OUR WORK WAS FEATURED ON
THINK FROM AN INVESTOR'S POV
START-UPS: STEP INTO THEIR SHOES FOR A SECOND--
Investing in startup companies for any person is a very risky business, especially without any proof of traction. However, the right project can be very rewarding if and when the investments do pay off.
The majority of new companies or products simply do not make it, so the risk of losing one's entire investment is a real possibility. Investing in startups is not for the faint of heart. Founders, friends, and family (FF&F) money can easily be lost with little to show for it.
In order to instill confidence, you need pre-existing relationships from a strong network on top of a great product, team, and pitch deck. This is where DK Advisors Team comes full circle.
WHAT FUNDERS WANT FOUNDERS TO KNOW
IF founders aren't investing in their own projects, what makes you think investors will?
Hindsight is always 20/20. While DK Advisors understand there are some painful lessons that we all have to go through to learn, there are others that we can avoid by learning from people who’ve gone there before us. We meet a lot of tech operators, especially within Web3 bravely taking the jump to being first-time founders. While they know the startup world, being in the CEO/Founder seat is a bit different.
Building a company is a herculean effort, after all. There’s no one right way to build a company, but there are some tried and true lessons and frameworks that can make the first steps a little easier. We spoke and partnered in with thousands of Investors and seasoned Founders and got their insights on what they wish they had known when first starting their company. Here are four key lessons from founders to founders:
1) Your Network is Critical
2) References, References, References
3) Build your MVP with your Audience
4) Cultivate your Third Party Ecosystem
One of the unexpected shifts for operators turned founders is the amount of time spent with lawyers, accountants, fundraisers, and on other back office tasks. It’s not customer or product-facing, but is mission-critical to making sure you can run your business. Looking back, founders wish they had set up working with the right third parties, such as Investor Relations Teams, earlier in the process. Getting a strong legal team, compliance, and accountant is an investment but can save tons of time, stress, and money in the long term.
Our clients need to communicate clearly and concisely throughout their financial reporting periods.
It is essential to provide the market with timely and accurate financial communications that address the concerns of investors, analysts, the media, employees, partners and customers in language that conveys the intent of the company, and that helps put its performance in context.
Financial communications services have become even more essential at a time when companies face greater scrutiny than ever, reflecting a combination of closer investor attention, increased regulation and a shorter and more crowded reporting season.
We help our clients to craft their earnings results narrative and act as an intermediary with both sell-side analysts and key commentators to ensure that the message lands in the right way. Within our financial IR communications services, we assist clients to create and disseminate content for their annual reports, annual shareholder meetings, succession planning, refinancing and the communications planning, development and execution of new product, technology and service announcements.
If you’re an operator building or thinking about starting a company, our DK Advisors team would love to chat with you. We’ve backed experienced operators turned founders building in fintech, e-commerce, and software. We love being conviction-driven, first-check investors into early companies and working with founders to solve important problems for businesses and consumers.
BUILDING OUT
Custom Liquidity Solutions
Work with us to develop tailored liquidity programs that offer your shareholders an avenue to realize the value of their holdings, all while staying in control of your cap table.
OUR SYNDICATION SEEKS OUT BUSINESS RESHAPING TECHNOLOGY
Are you our next investment? Pitch Us your Opportunity.
Upon reviewing your assets and investment strategy, we will hand select only 3% of our quarterly submissions and inquiries in order to provide the most aristocratic solutions for a successful raise support. Our waiting list as of today is approximately 6-7 months. Due to DKA's high demand, we encourage companies to review our checklist to properly prepare.
All of our syndicate opportunities work with us through our Investor readiness program to ensure you are in the best possible position to receive investment. A thorough due diligence process is undertaken on all investment opportunities prior to presentation to our High Networth Network. Without carrying out our 8-12 week Investor Prep Program, we will not be in a position to support any of your raise rounds. This is our firm company policy.
Advantages of our Investor Prep Program:
- Access to industry experts and mentors.
- Company reset and re-valuation.
- Pitch Deck & Business Plan preparation.
- Comprehensive admission process.
- Creation of a new cohort.
- Mentorship and advisory services.
- Exclusive panels, workshops, & masterclasses.
We offer quick-fire sessions with Founders to discuss their big ideas, investment strategy, and provide feedback to apply in real time that offers solutions. DKA want clients to step outside their core business (and comfort zone) to explore novel new concepts to separate them in the market.
Investor Prep Program
Our investor readiness service can
support your business to prepare for any raise round stage and access runway capital strategically.
Contact Us
LOCATIONS
- New York, NY
- London, UK
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Hong Kong, China
