Pitching Strategies for Entrepreneurs: Timing and Tactics

When it comes to pitching investors for a startup, the timing of your approach can significantly impact your success. While there is no universally bad time to pitch, certain periods are more conducive to landing meetings and deals. Understanding the best and worst months to pitch can be crucial for securing funding and moving your startup forward.

What Are the Best Months for Pitching?

Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day is generally a slow period for money raising, as many investors enter a lull in their schedules. Around this time, everyone takes a break, making it challenging to secure meetings and gain traction. However, starting your efforts in November and December, you can gradually build momentum by the time February rolls around. This period offers a break from the end-of-year rush, allowing investors to focus on new opportunities.

What Are the Worst Months for Pitching?

Mid-July to Mid-August

Mid-July to mid-August are particularly difficult months to secure pitch meetings, especially if investors have children. During this period, many investors are on vacation and unavailable. If you need to pitch in this window, find alternative ways to engage potential investors, such as through introductions or online platforms.

Mid-December and Around Holidays

While December can be a challenging month for pitching due to the holiday rush, it's not entirely off-limits. Investors typically still hear pitches, albeit with reduced focus on deal-making until mid-January. The key is to set realistic expectations and focus on long-term engagement rather than immediate results.

Targeting the Right Investors at the Right Time

To maximize your chances of success, it's important to target specific investors with the right pitch at the right time. Younger funds, in particular, are more likely to hear pitches at any time, but securing a deal will depend on various factors. Large, established funds, on the other hand, may have limited availability during certain months, so it's crucial to align your pitch with their calendar.

Before reaching out to investors, ensure they have the liquidity and interest in your sector. Additionally, verify if they are in your preferred stage, such as seed or A-series. Targeting funds that have a preference for startups in your domain can save you a lot of time and emotional energy in the long run.

Conclusion

While there is no bad time to pitch, strategically timing your approach can significantly impact your success. The slow periods from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day provide an opportunity to build relationships and gather interest. Conversely, mid-July to mid-August and the holiday months are challenging, requiring alternative strategies to engage investors.

By understanding the best and worst months for pitching, you can refine your approach and increase your chances of securing the funding you need to grow your startup.