Gear up for the Last Hurrah (Until August)

With the upcoming 121 Mining Investment New York, PDAC Mineral and Mining Convention in Toronto and our very own virtual Agtech conference (in conjunction with Investor Summit Group) just around the corner in June, conference season is decidedly in full swing. What is your strategy when attending these industry events? Better yet, what are your expectations and how do you meet them?

First, this about your equity story from an investor perspective. The natural order of any presentation should match a conversational flow. For example, after stating your mission (why you matter) follow by a why invest slide and then perhaps, a performance traction slide. Don’t be afraid to shake it up. Refine your messaging, and keep it simple, clear and short. If you are using text on a slide for describing something, insert an image, embed a video or add a chart that says it better.

Remember people cannot read and listen at the same time. So, why rely on just words rather than use cinematic devices? Some of the most effective presentations today increasingly share more in common with expository documentaries — what many consider the typical Ken Burns or History Channel documentary. This genre aims to inform and persuade, often through an omnipresent “voice of God” narration (which is you) and is super effective for creating memorable presentations. 

Next, be sure to target people and groups ahead of time to set up meetings, lunches and dinners. Identify your goals before you start reaching out. Do your homework on each person. Ask yourself what you want to achieve. This will help ensure you’re meeting with quality people and not a marshmallow.

Manage your expectations. It is rare for investors to make investment decisions after the initial meeting. These events are all about relationship building, not a smash and grab. Don’t forget to ask investors if your company is the type of company they would make an investment in. And, be sure to ask if you can add them to our IR distribution list. Remember, investors are not only evaluating your business, but you.

Lastly, take good notes at the end of each day to guide follow-up post event and most of all, don’t forget to have some fun (we all deserve some downtime nowadays considering the state of the markets, and the world).