Getting started with CSR fundraising
Engagement with corporates is moving beyond conventional funding initiatives By Chaarvi Badani Fundraising is the most important work of a start-up, apart from their actual mission itself. It probably feels like every employee’s full-time job despite their designations! In their quest for funding, most entrepreneurs look at traditional options such as seed funders, incubators, impact investors and venture capital firms. But today, let’s focus on the new kid in the block – corporates and their pool of funding from corporate social responsibility. The new Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility) Rules 2014 mandates that 2% of companies’ net profits should be [...]
Perfecting your investor pitch
By Kavita Rajagopalan When you walk into a room to pitch your idea or enterprise to a room full of funders or investors, you’re expected to deliver a flawless performance. One that evokes a strong emotion, that makes the funder care about the problem you are trying to solve, and most importantly one that convinces them to write you a cheque. If you’ve pitched before, you know that this performance is a nerve-wracking experience. You also know that flawless performances aren’t easy to deliver, and they require time and effort. So the next time you walk into a room [...]
