4 Truths Fintech Founders Need to Know Financial technology, or “fintech,” is one of the more active niches in the startup world today. According to CBInsights, 12% of all unicorns (private companies valued at over $1B) are characterized as fintech businesses. The third-largest unicorn is Stripe, which is currently valued at $56B.
Entrepreneurs are attracted to fintech for many reasons. It’s an extremely fast-growing space with tons of disruption potential. Fintech businesses everywhere are challenging long-standing models around how money is exchanged, borrowed, and managed in the global marketplace. In 2020, nearly two-thirds of global consumers use fintech products or services, up from one-third in 2017. And 96% of global consumers are aware of fintech offerings. Adding an interesting dynamic to the equation is the fact that many non-financial service organizations are entering the sector. Companies like Apple and Uber are offering credit cards, thereby altering our conception of what a financial institution is. However, being a fintech startup does not guarantee you success. There are challenges to growing a successful business in this area, some of which are out of the founding team’s control. If you are a fintech startup or are considering starting a fintech venture, always keep the following four realities on your radar. 1. Pivoting is Common It’s not uncommon for fintech businesses to pivot or tweak their offerings to align with demand. There are many possible areas for disruption, but not all are equal. A founding team might set off to solve a problem for one specific target market and realize there is an even bigger unmet need elsewhere. Don’t be scared to reevaluate your initial business thesis . As you learn more about the space, technological possibilities, and consumer desires, you may find your energy is better spent in a different, but related lane. 2. Regulatory Changes Can Change the Game Overnight Government regulation can impact fintech startups significantly. As the global economy adjusts to new dynamics in this field, officials have to update laws to protect private citizens. How officials go about implementing changes can make or break certain business models. As a founder, you must engage with regulators in your markets to understand their priorities and goals. Build collaborative relationships with leaders and share your expertise in a way that moves the sector forward. Don’t try to circumvent existing laws or design an offering to exploit a loophole that will likely be addressed in the future. By taking a seat at the table with public entities, you can make sure your voice is heard in any conversation that could impact your business dramatically. 3. Relationships Matter Because the nature of fintech is to disrupt the status quo, there will be forces actively working against you. Don’t expect incumbents to simply roll over and accept defeat. Be aware of who your business model will affect and how. Think carefully about how others might respond if you directly threaten their existence. A wall of resistance can come up quickly if established companies with lots of cash work together to keep new entrants out. In many situations, it may make sense to partner with existing players, in which case, you might want to tread lightly when you first enter the scene. Relationships always matter. In fintech, especially, leaders need to be thoughtful about how they approach the opportunity in front of them. 4. Premature Launches Are Tempting The iterative software development approach makes it easy to deploy updates and improvements once offerings are already on the market. As a result, it is tempting to launch fintech products prematurely. On top of that, founders want to get to market before a similar, disruptive service beats them to the punch. As a founding team, you should always set goals and timelines. But, it’s okay to push dates back if it means making crucial improvements to your product so that you can enjoy a stellar launch. If you come out with a half-baked, buggy application, you’ll quickly lose confidence in your investors, the media, and the public. You only get one shot at a first impression, so make it count. Prepping for Big Investor Meetings? For founders looking for funding support, Funded.club provides consulting services to help teams prepare for crucial investor meetings and presentations. We’d love to discuss how we can set your venture up for success, whether you operate in the fintech space or another exciting area. To learn more about our service packs, visit Funding page.
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How to get your startup funded Two years ago, startups raised more VC funding than ever before. Early-stage companies pulled in a whopping $130 billion through almost 9,000 deals.
However, many would be surprised to learn that less than 1% of startups receive any funding from VCs at all. In some cases, founders don’t want to give up control. For others, the market may not be attractive enough to generate sufficient returns. Before deciding to pursue VC funding, your team must be on the same page. Going after investor capital is a major endeavor. Once you have clarity, it’s time to hunker down and prove you’re worth the financial gamble. Below are four key ways you can set your business up for fundraising success. 1. Build Relationships -- Lots of Them Startup financing isn’t typically a one-and-done deal. Founders may raise funding on and off for years while their businesses get off the ground. Therefore, it’s crucial to build relationships with many investors in numerous settings. Ask respected peers for recommendations on who you should meet. See if VCs are open to you providing updates on your startup’s success. Perhaps more importantly, don’t burn any bridges. Always treat others in the startup community with respect, as you never know who will help...or hurt your funding efforts in the future. Even if you write an investor off in your pre-qualification assessment, don’t speak badly about him, as he simply may not be the right person for your particular niche. 2. Get Your Story Straight One of the most significant factors in a VCs decision around whether or not to invest is the strength of the founding team.
VCs want to know that their money is in good hands. Business models, products, and services change. Startups often have to pivot or tweak their initial ideas to align with market demand. It’s the founding team that gets the company through these transition periods. Highlight why your background is especially relevant to your new endeavor. Prove that you are the absolute best person or group of people to carry out the vision with real-life examples of the ways you have succeeded in the past. 3. Provide Sound Financial Projections -- But Don’t Get Too Caught Up In Numbers Obviously, VCs invest in early-stage companies to make money. They want to know what their potential returns are if they are going to place a bet on an unproven idea. The challenging reality is that it is hard for startups to estimate their financial success. There are so many unknowns. There is also the added pressure of needing to prove you are worth the risk, which can cause you to be overly optimistic. Yes, you need to prove that there is a substantial growth opportunity and market share available to win. However, don’t get too attached to data points or metrics that describe nascent markets. Instead, find ways to emphasize the traction you already have. Use data that indicates what you are already doing solves a real problem for real people right now. 4. Practice and Refine Your Pitch Continually Finally, you have to practice and refine your investor pitch continually. It takes time for you to master how you tell your story, display your passion, and convince hyper-intelligent individuals why your business will be one of the 10% of startups that is ultimately successful. Practice by yourself, in front of peers, and in higher-stakes settings over and over. The more experience you have, the more confident you will be walking into a meeting with THE person who you want to impress. As soon as you leave a pitch meeting, positive or negative, go back and evaluate how you performed. The moments immediately following a presentation are when you have a clear perspective on what worked and what didn’t. Additionally, don’t get discouraged if you aren’t awarded VC money. You must continue to push forward and look for ways to improve. Get feedback from those who turned you down and address their concerns. The way you incorporate past pitch experiences will accelerate (or decelerate) your progress on the startup capital front. There is no magic bullet out there for VC funding. But, by having a great idea, strong team, conviction, and a broad network, you will increase your chances of hitting a home run. Cheers! |
AuthorRay Gibson is founder and CEO of Funded.club. He brings 20 years of experience in recruiting across Europe, North America and Asia and 5 years running his own startups. 
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