Getting startup capital can be easy if you have a good idea and know the right investor. If you’ve spent serious time thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or you’re already in the early stages of business development, you probably already have a good idea (and if you don’t, you’re in the process of improving it). The bigger problem, then, is meeting the right investor.
Some people attribute this fortuitous meeting to luck or preexisting connections, but savvy entrepreneurs go out of their way to meet the right people. Like anything else in life, it comes down to being in the right place at the right time. While it’s virtually impossible to time things perfectly (since every investor is going to have a unique schedule), you can at least increase your chances of meeting the perfect candidate by scouting the right places.
Related: Finding Investors Is Expensive. Use These 7 Strategies to Reduce Your Risk.
These are the five most common places where entrepreneurs meet investors:
1. Networking events
Networking events are designed to help people meet other people, and if there are investors in your area looking to pour money into a new startup, you can bet they’ll be scouting the local networking events.
Attending these events can take some getting used to, especially if you aren’t used to professional networking, but once you get a feel for the patterns of conversation and introduction, you’ll have no problem quickly identifying the people in the room who can help you get closer to your goals.
As an added bonus, you’ll have the opportunity to meet all kinds of new people who can also help grow your business, from mentors to partners and everything in between.
2. Hackathons and competitions
Most major cities sponsor occasional competitions that get programmers, entrepreneurs, marketers and other businesspeople together. Some of these work to launch new startups from scratch, while others simply work on solving collective problems.
Either way, these events are magnets for talent and new ideas, which also makes them magnets for investors. Get involved as a competitor or simply attend and start meeting some new people.
3. Community organizations
Most active investors give back to their communities in more ways than just startup capital. They’re involved on local boards and community organizations as influencers, social activists or – quite frankly – because they want to keep up appearances.
Whatever the case may be, volunteer events and community organizations are perfect opportunities to meet new investors. Even if you don’t meet them directly, you can meet someone who does know them.
Related: 4 Essentials for Being the Person People Remember
4. LinkedIn and other networking platforms
LinkedIn is arguably the best professional networking platform because it appeals to such a wide audience. You may have already used LinkedIn to find a job, hire an employee or connect with a new acquaintance – so what’s stopping you from using it to find a potential investor? A handful of savvy searches can introduce you to a group of new investors, who you can then reach out to at your leisure.
Also consider the fact that there are other networking platforms online with even more specific intentions. Take, for instance, AngelList, which helps connect startup entrepreneurs with investors and workers.
5. Mutual contacts
OK, I’ll admit it: this one is a method, not a physical location, but it’s still one of the most popular and most effective ways to meet new investors.
Some investors tend to avoid the spotlight, so it’s hard to meet them in person. Meeting them through a mutual contact is the only way to get an introduction. Others network like crazy, and even if you miss them at a networking event, it won’t be long before you meet someone who happens to know them.
Either way, meeting them through other people is the best way to get in contact. What types of people can introduce you to investors? It could be a colleague, neighbor, waiter or even a stranger – you just never know. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to use all the strategies above (and then some) to meet as many people as possible and keep them in your network.
If you’re having trouble meeting viable investors despite making appearances at the four locations above and going through your mutual contacts, there are two potential problems.
First, it could be that your idea is premature or underdeveloped, giving the investors you do meet reason to avoid you. The solution to this problem is reworking your idea, potentially from the ground up. Second, if your idea is solid, it could be that investors in your area simply aren’t biting. The solution to this second problem is seeking alternative means of funding, such as crowdfunding or startup loans.
There are always opportunities for those who seek them, so don’t give up when you first encounter a challenge.
Related: 5 Ways to Be a More Effective People Person
