investors you can approach, how to personalize your outreach, and how to prepare for and conduct your first and second investor meetings. With his pragmatic and candid advice, he lays out a roadmap for entrepreneurs aspiring to raise venture capital.

Some highlights we explore:

• The advantages of deconstructing successful companies to inform your own business strategy.
• The value of a well-structured and personalized investor outreach, illustrated by T.A.'s Three-Paragraph Intro (3PI) formula.
• T.A.'s firsthand account of how he turned down an investment opportunity hours before raising funds.
• Why the goal of the first investor meeting should always be to secure a second meeting.
• The importance of building likability, understanding, and trust with potential investors.

Enjoy!