Why do so many pitch competitions happen on a stage? After being in a few of these “Dinner Dates” I personally think the conversation over dinner/drinks/coffee with investors is much harder. It takes finesse! You have to be serious, but witty enough to carry on a conversation without all those awkward moments of silence. Between talking about yourself (too little and you seem like you are anti-social and hiding something, too much and you will look like Kanye ), talk about your business (You know…sell the Dream of how you two together will hold hands and frolic off into the IPO sunset), Order the right item (To portray that you are a great decision maker ummm…humus or chili cheese fries),  and don’t forget you must still slightly beg for money all while eating a meal that you are praying doesn’t get stuck in your teeth. 

Also see my article 4 Things I didn’t know about investors before I took their money