1.5 weeks to my first sales presentation

[beersphere]

Hi All

I've just been given a potential opportunity to present my fledgling business to a couple private investors, and I'm now in "crunch mode" to put together a killer sales presentation. I've done some reading on line on effective sales presentations, but I want to hear about some of your experiences and advice regarding this sort of situation.

The specs:

The initiator - my brother-in-law, who has offered to set up a meeting with two of his associates to discuss start-up funding.

The potential investors

One, a successful 32-year old entrepreneur who makes roughly 1.7 mil per year with his ventures

The other, a professional with some expendable cash looking to do some small cap investing

My goal:

Secure sufficient funding for legal and filing expenses for copyright and potential patent(s) so that I can move forward with r & d and sales without worrying about someone stealing my ideas without legal recourse.

The reality:

- Probably less than $10,000 to be offered in a first round of investment.

- All three are *looking* for investment opportunities

- All three are friends

The requirement set forth by my brother in law: Prepare a sales presentation for the week of December 3rd (specifically around December 6th or so)

What I have

I do have a proof-of-concept demonstration of my idea.

I have a list of business to business contacts to be made as well, and have had a good reception from business we have approached.

I have direct sales experience, so I do have a sales process to work off of

I do have a vision to be up and running within 6 months, but I am slating release ~ September 2007

I do have one partner currently who has been handling operational tasks and promotional tasks

What I don't have

- Funding/Budget. Literally, I haven't been able to file business registration yet due to cost in my town to do so!

- Copyright/Patent protection

- An open schedule (yet) as I am working full time.

Help!

Thanks,

Fred

[tsj]

Hi All

I've just been given a potential opportunity to present my fledgling business to a couple private investors, and I'm now in "crunch mode" to put together a killer sales presentation. I've done some reading on line on effective sales presentations, but I want to hear about some of your experiences and advice regarding this sort of situation.

The specs:

The initiator - my brother-in-law, who has offered to set up a meeting with two of his associates to discuss start-up funding.

The potential investors

One, a successful 32-year old entrepreneur who makes roughly 1.7 mil per year with his ventures

The other, a professional with some expendable cash looking to do some small cap investing

My goal:

Secure sufficient funding for legal and filing expenses for copyright and potential patent(s) so that I can move forward with r & d and sales without worrying about someone stealing my ideas without legal recourse.

The reality:

- Probably less than $10,000 to be offered in a first round of investment.

- All three are *looking* for investment opportunities

- All three are friends

The requirement set forth by my brother in law: Prepare a sales presentation for the week of December 3rd (specifically around December 6th or so)

What I have

I do have a proof-of-concept demonstration of my idea.

I have a list of business to business contacts to be made as well, and have had a good reception from business we have approached.

I have direct sales experience, so I do have a sales process to work off of

I do have a vision to be up and running within 6 months, but I am slating release ~ September 2007

I do have one partner currently who has been handling operational tasks and promotional tasks

What I don't have

- Funding/Budget. Literally, I haven't been able to file business registration yet due to cost in my town to do so!

- Copyright/Patent protection

- An open schedule (yet) as I am working full time.

Help!

Thanks,

Fred

I first most say you have said alot.
First of all, This is my opinion, just trying to help.
Make sure before presenting anything, you take care of the legal parts first.
And I suggest, before saying anything why not go out to lunch and get to familiarize yourself with these other two persons first,even though your brother-in-law knows them and you say they are friends,just to feel them out for yourself.

Let me say why, because before I take anyone to my office for one of my other business, I try to ask them question about their goals and dreams and anything that will open them up to talk , so that I can see if they are even on the page I need them to be and they are not just wasting my time or trying to get something out of me and that is it.
Because business is a two way thing, meaning both parties or depending on how many, always benefit, that is good business.
that is why those big name companies stay in business, because they provide a service or product that the costumers find to be satisfactory and the get paid for it, so both side wins.

NEXT, make sure to carry a little recorder, remember this is just a suggestion- so you will have everything said recorded if anything gose wrong or someone tries to cheat or say they did not say something.
because people is good on stuff like that. And you can even listen to it later and type it out if you want.

well that is all right now, I should be getting payed for this, because it is called consulting LOL!!!!!

tsj

[beersphere]

Hi TSJ

Thanks so much for the advice. I forgot to mention that on the legal side, I have a Non-Disclosure Agreement that is being drawn up this week. Also, I have been offered (by my father) and will accept setting up my corporate entity under his existing S-corp which affords great liability protection, so I do have those two "aces in the hole."

The recorder idea is a great one, I definitely like that idea as well.

Thanks for your input!