Feedback

Guidelines for working with us

A crucial part of this process is the feedback that each person gives about contact, conversations and meetings. This feedback assists us to match your file more closely and often to identify different approaches to the matching that were not obvious when you completed your registration form. Also, we often find that meetings flush out possibilities that were not previously considered and this can change the matching criteria. When you register with us you agree to provide this feedback continually through the process until you complete your negotiations.

The feedback that will assist your search and enhance our ability to guide you to a successful result is this:

I phoned / met with 'john' as a person he is ........
We could/could not work together because .......
His business/skill is/is not a good fit because ...
We are continuing our discussion, the proposal so far is .....

We encourage people to meet each other so that people are not treated as abstractions.

Be assured that feedback is highly confidential.

Enter feedback here

Feedback examples

Feedback from Investors:

Investor A

The investors are sent a short list of opportunities based on their requests and our matching.

This investor received 8 referrals and replied immediately ......

We have reviewed the list of business opportunities and will be making contact with the following four companies within the next few days:

x x x & x

We will not be contacting the other companies outlined for the following reasons:

xxxx: This is a very competitive area of the market and will require deep funding for advertising. We do not see any major differentials over current product ranges available.

xxxx: Substantial investment required for minor controlling interest.

xxxx: As previous, and product has a number of local competitors.

xxxx: Small overall market size, and we offer limited experience.

We will let you know how we progress with the 4 contacts mentioned. In the interim, can you also pls let us know if you have any importers and distributors not limited to our industry that we may contact.

Investor B

I met with xxx last Wednesday and we are still talking. It is an interesting opportunity and he can see my skill set being useful and different to what they already have.

and then

yyy: this is something that could be linked to company xxx if I proceed with it but I don't think I'd be interested by itself given level of investment it requires to get going.

Feedback from Businesses:

Thumbs down:

The meeting with Investor A was extremely disappointing, in that he was more interested in what he had to tell us about what he had done with his life and how much money he had made, and would not listen to any of our ambitions or strategic objectives. He shared none of the passions needed to grow our business and not once were we allowed to even finish a sentence without interruption.

Thumbs up:

Met with Investor B today. We had a good exchange of information. I found B easy to talk with and he seemed to have a professional approach to the discussions. He has asked for some more detailed information and I have agreed to provide same next week. I would expect to have further discussions during the next two weeks and will advise you of any developments.

Thumbs down:

Business is looking for a passive shareholders ($100,000 this round). They can't see how I could contribute. Monies invested to be used to fund operations till business become cash positive. Good ideas but huge barriers from target market/industry to get volume that is needed to run business. Feels too much like a dotcom company wanting to strike it rich when it? gets listed.

Thumbs up:

I wanted to let you know that xxx signed a term sheet this morning.
Formal agreements and due diligence will take a week or two to finalise. I am really looking forward to working with xxx.

Finally, the first person you introduced who has seen the product will invest which is a good sign. Thanks for the introduction.

Thumbs down:

The first investor was basically wanting to take a majority share of the company and not give me the option of buying it back when he had made his money, needless to say that didn't workout.

Some tips for filling in the registration form

When answering questions place yourself in the other person's shoes and ask: Would I respond with enthusiasm to this information?

If you are a business seeking an angel investor, is your description detailed enough to motivate the investor to pick up the phone to speak to you in person?

Have you listed all the possible ways for an investor to be involved in your business? Some angels want a lot of involvement, some only want regular updates and to give advice as required. Many investors tell me that the entrepreneurs only want their money ... would you be happy with this is you were the investor?

In our manual, "Private Capital for Private Companies" you will find many tips for attracting the right investor.

A Good Tip to get a quick response from an investor.

This investor received 6 referrals, most he declined to contact. This is what he said about one of the two he did decide to contact:

"I am meeting him: Wednesday next 3pm at my office. He produced the only concise, explicit description of his business and his needs. A marvel of communication."

Here is an example of some feedback in 2008

When [the investor] phoned me after your e-mail I discovered that he is a local and drives past my property going to and from his office each day. I invited him around to inspect the product to ascertain if it was something he would want to be involved with. He commented he liked the unit and it was much better and more sophisticated than he had imagined.
During the discussion that ensued he told me about his group, his involvement and why they use Business Angels. He gave me a little of his personal history and I discovered that his father used to teach me Tech Drawing at High School for the 5 years I was there. He left saying he would do some research and discuss it with his partners before he would contact me again. I found him to be very personable, a good listener and someone who was careful about the questions and answers he asked and gave. His prime objective was obviously to gather enough information on the our units to enable him to carry out his own research from his company's perspective.

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