Great ideas for changing our planet won’t be implemented overnight, especially if it’s a technology solution like solar energy air con or the fabulously Sci-Fi vortex machine that could suck up greenhouse gas (if investors would only build a pilot plant!).
Green Prophet sees great clean technology ideas every day. People email us trying to convince us why this so-and-so technology surpasses any other solution out there. To take your idea to the next level folks, you won’t have to convince us, but investors.
Guy Kawasaki, an American marketing guru has recently penned a short list of tips would-be entrepreneurs take into consideration before meeting a venture capital firm. He lists 10 things “not to say” and one tip for what you should say.
10 Things Not to Say to Potential (Clean Tech) Investors:
- You say: “I’m bright and ambitious.” Investor thinks: “That’s a relief because I usually invest in stupid and lazy people.”
- You say: “I’m a blue sky thinker.” Investor thinks: “You have no business model, and you don’t know how to ship.”
- You say: “I don’t know much about your firm, but I thought I’d contact you anyway.” Investor thinks: “You’re a lazy idiot–why are you wasting my time?”
- You say: “I love to think of new ways to solve problems.” Investor thinks: “Is this a high-school science fair?”
- You say: “I have lots of great ideas, but I have trouble figuring out which one to try. Let me tell you about a couple.” Investor thinks: “I want to know which idea you’re going to kill yourself trying to make successful, not which ideas have crossed your idle mind.”
- You say: “I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur.” Investor thinks: “I’ve always wanted to be a professional golfer. So what if you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?”
- You say: “I’m sure you are aware of the growing need for security. Web 2.0, Open Source, whatever.” Investor thinks: “If you’re sure I’m aware, why are you telling me you’re sure I’m aware.”
- You say: “If you sign an NDA, I’ll tell you my idea.” Investor thinks: “You are clueless. How can you not know that venture capitalists don’t sign NDAs?”
- You say: “The last time I contacted you, I…” Investor thinks: “I’m going to fire my secretary for putting this clown on my calendar again.”
- You say: “My goal is to build a world-class company.” Investor thinks: “How about you ship and sell the first copy before we talk about world-class anything?”
What you should say:
1. “This is what my company does…”
It’s that simple says Kawasaki. The more pages an investor has to read, the less chance your idea will be sold. Mind expanding, and very applicable to the green world that needs new technology solutions, like yesterday!
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
