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MenuLooking for guidance for where I can find investors for my app?
Hi I'm looking for investors in mobile apps. We are starting to see positive ARPU of about $0.20 which is good. I was wondering if anyone can help me to find investors?
Answers
As Ken suggested, there is a wide breadth of mobile offerings and although there are some great "mobile only" funds, each investor / fund has their own thesis that makes them interested in some but disinterested in others.
Also, if your revenue generating, you should seriously consider bootstrapping further. Revenue is treated very strangely in early-stage investing and *might* work against you.
AngelList is a great way to research investors but not effective in actually connecting with them.
Find investors who you are confident will be passionate about what you're doing based on prior job experience or what you know they are investing in.
Happy to talk in a call to help explain this further if you need more clarity.
First you need to do your research and think what is your strategy to approach them. You can find a trick I wrote here:
https://medium.com/@JDcarlu/1-trick-to-get-a-vc-bd36f9dbff5b
Apart from this, you could use Mattermark intelligence tool to find investors that have funded similar companies. (Its free for 30 days) Hope this helped :)
What kind of app is it and how are you measuring ARPU? Typically ARPU is average revenue per user per month. Depending on the type of app or game you are, there is a different standard. For example, casual mobile games tend to have $1-$2 ARPU while mid-core games like Clash of Clans has $8 ARPU.
Finding investors for your mobile app involves several steps. Here are some strategies and resources to help you connect with potential investors:
### 1. Leverage Your Network
- **Friends and Family**: Start with people you know who might be interested in investing.
- **Professional Network**: Reach out to contacts in your industry. LinkedIn can be a valuable tool for this.
- **Advisory Boards**: If you have an advisory board, ask them for introductions to potential investors.
### 2. Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists
- **AngelList**: A platform where startups can connect with angel investors and venture capitalists.
- **Crunchbase**: A database of investors and investment firms. You can search for those who have invested in similar apps.
- **VC Firms**: Look for venture capital firms that specialize in mobile apps and early-stage investments. Some well-known firms include Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Accel Partners.
### 3. Online Platforms
- **Fundraising Platforms**: Consider platforms like SeedInvest, Crowdcube, and Wefunder, which allow startups to raise funds from a large pool of investors.
- **Product Hunt**: Launch your app on Product Hunt to gain visibility and attract investors who follow the platform for new and innovative products.
### 4. Startup Incubators and Accelerators
- **Y Combinator**: A well-known startup accelerator that provides funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
- **Techstars**: Offers accelerator programs that provide funding, mentorship, and access to a network of investors.
### 5. Pitch Competitions and Conferences
- **Startup Competitions**: Participate in pitch competitions like TechCrunch Disrupt, Slush, and Web Summit. Winning or even participating can attract investor attention.
- **Industry Conferences**: Attend conferences related to mobile apps and technology to network with potential investors.
### 6. Prepare Your Pitch
- **Pitch Deck**: Create a compelling pitch deck that highlights your app's value proposition, market potential, financials (including your ARPU), and growth strategy.
- **Business Plan**: Have a detailed business plan ready to share with investors.
### 7. Angel Investor Networks
- **Angel Capital Association**: A collective of angel investors who might be interested in investing in your app.
- **Local Angel Groups**: Many cities have local angel investor groups that you can present to.
### Additional Tips
- **Cold Outreach**: Don’t be afraid to reach out to investors via email or LinkedIn. Make sure to personalize your message and highlight why your app is a good investment.
- **Follow-Up**: Be persistent and follow up with potential investors who show interest.
By leveraging these resources and strategies, you can increase your chances of finding the right investors for your mobile app.
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