How to prepare your project before meeting an investor or funder

Most investor meetings are short. Founders who arrive with a clear story, sensible numbers and a specific next step leave with better chances.

1. What you will usually be asked

• What is the problem and who has it
• What is the solution and why it beats alternatives
• Market size and who your first customers are
• How you will make money (business model)
• The team and why you are the right people
• What you have achieved so far
• How much you need, why, and what it will achieve

2. Prepare a short deck

Ten to twelve slides is usually enough. Open with the problem through a real story, and let each slide answer one question.

3. Your numbers must make sense

• Unit manufacturing cost and expected selling price
• Simple projections for two or three years
• The assumptions behind the numbers, stated clearly

4. What to share and what to hold back

Many investors will not sign an NDA at a first meeting. Share enough to show the value and the market, and keep detailed technical know-how until you have filed for protection or signed a suitable agreement.

5. Match funding to your stage

Grants and support programmes suit early stages, angels and funds suit founders with a proven prototype and early sales, and industrial finance suits those preparing for production.

6. How Inov71 helps

In the Funding stage on Inov71 you keep your team details, financial projections and pitch in one place, and the AI assistant helps you spot what your file is missing before the meeting.

This guide is general information, not financial or investment advice. Following it does not guarantee funding, and every funder has its own criteria.