I’ve Invested in Lick, SURI & Mother Root… Here’s What I Know About Building a £100M Brand

Can an angel investor really know which startups will succeed? What does it actually take to raise money, build a great founder-investor relationship, and turn an early-stage business into something huge?In this episode of Getting to Grow, Zoe Fox sits down with Nick Green, FMCG angel investor and former operator at companies including Deliveroo and Weezy, to discuss what it really takes to build, fund and scale a successful business.After starting out as an operator, Nick gradually began investing in early-stage startups, eventually backing over 100 companies and helping raise money for more than 120 businesses. His portfolio includes brands across FMCG, technology and consumer, giving him a unique perspective from both sides of the investment table.In this conversation, Nick shares the realities of angel investing, what investors actually look for in founders, how to create a pitch that stands out, why fundraising is ultimately a sales process, and the red flags that can make an investor walk away from a deal.He also discusses startup valuations, choosing the right investors, why a smaller investor can sometimes bring more value than a larger cheque, how founders should approach fundraising, and why overly confident financial forecasts can be a massive turnoff for investors.Whether you're a founder, entrepreneur, marketer, investor or simply fascinated by startups and consumer brands, this episode is packed with practical lessons on fundraising, pitching, investing and building businesses that can scale.In this episode:How Nick Green went from startup operator to angel investorWhat it's like to back over 100 startupsHow Nick evaluates founders and investment opportunitiesWhat makes a founder genuinely investableThe three things investors look at in a pitch deckHow to build a deck that actually gets attentionWhy fundraising is ultimately a sales processHow founders should approach their fundraising strategyWhy the wrong investor can be dangerous for your businessHow to identify investor and founder red flagsWhy a smaller investor can sometimes be more valuable than a larger chequeHow early-stage startups should think about valuationWhy overvaluing your business can make you uninvestableThe importance of founder-investor relationshipsHow to leverage your investors' networksWhy eight-year financial forecasts can be a massive turnoffWhat founders should prepare before starting a funding roundHow to create momentum during a fundraiseLessons from investing in successful consumer brandsWhat makes a startup worth betting onIf you're interested in entrepreneurship, startups, angel investing, FMCG, consumer brands, branding, marketing, sales, fundraising, venture capital, investment or business growth, you'll enjoy this conversation.Follow Zoe FoxInstagram: Getting to Grow on InstagramLinkedIn: Zoe Fox on LinkedIn