如何筹集 1000 万美元作为可持续发展的企业

karimaislam4321

Starting any company is difficult. Starting a company with the goal of having a positive impact on people and the planet can feel almost impossible. While building my sustainable food company, Kuli Kuli, over the past few years, my biggest challenge was convincing investors that we were both good for the planet and worthy of their wallets. I have now raised $10 million in investment from many of the most respected impact investors and venture capital firms, as well as Kellogg’s and Griffith Foods, two multi-billion dollar food companies. But raising those millions of dollars won't be easy. When I was 22, I started my own company as a Peace Corps volunteer, but I didn’t have a ton of cash to draw on or a network of wealthy friends. I made networking my job. I attended every networking and pitch event I could find and refined my pitches based on every piece of feedback I received. I made a point of researching the potential investors in attendance before the event and set a goal of having a conversation with each investor by the end of the event. By far the most valuable fundraising skill I’ve acquired is the art of really good follow-through.

Immediately after talking to a potential investor, I jot down all the relevant details, usually by doodling on their business card or taking notes on my phone. I write down the usual follow-up actions, such as sending promotional materials. But just as importantly, I record personal details, such as our shared marathon steps WhatsApp number Love, or their daughter is graduating from high school so I can send a unique, personalized follow-up message. By far the most valuable fundraising skill I’ve acquired is the art of really good follow-through. Done well, fundraising is about raising friends. At the end of the day, people invest in people they like. Most people like people who are like them. This is the same reason middle school cafeterias are often segregated by gender and segregated. We like to be around people who look like us, think like us, talk like us, and vacation the same way we do. When you’re different, you have to work extra hard to connect.

Although I wrote these follow-up emails very carefully, I never expected investors to respond. Most busy people don’t reply to the first email they receive. I use a system called Boomerang to schedule these emails to return to my inbox if no one responds within a week. My second email was equally thoughtful, but shorter. I reached out and sent an article, either an article about Kuli Kuli, Moringa, or an article related to the topic we discussed. If possible I would try to find something relevant to their interests. For example, if we're talking about trail running, I'll send them an article about the top ten trail runs in the Bay Area with a personal note about one of my favorite trails. I also sent this email in a roundabout way, this time setting it to three weeks later. My third and final email was a question. I emphasized how much I enjoyed the conversation last month and asked them if they would like to continue contacting in the future, or if they wanted me to stop contacting them.