Pitching to Angel Investors

Introducing Entrepreneurs to Angel Investors

VANTEC is a community of BC Angel investors. Since 1999 we have presented more than 2,500 entrepreneurs to angel investors. 

In 2019, 150 ventures presented their investment opportunities to over 100 angel investor members at monthly VANTEC meetings which resulted in over $8.4 million invested in 32 SME companies

We announce investor pitches in our free angel investing newsletter (you can sign up on our home page), on the events calendar on our website and on the  Gust equity funding platform for start-ups and accredited angel investors. We get together every first Wednesday of the month in Vancouver to watch more than a dozen startups pitch. Based on your pitch and their interest in your investment opportunity, investors will decide if they want to learn more and approach you at the end of the session with questions or to make an appointment for a follow-up meeting.

We recommend you use your time at VANTEC Angel Network Meeting to connect with investors, build relationships, get feedback, and ask for referrals. Other people in the room include experienced business advisors and representatives from organizations that support early stage businesses. They are also able to provide advice and referrals to help your startup.

Individual angel investors typically make an initial investment of $25,000 to $50,000 and sometimes more and increase their investment in subsequent rounds if your business meets agreed milestones, makes the anticipated progress, and increases in valuation. While angels invest to make money, we genuinely enjoy the opportunity to support promising entrepreneurs.

See our events calendar for our monthly VANTEC Angel Network Meetings

Pitching at VANTEC

At  VANTEC we give BC-based ventures more than one chance to present your investment opportunity to investors. Practice your pitch in front of peers at any local pitch competition or accelerator demo day, get referred to VANTEC for a Preview Presentation at the VANTEC Angel Network Investor Meeting, then a Full Presentation in a next Meeting, and return for an Update Presentation when you've hit some key milestones. There is a $95 CAD per company pitch at a meeting of the VANTEC Angel Network. VANTEC 

If you are a VANTEC member who wants to refer a company to the Startup-Visa Program please use this link for more information.

Virtual Office Hours for Founders

VANTEC offers founders access to a VANTEC community member for a conversation to help them prepare for their application to pitch to angel investors, get feedback on their deck and GUST profile and ask any other equity fundraising related questions in a scheduled 20 minute conversation. We will launch this new service in January. Please email us if you want to reserve a spot or if you want to volunteer to support us with this service. 

Apply to Pitch

Pitch Practice

The VANTEC Pitch Practice  is a monthly pitch practice forum for startup companies in BC.  Give your 90 second pitch in front of an expert panel and get valuable feedback. The top three companies as selected by the audience earn an opportunity to give a Preview Presentation at the next VANTEC Angel Network Meeting.

To apply to pitch, please create your Gust profile. VANTEC uses Gust to confidentially share deal information with its investor members. Your Gust application will give VANTEC members access to information about your company. You can also make this information available to other angel groups and funds.

Presenting companies must agree to provide feedback (if asked by the organizers) on angel capital raised by them.

Preview Presentation

If you are nominated by a VANTEC member or through a Pitch Practice Partner and if you have completed your application to pitch on Gust then you are given a 90 second preview presentation at the VANTEC Angel Network Meeting. We strongly recommend that you practice at the VANTEC Pitch Practice to polish your pitch beforehand and increase your chance for investor interest.

At the VANTEC Angel Network Meeting, the audience votes for top 3 Preview companies to undergo the Pre-Screening process for the opportunity to give a full 5 minute presentation. If you are not selected for the Pre-Screening, you are recommended to go back to the VANTEC Pitch Circuit to hone your presentation and try again at future VANTEC Angel Network meetings.

Pre-Screening

Companies that have been referred by investors or have been selected by the audience at a VANTEC Angel Network meeting will be invited to present in front of a small group of panelists from VANTEC member angel investors and sponsors. The panelists will provide feedback on your proposed 5 minute presentation as well on your business model during this 30 minute prescreening session. Remote companies can pre-screen online via video conference but are expected to present in person if they are selected.

