In the path to getting funding for your idea, meeting with investors is the most important checkpoint. You only have one shot at a first impression, so the more dialed in your presentation is, the more successful you’ll be.

From pitch decks to financials, there’s a ton of work that goes into preparing for that face-to-face with a potential funding source. We literally can’t afford to show up without having everything dialed in.

We have to condense the idea, the numbers, and the opportunity into a 12-page pitch deck and a short presentation, and that’s not easy.

Luckily there’s work we can do proactively to have a perfect investor pitch. Even ChatGPT can be hugely helpful in getting prepared. What are the must-have materials for an investor meeting? Why is a business plan important (even if we don’t show investors)? How do you structure your business early on?

In this episode, I’m joined by Keir Dillon, an experienced entrepreneur seasoned in raising seed money. He talks about his new business venture and everything you need to do before you meet investors.

Guest Bio

Keir Dillon is a former pro snowboarder and a seasoned entrepreneur. Experienced in capital raising, he was previously co-founder of a women’s fashion-forward headphone company, FRENDS, and is currently managing director of OPEN Brewing. OPEN is a new beer brand, forged in Los Angeles by a tight-knit, diverse, and talented squad of longtime friends. Based on the values of empathy, artistry, free thought, and diversity –- OPEN is infusing fresh energy into the beer world, encouraging dialogue, conversations, and excellent times amongst friends. Follow @keirdillon on Instagram and go to https://openbrewing.com/.

The best products disrupt tired categories and breathe new life into done-to-death ideas, but is it still possible? Every year, there are fewer categories to disrupt, especially in clothing-based niches. How can you compete when people can easily buy knock-offs, dupes and cheap goods all over the internet?

By going premium, identifying an emerging customer base, making something “boring” cool and building a brand around a generational shift. That’s what 1620 Workwear did.

They saw how trade-work has become a lucrative and attractive field and the lack of stylish, aspirational utility apparel. They positioned their brand and marketing differently, and proved that some categories we see as oversaturated are still ripe for disruption.

How did the idea for the brand come about? Why is it resonating with the “toolbelt generation”? How did they create a minimum viable product (MVP)? How did they get funding?

In this episode, co-founder of 1620 Workwear and marketing expert, Josh Walker shares the story of the business, and why there’s still room to transform tired and tried-and-tested market categories.

Guest Bio

Josh Walker is a brand builder, entrepreneur, co-founder and CMO of 1620 Workwear. 1620 Workwear is a Massachusetts-based brand that produces high-quality, American-made workwear using advanced technology and domestic materials. Their durable and comfortable products include work pants, hoodies, jackets, and accessories. Josh has extensive experience and relationships in modern culture, the sporting goods industries, action sports, hook and bullet sports, outdoor, video production, broadcasting, social networking, promotions, grass root activation and retail.

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn, email josh@1620usa.com and go to https://www.1620usa.com/, and follow @1620usa on Instagram.

Years later, people still ask about this story. So here it is. Pitching to a group of influential investors is a nerve-wracking experience, and that’s even before you have to do it on national TV! It’s not just a business presentation - you have to be entertaining, compelling, relatable and likable. I found that out when I appeared on Shark Tank.

After suffering an unbelievable loss in my business, I reluctantly applied to pitch on Shark Tank, and it was a life-changing moment in my life and career…but it almost didn’t happen.

You would think all the action happens in front of the camera, but so much takes place before the pitch and after the handshake. How did I end up on Shark Tank, how did it impact my business and what did I learn? What was it like working with Mark Cuban?

In this episode, I share my Shark Tank story, including some surprising behind-the-scenes tidbits, how I prepared, how I structured the deal, and the doors it opened for me.