On Tuesday, NYU's Entrepreneurial Institute hosted the third day of its Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program, focusing on the crucial skill of storytelling in fundraising. The virtual event featured insights from two industry experts: Tomas Uribe, SLP Alumni and Co-founder of Mavity, and Clayton Bryan, Partner at 500 Global.
Fifteen startup teams gathered to learn how to craft compelling narratives for investors, with the session emphasizing the importance of storytelling in the fundraising process.
The Competitive Landscape of Fundraising
Tomas Uribe, drawing from his experience with Mavity, an automated collaboration tool for creative teams, shared valuable insights on pitch deck structure and investor relations. Uribe stressed the competitive nature of fundraising, quoting, "Pitch yourself like it's the last fricking pitch in the world!" He highlighted the importance of building an investor pipeline, recommending tools like Visible.vc and Finta for managing investor relationships. Uribe also emphasized the value of regular investor updates to build momentum and track engagement.
Crafting the Perfect Pitch Deck
The session delved into the nuances of pitch deck structure, with Uribe suggesting that early-stage startups consider moving the team slide up, especially when the team is a key differentiator. He advised keeping product demos high-level, focusing on the customer journey rather than technical details.
Visual design and branding were also key topics. Uribe emphasized the need for consistent branding across all touchpoints, from LinkedIn profiles to pitch decks. He shared design principles such as using the Z-pattern for information flow and limiting each slide to three key points.
Investor Insights: Clayton Bryan's Perspective
Clayton Bryan, bringing his perspective as a venture investor, provided valuable insights during an interactive Q&A session. He emphasized the importance of having key advisers with vested interests in the company and tailoring pitch decks to different investor audiences. Bryan also discussed how traction requirements can vary based on the competitive landscape of a startup's sector.
One of the highlights of the event was a live pitch session, where a participating team presented to Clayton Bryan, providing real-time feedback and learning opportunities for all attendees.
The Power of Emotional Connection in Pitching
The event underscored the importance of emotional connection in pitching, with both speakers encouraging founders to focus on storytelling over pure data presentation. They advised structuring narratives around personal connections to the problem, market opportunities, unique solutions, and clear asks.
As the Venture Equity Program progresses, it continues to provide NYU startups with practical, actionable advice from industry leaders. This session on fundraising storytelling equipped participants with the tools to craft compelling narratives, manage investor relationships effectively, and present their startups in the best light possible.
Honoring Max Stenbeck's Legacy
The Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program honors the life and legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist Max Stenbeck. Max Stenbeck was a passionate believer in technology for good, as well as an advocate for equal opportunities and for the rights of vulnerable children. The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund will continue to give back in his legacy, including through the generous support of the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program at NYU.
