Investor Readiness in the HTI: Sharpening How Start-ups Approach Investors

As part of the HTI workshop “Investor Readiness,” the start-ups in the BioIntelligence programme worked with workshop coach Philipp Langrehr to further develop how they approach investors. The session focused on a key question: what conditions need to be in place for initial contact to turn into meaningful funding conversations.

The workshop began with an image that is likely to stay with participants: Philipp Langrehr compared investors — or rather their capital — to deer: alert, cautious and quick to disappear when approached in the wrong way. The comparison highlighted just how important it is for communication, supporting documents and strategic substance to be aligned.

The session therefore explored in depth which foundations start-ups need in order to become relevant to investors in the first place. These include a business plan that is closely aligned with the financing plan, a strong team with the right capabilities and communication that is both clear and targeted. A particularly important element is a precise value proposition that explains the added value of the business model and its target group in a concise and convincing way.

Beyond the strategic content itself, the workshop also created space for reflection on positioning and for a better understanding of investor expectations. Especially in early stages, this kind of preparation is essential for leading structured conversations and building trust.

The format is further strengthened by the option of individual follow-up coaching: Philipp Langrehr remains available to the start-ups beyond the workshop itself. This allows topics to be explored in greater depth, concrete challenges to be addressed and relevant connections to experts within the network to be established.