Keeping the faith: How to back yourself in the face of investor criticism

Getting a flat rejection from an investor is going to dent the confidence of any entrepreneur. Some of you might be better than others at getting up and dusting yourself off, but each ‘no’ is likely to shake your confidence a little.

Now and again, you may meet an investor who pulls no punches in dismissing your business entirely, and it stings. So, in the moment of self-doubt as you consider whether it’s worth going on at all, how do you know if you should keep believing in your idea and moving forward?

Here’s some advice on how to escape negative thinking patterns and remain focussed.

#1 Look for the right investor, not any investor

First things first, remember that no business appeals to every investor. There are plenty of people who dismissed Apple and Steve Jobs back in the day and many stories of investors who shunned the likes of Facebook, Uber and Amazon. Like any successful business, these founders weren’t looking to win them all, but to find the people who loved what they do and investors who got excited by their vision. Just as your product or service is aimed at a specific target market, so too will your pitch appeal to the right type of investor. It’s a matter of finding those people, undeterred by…