The first time you pitch your company shouldn’t be the time it matters most. That’s the idea behind Pitch Night at The Forge: founders stand up in front of a friendly but honest room, make their case, and get the questions an investor would ask before an investor asks them.
How it works
Founders take turns at the front of the room on the first floor, between the brick wall and the arcade. Each one pitches, then the room gets to ask questions: founders, operators, investors and anyone curious about what’s being built in Southeast Texas.
Then comes the useful part. What was clear? What was confusing? What would make someone write a check, and what would make them pass? You leave with notes you can use the next morning.
The biggest night of the year
Some of our favorite pitch nights aren’t ours. Last year The Forge hosted the social for the Lamar University Venture Center’s pitch competition, and the kitchen filled up with founders, mentors, friends and at least one future founder.
Planning a night like that yourself? The whole first floor (the long brick room, the lounge, the kitchen and the arcade) holds up to 40 people. Tell us about your event.
Who it’s for
- Founders with an idea or an early product who want to test the story out loud.
- Founders getting ready to raise who want to rehearse in front of people who have raised before.
- Everyone else. Pitch nights are some of the best evenings at The Forge.
What we look for in a pitch
The Forge invests in startups, growing companies and real estate, in rounds of $2M or less. Whether you’re pitching us or anyone else, the same few things land every time:
- The problem. Who has it, how much it hurts, and how you know.
- Why you. What you know about this problem that other people don’t.
- Proof. Customers, pilots, waitlists, revenue. Anything real beats any forecast.
- The ask. How much you’re raising and what it gets you to.
Keep it short. If the room understands your company in one breath, you’ve won the first round.
From practice to a real stage
Pitch practice is part of how The Forge works with founders. Early teams can build with us and get mentors, a desk and help with the deck. Teams that are ready to raise can send us their deck and pitch the partners directly. We read every one.
Want to pitch at the next one, or just come watch? Get in touch and we’ll tell you when it is.
