Pitch Perfect: Raising Capital From The Boys’ Club

For women, the confidence gap only widens when the fundraising system is geared against them.

By Jamila Rizvi

For women, the confidence gap only widens when the fundraising system is geared against them.

By Jamila Rizvi

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It’s the ultimate cliched nightmare. You’re standing in front of an audience, be it large and overwhelming, or small but powerful. The room is silent, waiting for your presentation to begin. You shuffle your notes awkwardly and wipe the sweat from your palms but as you open your mouth to speak there’s a murmur from the crowd that gives you pause. That murmur quickly becomes a titter, before giving way to giggles and then full-blown laughter. You glance down, confused, and realise – of course – that you’re naked.

For most people, public speaking is right up there at the top of their list of Things They Would Prefer Not To Do Ever Thank You Very Much. Yet to be able to present your ideas to a group, and to do so succinctly and confidently, is essential for workplace success. Being able to make a compelling case to a room full of people whose opinion you care about is even harder when you care about more than just their opinion. It’s harder when you’re asking them for money.

When presenting to potential investors there are four things you should keep in your mind to help foster better confidence.

Invoke the power of the woman consumer. Even if you’re pitching to a roomful of men, that doesn’t change the fact that the majority of consumers are women. Women make more than 70 per cent of purchasing decisions in our economy and influence close to 90 per cent. Your lived experience as a woman means that you understand your target market better than any bloke on the panel. Remember Mel Gibson on What Women Want trying to get into the feminine psyche and failing? Five minutes in stockings and lipstick can’t beat the decades of proficiency you’ve attained by simply being you.