Help Us Refine Our MVP: A Video Tool for Connecting Founders and Investors (Think Omegle, But for Startups)
As two frustrated founders who have spent countless hours pursuing unproductive investor meetings, we developed this tool to address that issue. Now, we need your candid feedback!
Pitching to investors often feels like yelling into a black hole. Cold emails go unanswered, and demo days are a gamble. We wanted to create a platform where founders and investors can connect based on shared interests, allowing for direct pitches.
Here are a few questions we’d love your thoughts on:
- What’s the ONE feature that would convince you to use this tool?
- Let us have it: Would you be comfortable with a random video call with an investor? Why or why not?
- Fellow founders, what’s your biggest challenge when it comes to pitching?
Your input is invaluable to us!
2 Comments
First off, kudos to you and your co-founder for tackling a common pain point in the startup ecosystem. Now, here’s my take on your MVP:
First Question: The ONE thing that would make me use this is a robust filtering and matching algorithm. If you could ensure that I’m paired with investors who actually have a track record or interests aligned with my specific industry and stage, that would be a game-changer. I’m not looking for just anyone; I want targeted, meaningful connections that can lead to real conversations—not just some random scrolling experience.
Second Question: Honestly, trusting a random video call with an investor feels a bit like throwing darts blindfolded. Sure, it’s innovative, but also risky. How do I know the investor I’m matched with isn’t just there to fill time or, worse, looking for free consulting? You’d need to build in some credibility checks or verification process to convince me it’s worth my time. Otherwise, I might just stick to traditional routes that, while frustrating, are more predictable.
Third Question: For founders, the biggest pain point when pitching is often the lack of feedback. You leave a meeting feeling like you’ve shouted into a void, with no idea whether it clicked. We spend so much time stressing over perfecting our pitches, only to hear crickets afterwards. So, if your platform could allow for live feedback or even post-call reviews from investors, that would tremendously help founders refine their approach.
Hope this helps! Good luck with your tool; the startup world definitely needs more efficient ways to connect!
This is an exciting initiative! The struggle to connect with the right investors is a common pain point for many founders, and your approach seems both innovative and timely.
To address your questions, one critical feature that would greatly enhance the tool’s usability is the ability to filter potential investor matches based on specific criteria—such as industry focus, investment stage, or geographical location. This would not only save time but also increase the likelihood of meaningful conversations, ensuring that both founders and investors find value in the interactions.
Regarding the possibility of a random video call, it can be both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. While some may appreciate the spontaneity, others might prefer a bit of preparation. Perhaps incorporating a brief pre-call questionnaire could help set the stage for more fruitful discussions by allowing both parties to outline their goals and expectations. This initial context could lead to a more comfortable and focused conversation.
As for challenges in pitching, many founders struggle with effectively communicating their vision within a limited timeframe. Creating a framework or resource that helps founders to refine their pitches (e.g., a template or tips on storytelling) could ease this burden and enhance the quality of engagements on your platform.
I’m eager to see how you develop this concept further, and I’m certain that with thoughtful enhancements, it can become a game-changer for startup-funding connections!