Mentors, accelerators, investors, pitch competitions. All bits of the startup ecosystem; all promising pathways to success. But time is innovation and early stage companies should be selective about the networks and platforms they invest this most valuable of commodities in.
Before committing hours or days of your time preparing a detailed pitch, find out about the business background of the mentors or investors you will be standing in front of. Ask for a breakdown of their track records as entrepreneurs; how they grew their ventures, and to what level. Was it bootstrapped? Funded? What financial backing are they offering? The answers will allow you to decide if it is worth pursuing further.
For our part, we focus on featuring programmes advancing a social purpose, such as accelerators led by the likes of WFP Innovation or Fashion For Good; and others, with a strong reputation for connecting ambitious startups with game changing opportunities, like 4YFN. Get more on these types of initiatives by signing up for our newsletter.
