Investor Connect Podcast

In this episode, Hall welcomes Art Smith, CEO of Digerati Technologies, Inc.

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Digerati Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: DTGI) is a provider of cloud services specializing in Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions for the business market. Through its subsidiaries T3 Communications (www.T3com.com) and Nexogy, Inc. (www.nexogy.com), the Company is meeting the global needs of businesses seeking simple, flexible, reliable, and cost-effective communication and network solutions, including cloud PBX, cloud mobile, Internet broadband, SD-WAN, SIP trunking, and customized VoIP services, all delivered on its carrier-grade network and Only in the Cloud™.

Art has over 25 years of public company experience with a comprehensive background in technology and global telecommunications. Over the years, he has developed expertise in broad-based management including corporate finance, financial operations, business development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic and tactical planning, sales and operational management, and international business. As founder of Digerati Technologies, Inc., Art has held various positions within the Company, including Chairman, CEO, and President of the Company’s international subsidiary. Art is also co-founder and former Chairman of GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE: GSB), a leading provider of Internet-based information exchange solutions and former wholly-owned subsidiary of Digerati. GlobalSCAPE was spun-off to the Company’s shareholders as a separate publicly-traded entity.

Art discusses the growth rate and evolution of the sector, and some of the challenges companies face.

You can visit Digerati Technologies, Inc. at https://digerati-inc.com/, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/digerati-technologies-inc-/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/DIGERATI_IR   

Art can be contacted at ir@digerati-inc.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/art-smith-86838624/.           

Music courtesy of Bensound.

Direct download: Art_Smith_of_Digerati_Technologies_Inc_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:28am CST

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Running a fundraise with investors is similar to running a sales funnel with prospects.

You must take the investor through the stages of awareness, interest, desire, and commitment.

Here are the steps you need to take:

Stage 1: Awareness – identify and contact an initial list of investors.

Start with an ideal investor profile. Categorize them by type, revenue, and sector.

Create a list of investors and set up your task list to add ten investors per week to the list when contacted. Continually add to this list and consistently reach out to potential investors daily.

Stage 2: Interest – build interest in the investor by providing updates showing a growth story.

You must do more than forecast a growth story, you must demonstrate it happening now.

Set up a mailer template and distribution list and schedule a date on the calendar to send out two mailers per month. 

Stage 3: Desire – demonstrate momentum in your fundraise and create some desire on the part of the investor.

Continue adding investors to the funnel and sending mailers 2 times per month. Show how other investors are in the deal. If you have a lead, then highlight the lead investor and how they set it up. Make clear why that investor invested in your deal.

Include in your bi-monthly updates to investors, the interest committed and invested amounts showing steady progress to the fundraise goal.  

Stage 4: Commitment – open the dialog about investing interest and get specific. Ask what is interesting, what diligence is required, what commitment, etc.

Once they commit, ask them to sign the term sheet as funding is contingent on passing due diligence. Use DocuSign so it’s easy to fill out the forms, sign, and return. After signing the term sheet, ask for the investors’ diligence process, and provide the appropriate documentation.

Fundraising goes in steps and stages just like sales.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
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Music courtesy of Bensound.

Direct download: Awareness_Interest_Desire_Commitment.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST

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