Today, March 6th 2026, the Social Impulse Hub hosted its fourth session of the First Customer Programme, the first phase of the Business Matchmaking Programme (TASK4ISI). The online session was facilitated by Marie Amelie from StartUp Migrants and highlighted the importance of contacting investors.
Before jumping on to the session, Anita W. presented ThEx – Thüringer Zentrum für Existenzgrüdungen und Unternehmertum, a central hub in the state of Thuringia that provide services of networking, mentoring and advice to startups and entrepreneurs. The centre is one of the partners of TASK4ISI and expressive institutions for entrepreneurial development.
After a short recap of the last session’s objectives, Marie Amelie spoke about the best practices and imperative steps in reaching out to possible investors. The approach that entrepreneurs decide to take greatly depends on two factors: whether they wish to sell their product or service at any cost, or whether they decide to think in the long run and pursue solving the problem or need in question. The trick for a strong outreach consists of its straightforwardness, simplicity of presenting the product/service and convincing the investor that it is needed. Communication in the 21st century eases this process: contacting investors through e-mail or phone calls have their own timing and entrepreneurs should be tactical about it. Giving a follow-up on the contact is equally valuable, if the contact got lost in time. The trainer also revealed the “do’s and don’ts” of follow-up calls, giving participants some tips.
Objections to investments can always happen – knowing the value of the business idea and its whole structure can potentially decrease the possibility of an investor turning down an idea. Clarifications about the budget, building trust in the product/service, stressing the origin of the need, the urgency in making it available as well as the timing of the business idea should be mentioned at moments when the investor shows some reluctance.
The session finished with Marie Amelie presenting some case studies, taking the moment to speak about the story of the entrepreneurial success of “Factiverse”, founded by Marie Amelie herself and Vinay Setty.
The project has been co-funded under the Interreg Central Europe program of the European Union through the project “TASK4ISI” – Transnational Action to advance SKills and competences FOR Inclusive entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
