How can I improve my business valuation before approaching investors? What do investors want in a founder and company? How do I create a compelling pitch story and deck? How can I determine if I have the right investor? What should I do if an investor asks me a question that I don’t know the answer to? Navigating the complexities of investor readiness can be daunting for any entrepreneur.

The Nasdaq Center is thrilled to be joined by Chris Folayan, Founder and CEO at Founder Centered, to discuss how you and your business should prepare for investors— from pitch to close. Drawing from decades of personal experience raising millions of dollars globally, Chris will share tips and strategies to prepare for investor meetings and maximize your business valuation. You’ll walk away with greater understanding of what you can do before you speak with investors to better equip yourself with the knowledge you need to get the best valuation, and investor, possible.

Key Takeaways:

• Preparing Yourself: validating your business idea, developing your business story, and building a well-functioning team.
• Preparing Your Business: maximizing your business valuation, preparing your pitch to close an investment, and picking the right investor for your business.
• Critical Terminology

Chris Folayan

Chris Folayan is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, author, and mentor with a 25+ year track record. He has successfully built and exited multiple multi-million-dollar companies globally across diverse industries. Starting at a young age building his first business at age 8 in Africa, his journey led him to Silicon Valley, where he learned and developed his skills in software development and marketing and co-founded and exited NTM, a pioneering digital music platform. Subsequently, he built OCFX Inc, an award-winning Silicon Valley software development company working with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies globally. He later founded and developed MallforAfrica, one of Africa’s largest e-commerce platforms which he scaled beyond Africa to over 80 countries . Redefining cross-border trade between North America, Europe, Africa and over 80 countries worldwide. Working with over 250 global retailers seeking to penetrate Africa and other emerging markets.

Presently, Chris is the founder of FounderCentered.com, a platform developed to connect founders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs with individuals capable of facilitating their global growth at a rapid pace. He also hosts the Founderholic.com podcast which inspires and educates entrepreneurs globally on how to grow a business. Chris is also the mastermind behind the first ever CEO readiness card game “Ready Set CEO“. Chris is known for leveraging his expertise as a global expansion expert, mentor, investor, and speaker to educate founders globally. He loves to share his “P.I.N.K.” (Passion, Innovation, Network, Knowledge) acronym to inspire and empower entrepreneurs to start, grow and develop new businesses.

Connect with Chris!

www.chrisfolayan.com

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The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a 501c(3) public charity whose mission it is to make entrepreneurship accessible to all. We deliver world-class resources and mentoring to enable every entrepreneur across the globe to realize their maximum potential. Please join us and make your gift to ensure these transformative programs may continue to reach the underserved.

All Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 48 hours in advance of this event; please send an email to [email protected] with the subject header ACCOMMODATION REQUEST. For assistance with registration or other technical difficulties, please contact [email protected]