Pitching investors? Know which side of the Atlantic you’re on
Ask any founder who has been through a fundraising round and they’ll tell you: preparing a pitch deck can feel like guesswork dressed up as strategy. You polish your numbers, rehearse your story, anticipate objections and still walk into the room unsure exactly what will make an investor say yes. Is it the market size? […] The post Pitching investors? Know which side of the Atlantic you’re on…
European venture capitalists (VCs) achieve comparable returns to their US counterparts, challenging the notion that the American venture model is superior. However, European VCs operate differently, with a narrower deal flow, fewer partner reviews, and shorter due diligence processes. Investors on both sides of the Atlantic value the founding team, but US investors place greater emphasis on business fundamentals, market size, product, and business model, while European VCs focus more on strategic fit and personal commitment to the founding team.
Valuation differs between the two markets as well, with European VCs basing their valuations on current market conditions, comparable deals, and desired ownership stakes, while US investors focus on future growth and potential exit value. Syndication in Europe tends to be more relational, involving access to expertise and networks, while US VCs prioritize raising capital and spreading risk.
Founders should tailor their pitches to the specific investors and market, emphasizing growth potential and market size in the US, and credibility, commitment, and grounded valuations in Europe.
Written by urgent.news from EU-Startups's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
