I've been on both sides of the table. After decades as an angel investor, recruiter, founder, and pitch judge, I want to share what I have learned with the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Three decades in the room
Roger King is an angel investor who has spent more than thirty years inside Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem. In 1997 he founded Bay Angels, which has grown into one of the Valley's longest-running and most active angel investment groups. Over nearly three decades, Bay Angels has hosted hundreds of companies on its pitch stage and helped facilitate more than $50 million in early-stage transactions.
Roger spent decades as a top executive recruiter. His clients were founders, CEOs, and investors of early to mid-stage startups. A handful of those companies first found their seed funding at Bay Angels. With inside access, he quickly learned why some companies thrived while others failed.
Roger has hosted and judged pitch competitions all over the world, in San Francisco, Havana, Beijing, Prague, Seoul, Athens, and Tokyo. His perspective has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and on CNN. He remains deeply connected to the Valley's network of angel investors, venture capitalists, and investment bankers.
Featured on: The Silicon Valley Podcast - Roger discusses 20+ years of angel investing experience and the founding of Bay Angels.
Roger King
Founder, Bay Angels
Pitch coaching with investor judgment
Why I am doing this
As someone who has judged hundreds of pitch events, reviewed thousands of pitch decks, invested in early-stage companies, and helped dozens of founders build their teams, Roger knows what it takes to turn a concept into a company investors can understand.
This is pitch coaching from someone who has spent three decades screening, judging, and investing in early-stage companies. As both an investor and executive recruiter, Roger has worked with teams from their first check and first hire through major growth. He knows what it takes to go from a great concept to a truly great company.
Investors vote with their checkbook
A pitch deck is like a resume. You do not expect to get the job because you emailed the resume. You expect to generate enough interest to earn the interview.
A pitch event works the same way. The win is leaving with two or three investors who want a deeper one-on-one meeting.
Know the audience
The pitch should meet investors where they are, whether it is one investor or a room with mixed expertise.
Create interest
The goal is a serious follow-up meeting, not expecting a check before diligence has started.
Connect the basics
Investors need to understand the market, problem, solution, and opportunity quickly.
Deliver with command
Pacing, eye contact, clarity, and time management all affect whether the room stays with you.
“Roger King is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. His ability to connect with people and then connect those people to other people is second to none. He is extremely thoughtful, generous and always willing to help.”