Ep. 130 – Presentation Do’s and Don’ts With Special Guest Natalie Pyles

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SIB-Blog-1It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to have a little fun. On the heels of the last episode about rocking the pitch presentation, host Tom Ryan presents his list of presentation “Do’s and Don’ts.” Expect some handy tips, and some entertaining stories, in this freewheeling episode.

Listeners are also in for a special treat, as guest Natalie Pyles also joins in on the conversation. In addition to being producer Jason Pyles’s wife, Natalie works behind the scenes as the show’s audio editor. Continue reading →

Ep. 129 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 12 – Rocking Your Business Power Pitch

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5Now that you’ve created a rock-solid power pitch for your business, there’s only one question left to answer: How do you rock this thing? As well prepared as you are, you still have to stick the landing when it comes to the pitch itself. It’s time for a few pointers on connecting with your audience of potential investors.

In this final “finish line” episode of the Power Pitch series, host and business coach Tom Ryan explains the rookie mistakes many entrepreneurs make when pitching, and some simple tips to help you avoid them. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Funders for a Concept-Stage Startup

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-B-3When you’re trying to find money for your startup, particularly when the business is still in a conceptual stage, serious investors can be hard to come by. Talk and ideas are cheap, and sophisticated investors want to see a track record, hard numbers and real results. The earlier in the startup process your business is, the harder it is to even get a meeting with a serious investor.

This doesn’t mean you have a lack of options when it comes to raising money. It just means that you need to consider some alternatives, and be aware of their pros and cons. In this post, I’m going to examine five common sources of funding for startups in the earliest stages of development. I’m also going to explore some of the risks associated with each one. Continue reading →

Ep. 128 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 11 – The Investment and Use of Funding

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-4You’ve presented all the key points about your business, you’ve told your story and you’ve shown that you’re ready to take things to the next level. The crescendo of your power pitch is about to happen. All the groundwork has been laid, now it’s time to talk money. It’s time to tell them how much money you need, and what you will do with if they give it to you.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan takes us into the home stretch of delivering a truly masterful business pitch. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 127 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 10 – Financials, Part 2

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-3When it comes to your financials, investors want details. A great business idea or innovative strategy can only go so far. If they’re going to buy in, they want to see the sales numbers, the customer data, and every report they can get their hands on.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan continues his exploration of the must-have reports every entrepreneur needs to have handy when pitching their business. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

6 Methods for Raising Money for Your Startup (and Their Tradeoffs)

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-B-2At some point, your business will need to raise money. Maybe it’s because you’re running out of startup funds, or perhaps it’s because you’re looking to expand your operations. Whatever the case, you’re going to need to bring in some more cash.

Now, you’re faced with an important question: Which source of capital makes the most sense to pursue? It’s important to not only understand what your options are, but also what the cost/benefit trade offs are for each of those options. To put it another way: What will it ultimately cost you to raise different forms of capital relative to what you get out of it? Continue reading →

Ep. 126 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 10 – Financials, Part 1

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2Few elements of the pitch process are more intimidating to new entrepreneurs than presenting their financials. It’s where the hard numbers finally come out, and where investors tend to have the most probing questions to ask. The better prepared you are when you present your financials, the more likely your audience is to take you and your business seriously.

In this episode (part one of two), host and business coach Tom Ryan discusses the must-have features for a strong financials presentation. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

5 Reasons Every Entrepreneur Should Learn Sales

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-B-5Cash is the lifeblood of your business. It’s how you keep the lights on, your employees coming in every day, and your mortgage paid. How does your business get cash? You sell your stuff — those products or services that constitute your business. No sales means no cash. No cash means no business.

If sales is so important, why is it that so many entrepreneurs shy away from the sales side of their business? If you don’t have a background in sales, it’s all too easy for sales to seem intimidating. Sales means facing rejection, and calling people who don’t want to talk to you. It involves asking people for money. It’s seems easier just to hire someone else to take care of it. Continue reading →

Ep. 125 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 9 – Management Team

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-B-2Why is your team the right one to invest in? Sure, you may have found a great market niche, and come up with a solid product or service to fill that need. But does your company’s specific collection of founders, advisors and key employees really have what it takes to create a successful business to address that gap in the market? How can you demonstrate that your team is up to the task?

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan explains what investors like to see in a great management team, and some of the red flags they look for in bad ones. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 124 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 8 – Competitive Strategy

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5Building a strong competitive strategy isn’t just a matter identifying the other companies in your market. To answer those hard questions that will inevitably come from potential investors, you need to have a clear picture of how your business stacks up against not only your rivals, but also “dark horse” companies and even your “frenemy” partners. That means putting in some time doing the less-than-glamorous stuff of SWOT research.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan takes a tactical look at creating a winning competitive strategy for your startup pitch. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →