Here comes spring and spring means funding. Colorado’s OEDIT launched its spring grant cycle, and schools like the University of Colorado–Boulder (New Venture Challenge) and the University of California–Davis (Big Bang!) are celebrating their new venture competitions. Founders and teams, scrub these words to help you get funded.
Founders and their teams are practicing their presentations and submitting their materials, hoping to win prizes and meet investors. I am or have been a coach, mentor, reviewer, or panel judge in all three of these programs, and I urge founders and teams to take these steps to get funded:
Avoid adjectives. Avoid adverbs. Avoid pronouns. At least, use them very judiciously. (Ha. See what I did there?)
Here’s why.
- Adjectives and adverbs can limit your opportunities. I worked with a team developing a lawn-care product. Their target customers were people who own residential homes. I asked why they were limiting their market to residential homeowners. How about renters or people with vacation cabins? How about targeting people with lawns? Don’t limit yourself unnecessarily—avoid adjectives and adverbs.
- Adjectives and adverbs invite hyperbole. Judges and investors ignore hyperbole and sometimes question a founder’s judgment, discipline, or honesty. Judges and investors have too often read or heard, “We have no competition, and we will fundamentally and completely revolutionize this unlimited, global market.” Resist hyperbole—avoid adjectives and adverbs.
- The use of pronouns can be confusing. Listen to founders describe their business; chances are, their use of pronouns will soon confuse their audience. Imagine a busy investor who interrupts saying, “Wait, you said we need x, but who again is we? Do you mean we as in users, we as in customers, or we as in your team? Sorry, but I’m confused. Hey, anyway, I need to go.” Don’t confuse—avoid pronouns.
- Unbridled use of adverbs, adjectives, and pronouns can suggest that you’re nervous, don’t know your material, or careless in your work. Investors are more interested in people who speak confidently and succinctly. Be strong, direct, and confident—use adverbs, adjectives, and pronouns sparingly.
- Finally, judges and investors are inundated with information. Most adverbs and adjectives are unnecessary, and sloppy use of pronouns can be confusing. Improve your chance of success by caring about other people’s time and attention—use adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns carefully.
For a bonus, you can also improve your work by submitting it to one or more online word-cloud analyzers. Seeing how often you use certain words will be surprising. Lastly, there’s no avoiding editing. Writers know a piece is never done, it’s just due.
Colorado Technology Ventures, LLC, coaches and mentors founders and their teams. Please visit CTV’s website to learn how it can help you and your teams succeed.
Go to Colorado Technology Ventures.