Indeed, as most of the startups today operate in the technology and innovation sector, attracting corporate sponsors and investors has turned into the significant focal point for enhancing the efficiency of accelerator programs. These programs depends’ mainly on outside social relations for development, and the correct associates offer boundless potential. But how can you get to those stakeholders and interest them for your purpose? Here are the top 10 tips which have to help you to get the attention of corporate sponsors and investors in accelerator marketing.
1. Define Your Unique Value Proposition
Another problem is that corporate sponsors and investors are surrounded with partnership propositions. To do so, your accelerator program has to have a strong value proposition. What are the unique characteristics of their program that differentiates it from the rest? How will it benefit the sponsors or investors that you are targeting to invest in your business? An effective UVP will assist in disseminating the message as to why they need to spend their time, money or other resources in the program.
For instance, if your accelerator deals with sustainability startups, you should point to how corporate sponsors and the investors will be wise in associating with such ventures with a positive impact on the environment. It informs potential partners on the benefits of engaging your program so that they will not hesitate to do so.
2. Leverage Storytelling in Marketing
Promotion to the corporate sponsors and investors has nothing to do with just numbers. That said, how, you communicate your accelerator’s story has a large part to play in the kind of attention it gets. It is effective when the success stories are narrated to the public, explaining the roles which your accelerator played towards the growth of startups.
Proving the need for your accelerator, industry examples of some of the success that have been achieved in the past demonstrates that your accelerator should be worth the investment. Bring some human interest angle in that tale of success and show how these sponsors or investors were part of that success story. I will continue the storytelling from the previous lesson, as it is a very powerful technique to demonstrate how successful your accelerator is with the ability to engage corporate sponsors and investors as participants of this success.
3. Tailor Your Approach to Specific Industries
The presence of a sponsor or investor is not always a guarantee that the organization, project or business venture is in safe hands. Depending on which industry the accelerator is targeting, when approaching the corporate sponsors and investors these elements should be well understood. Consumers in certain industries do not respond to general communication strategies so targeting the right audience guarantees you are communicating to the decision makers.
For instance, if you are aiming at a technology firm, stress on how your startups operate within the technology domain and address issues that will benefit the sponsor. If your promotion is directed to a particular kind of investor like the sustainability-focused one, describe the accomplishments of your accelerators’ green startups. In discussions with the corporate sponsor or investor, ensure that you are providing information that relates to their particular industry so as to increase the chances of their response.
4. Build Strong Relationships and Networks
The development of many-faceted corporation-sponsor or investor relations is a continuous not singular process. Ongoing engagement is key. Make your sponsors attend industry events, take the sponsors to networking occasions where they can be introduced to the startups of your accelerator.
If the corporate sponsors and investors share the feeling of owning a part of the community in which you are working, they are likely to support you by sponsoring your program, or investing in it. The cultivation of the relationship doesn’t occur immediately; it involved hard work and connection with the people. After gaining the corporate sponsors and investors’ trust in your brand and accelerator, they will be willing to support you.
5. Provide Meaningful Exposure for Sponsors
Among the things that corporate sponsors have keen interest is the marketing opportunities that they get from sponsorship. As for the corporal sponsors, they expect to get massive visibility for their brands in return to their contribution. Ensure that you create your accelerator marketing strategy in a way that will avail various opportunities through which it can popularize itself.
Namely, it can cover a branding strategy at an event, recognition on social media and your webpage, and shared campaigns. This is the reason why it is important for sponsors to be given a chance to market their association as this will make them feel that they are talented and that their investment counts.
6. Showcase the ROI for Investors
Corporations and investors’ main motivation remains profit-making, which will always be reflected by ROI. In order to convince your target investors you have to clearly demonstrate the returns on investment and the strategic value of collaborating with your accelerator. This entails proving the returns previously received by other companies sponsoring or investing in similar activities.
Emphasize on the increased exposure, emerging new business and the opportunities for your accelerator that has availed this support. Thestdout provides pure examples of such tangible benefits: factors such as the stock of successful new companies, the spectrum of recognition, and the visibility of a brand. The stakeholders such as the investors and the corporate sponsors do expect benefits from investing in sports or sponsoring a sports event, team or person.
7. Utilize Digital Marketing for Outreach
Given the modern day communication technology, your communication to the corporate sponsors and/or investors does not have to be hand to hand from a meeting or a telephonic conversation. This makes digital marketing an important means of reaching out to the concerned stakeholders. Many people are waiting for such opportunities, so you need to promote your accelerator through email campaigns, LinkedIn outreach, various content marketing on the Internet, etc.
Digital presence helps to build practicing impression, and it presents yourself and your company’s flexibility, which is a significant aspect when approaching the corporate sponsorships and investors. Post blog articles, video testimonials, and stories of startup success for people to view through the various online platforms.
8. Prepare Sponsorship or Investment Pitching Presentation
Many people who are investing or sponsoring companies may probably find the right sponsorship or investment deck as the main difference between the victory and defeat. This should contain all the information about your accelerator program such as the program’s mission, goals, and performance of the earlier start-ups.
Your deck should also ensure that there are well-defined sponsorship or investment propositions to the corporate entities, to mean how the sponsors and investors will be better off by investing in you. Always put it simple and to the point – there is no need to add colors and flavors. Be sure that your UVP is prominent and evident from that sketch map, the gains for sponsors and investors obvious.
9. Offer Flexible Sponsorship Packages
This is where being able to offer varied and versatile sponsoring deals can and will make all the difference for attracting a wide corporate base. Some of them may be willing to donate big amounts for naming rights and other big-tick sponsorships while some may be interested in single event/season sponsorships.
Create several levels, where the sponsorship packages will cost differently, to also reach out for any sort of company’s budget. It enables you to target a big number of corporate investors to tap into probably the best opportunity for investment. Do not forget however that it’s not all about money, it’s about establishing relationships with corporate partners for the future funding.
10. Highlight Social Responsibility
The best corporate partners and investors nowadays expect to be much more than mere financial asset owners — they seek to be involved in something that is greater than the mere monetary value of their stake. CSR influences the decision of an organization or a firm in a very big way.
In case your accelerator targets the startups that have a strong social mission in terms of environment, people, and economy, do not hide it and actively advertise it. Sponsors and investors want to be associated with such organizations that are playing their recognizable role in the social transformation.
In this way, you can position your program as engaging with social responsibility meaning firms can become sponsors and investors that seek socially responsible business opportunities that will generate profits.
Conclusion
Corporate marketing in accelerators doesn’t have to be a hard nut to crack with corporate sponsors to butt in. It was highlighted that defining your value proposition, relationship building, digital marketing and social responsibility can help to establish the right story which the corporate sponsors and investors would want to be associated with. To sum up, it involves customization, narration, and presenting useful tangible and non tangible added value most important.
Here are 10 strategies which will enable you not only attract corporate sponsors and investors but also build long term relationships necessary to sustain your accelerator program well into and beyond the year 2024. And it doesn’t matter if you opt for storytelling, for providing marketing messages that are better tuned to stakeholder needs, or for demonstrating ROI – the possibilities for creating engagement and gaining attention are virtually limitless.
Call to action
The primary services we offer at Madavi Agency are to assist accelerators to find the right corporate sponsors and investors. For this reason, the general knowledge in the development of unique and appropriate marketing communication plans will help set up your accelerator and create partnerships.
If you’re looking at making your accelerator better then here are some tips you could use to do so. Call Madavi Agency today and let the agency in providing you with the kind of backing you need.
