A compelling story is the most important element of your pitch to investors. Just like fictional stories, investor pitches often fall into broad categories. Here are 6 of the most common startup stories ( with fictional and real-world equivalents).
Infographic by: investorpitches.com
The Disrupter
Like a comet that lights up the night sky, disrupters seek to stand out and change the landscape of their industries. The disrupter is the most popular startup archetype.
The Founder
This story is the equivalent of the classic hero story. Like Superman or Wonder Woman, this one individual has compelling origin and rebirth stories that help him/her overcome obstacles. Usually used with a successful serial entrepreneur.
The Dream
Team The focus here is on complimentary nature of the founders' skill sets and experiences. If the founder story is Superman, then the Dream Team is the Justice League; all heroes accomplish great things on their own, but together they are truly unstoppable.
The Detective
Many complex business processes can be a mystery. Like Sherlock Holmes, startups telling this story illuminate a process so their target market can make better-informed decisions.
The Emancipator
Everyone finds themselves enslaved to mundane tasks at some point. Just as Robin Hood liberated the poor, Emancipator startups liberate the people by automating those tasks and freeing up valuable time.