Preparing for Demo Days

Preparing for Demo Days
Read time 1.9 minutes

In the past few months, I’ve spoken with numerous founders from YC, Techstars and other accelerator programs who are preparing for demo days. Demo days are a unique beast. It's often a 1-2 day event where investors will hear dozens or hundreds of companies pitch. For many founders, it’s the biggest day for their company thus far, and it could be the difference between struggling to stay alive and raising millions.

So, what are my top tips for companies in this space? Let’s check them out:

1) Be Different

Demo days aren’t normal pitches because so many companies are presenting back-to-back. What you need to do is stand out. Luckily, this is easier because every company presenting has gotten the same/similar advice from the accelerator where you are all working. While the people leading this accelerator are likely experienced and knowledgeable, I’d recommend strategically ignoring some of their advice for the simple purpose of differentiation. They are regurgitating the same pitching tips to every company. If you follow their advice, you’ll get lost in the shuffle of identical pitches.

2) Forget The Numbers

A byproduct of all companies coming out of an accelerator having similar pitches is that funding often comes down to having the best traction/numbers. Many companies, ahead of demo day, race to improve their numbers, knowing that it could be the difference between being funded or rejected. I’d advise that 3-4 weeks out from demo day, you start to ignore the numbers. There is no point playing the same game as everyone else, especially when only a handful of companies can win the numbers game. Instead, focus on crafting a strong narrative and a compelling story to present the high potential of your company. Sometimes, presenting yourself as having high potential and using limited traction as evidence of early product-market fit instead of trying to pretend you already are a growth-stage company can make you more investable.

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Onwards and Upwards,

Liam Gill