The Panel will be selecting a maximum of 4 companies to go forward with Full Presentations to the next VANTEC Angel Network meeting. If you are not selected, you will be advised of alternatives.

Investors interested to learn more or would like to join a pre-screening are invited to email info@vantec.ca. 

Full Presentation

Companies who are nominated by the Pre-Screening Panel will give a 5 minute Full Presentation at the VANTEC Angel Network Meeting.

VANTEC will also introduce you to other angel investor groups in the Lower Mainland and Pacific Northwest after the event.

YOU MUST HAVE A SPONSOR PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO SECURE YOUR FULL PRESENTATION SPOT. An Angel Sponsor is someone who has invested time and/or money (preferably both!) in your venture.  This person will present you with a 30 second introduction before you pitch and act as your Facilitator and Coordinator during the post-presentation founder & investor break-out room Q&A and post VANTEC investor deep dives or 1:1 meetings that you may have planned. Your Angel Sponsor does not need to be a VANTEC member.

Deep Dive

Companies who gave a full presentation have the opportunity to meet with investors for a follow-on conversation and deep dive. We’ll provide a meeting space at VentureLabs the following Wednesday from 4-5 PM, and optional investment readiness support from investors, advisors or a fractional CFO. 

Update Presentation

You've presented before, you want to let our community know about your recent achievements and progress and/or raise more funds for your next stage. We look forward to your 90 second Update Presentation at VANTEC Angel Network.

Email us to request an Update Pitch and update the information on your Gust Profile, and we'll get back to you with a date.

Investor Pitch Guidelines and Tips

Giving a great investor pitch takes practice. we recommend you use the Pitch Circuit to hone your skills and here are a few Pitch Tips.

Apply to Pitch

Pre-Pitch & Investor Meeting Support

VANTEC sponsors and community partners provide expertise and support to help you get ready for investment and make the most of your time with investors.

Pitch Feedback

Volition Advisors organizes Pitch Practice Events and offers a complementary 1:1 pitch feedback session to companies that have been selected to give a full presentation after a pre-screening.

Finance

Tandem Innovation Group provides fractional bookkeepers, controllers and CFO's. They  offer a complimentary session to companies that have been selected to give a full presentation after a pre-screening. They can assist with reviewing your financial projections (pro forma), how your projections are supported by your business model, goto market and sales plan, and communicated to investors in your deck.

Catax provides helps you to uncover and claim your SR&ED Tax Incentive.

OKR Financial provides short-term bridge financing against receivables and offers a free consult.

TD provides commercial banking services and can introduce you to one of their commercial banking advisors.

Term Sheets & EBC Status

NACO provides free term sheet templates online here.

Fasken provides legal advice for startups and angels. 

Western Pacific Trust Company can advise you on how to make sure that your business and investment terms are  EBC eligible and enable you to offer investors the opportunity to invest via a self managed RRSP or TFSA. Your EBC status gives BC investors access to a 30% tax credit and investing via an RRSP provides a potential additional tax credit of up to 48%.

Investor Relations and Media Support

Randy Fisher at Customer Discovery Pros helps companies that need quick help with telling their story and getting it out in the media.

• Monthly Investor Update - We know you lead a busy life and it can be hard to find time to communicate your progress every month. We help you deliver your monthly update to prospective investors & friends so you earn more trust and confidence in your ability to make progress and grow the company.
• Got Funded Announcement - Raise your visibility with this milestone and your story of where you're headed, attract interest from top talent, media, prospective customers and connect with investors that you want to meet way before your next round.
• Company Snapshot - Investor profiles are a must have but they don't tell your story in a memorable way, we can help with that.
• Company Purpose Story - We write your origin story, explain your mission and present your thought leadership; team; value proposition; customers and vertical markets; and your competitive difference.
• Media Relations - We post your news release on PR Newswire for distribution to mainstream media in Canada and or The United States. Instead or in addition we can reach out to the editors of publications that you have identified or you can ask us to do the media research and we create a tailored media outreach plan for you.