The Ideal Investment Pitch, According To David Sorin

It used to be much easier to impress David Sorin, McCarter & English partner specialized in venture capital and emerging growth companies.

“When I was a much younger lawyer, every idea blew me away, and it took some time to really develop the antenna to be able to think about what sounded great and what might actually be great,” Sorin said at Benzinga's 2017 Global Fintech Awards.

Now if you want to pique his interest and secure the investment of his clients, come with a large-scale problem and a cost-effective solution.

“So many times we see companies and innovators who have a solution that costs more than the problem, itself,” he said. “So we really look to find something that’s going to increase productivity, drive revenue, reduce costs, enhance profitability for the particular customer that may be interested in this.”

The Team, The Team, The Team

Not only is he interested in the quality of solution but also in the composition of the team behind it. And he means “team,” which have proven more successful investments than have solo acts, and groups with women entrepreneurs and general diversity are also preferable.

So is a never-say-die attitude.

“Commitment and passion cannot be overstated. Absolutely critical,” he said. “You want someone who lives, eats, breathes this. It’s another child to most entrepreneurs, and you really want people who are going to recognize when they have to pivot and recognize when, perhaps, what they’re doing isn’t right, they have to do something else.”

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