In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, where opportunities are fleeting and first impressions are everything, the ability to capture an investor’s attention within a matter of minutes is paramount.
Amidst the flurry of pitches and presentations I had the privilege to hear during the Berlin Landing Pad, beyond explaining the business concept and providing concrete data, entrepreneurs often overlooked the pivotal question investors ask themselves: “Why should I care?”
The time constraint was frequently invoked: “But I only have 3 minutes!”
Small stories can pack in a big punch in a short amount of time. A well-told, 60-second narrative can stir curiosity, create connection, and offer a clearer glimpse into the potential of a business. In a crowded marketplace of ideas, an engaging story can be the difference between success and obscurity.
Stories have the unique ability to make us care about an idea and the people behind it. By sharing a personal journey and the ‘eureka!’ moment, investors get a vivid profile of who is driving this business and why.
Story is specific.
More important than numbers and forecasts, investors first want to understand who these entrepreneuers have helped already with specific real-life examples of lives, businesses, processes that have improved.
Storytelling transports investors into the realm of possibilities.
Through ‘What if’ … narratives that articulate why this idea is essential and how it can change the world, entrepreneurs can create a vision so compelling that investors see themselves as part of something extraordinary. Just as laptops and smartphones were once unimaginable, entrepreneurs of today can use storytelling to help visualize future products and services and inspire investors to join them on their business ventures.
In this context, Simon Sinek‘s words resonate: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Story expresses this “why,” offering specificity, deeper connection, and arousing imagination which facts, figures and forecasts alone cannot provide. It’s the bridge that binds the entrepreneur’s passion to the investor’s vision, forging a path toward collective success.
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Dyane is one of the experts that took part in the Berlin Landing Pad program in 2023, delivering a storytelling workshop to entrepreneurs that are working on expanding their businesses to Berlin. The Berlin Landing Pad supported 49 entrepreneurs from around the world to engage with the ecosystem in Europe. This support included: facilitating market entry and business set-up, supporting in removing access barriers, and creating connections and partnerships within the Berlin startup ecosystem.
