How to Create the Perfect 10-Minute Pitch to Raise Money

Featuring Grant Lawrence | Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group (OREIG)

What separates the opportunities that get funded from the ones that get passed over?

It's often not the deal itself—it's how the opportunity is presented.

In this month's Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group (OREIG) meeting, Julie Hoffman welcomes Grant Lawrence, an experienced venture capital mentor and Investor in Residence, for a practical discussion on how to create a compelling 10-minute pitch that captures attention, builds confidence, and earns trust.

Whether you're raising money for a real estate investment, presenting a development opportunity, looking for joint venture partners, or growing your business, your ability to communicate clearly can dramatically improve your results.

In this episode, Grant shares practical strategies that founders, entrepreneurs, and investors use to present opportunities with clarity and confidence.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Small changes in language that create massive leverage

• Exactly how to structure an effective Pitch Deck (PowerPoint)

• When to talk—and more importantly, when NOT to

• The biggest credibility mistakes people make when presenting opportunities

• How experienced investors evaluate deals and presentations

• Practical communication strategies you can begin using immediately

If you're serious about raising capital, attracting partners, or becoming a more confident communicator, this episode is full of practical advice you can apply right away.

About Grant Lawrence

Grant Lawrence has spent more than 20 years in the software industry, holding senior leadership roles with both startups and established companies where presenting to investors, executives, customers, and stakeholders was a daily responsibility.

Today, Grant serves as a Mentor, Executive in Residence, and Investor in Residence with organizations including UBC Okanagan, Foresight Canada, Innovate Calgary, Accelerate Okanagan, and Valhalla Private Capital. He coaches founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders on creating powerful pitch decks, raising capital, and communicating ideas that inspire confidence.

Connect with Grant Lawrence

Valhalla Angels Vancouver & Kelowna
Valhalla Private Capital

📧 grant.lawrence@valhallaprivatecap.com

☎ Office: 250-766-5250

📱 WhatsApp: 604-908-2148

About Julie Hoffman

Julie Hoffman is the founder of the Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group (OREIG) and has completed more than 300 real estate transactions representing over $100 million in real estate. She is passionate about helping investors create wealth through creative real estate strategies, raising private capital, and building strong investor communities.

Through OREIG, Julie hosts monthly educational networking events, online training, coaching programs, and provides practical tools that help investors take action with confidence.

Connect with Julie

🌐 Website: https://www.StreetSmartDiva.com

📅 Book a complimentary meeting: https://www.StreetSmartDiva.com/book

🏘️ Upcoming Events: https://www.OkanaganREIG.com/events

💻 Join a Live Q&A: https://www.StreetSmartDiva.com/zoom

About OREIG

The Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group (OREIG) is a community of real estate investors, entrepreneurs, realtors, contractors, and business professionals dedicated to learning, networking, and growing together.

Each month, OREIG brings experienced investors, developers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to Kelowna to share practical strategies, real-world lessons, and actionable insights that help members build wealth through real estate.

Whether you're just getting started or already have an established portfolio, OREIG is designed to help you connect with like-minded people and continue growing your investing journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, and share it with someone who wants to become a better investor, communicator, or entrepreneur.

To Connect with OREIG founder, Julie Hoffman about
Coaching, The Wholesaling course, OR to talk about Membership, please schedule a meeting at www.StreetSmartDiva.com/book

🔥 OREIG May Meetup Recap – Edmonton & Alberta Investing with Calvin Hexter 🔥

What an incredible night at the Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group!

A huge thank you to Calvin Hexter for delivering a dynamic, informative, and practical presentation on Edmonton and Alberta real estate investing. Calvin did an outstanding job helping investors understand not only WHY Alberta continues to attract investors, but HOW to become more strategic and intentional with their investment goals.

3 of the biggest takeaways from the evening was the importance of clarity:
➡️ Knowing what type of investor you are
➡️ Understanding your financial goals
➡️ Communicating clearly what you are looking for

Calvin broke down the differences between A, B, C, and D class properties and explained how important it is to communicate specifics to your Realtor and investment team.

For example:
“I’m looking for a B-class property in this area with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a basement suite.”

That level of clarity helps move investors closer to the outcomes they truly want.

Calvin also shared parts of his personal investing journey, including lessons learned and mistakes made along the way — which made the presentation both relatable and extremely valuable.

Beyond the education, the room was filled with amazing networking, new connections, and strengthened relationships within our investing community.

Helpful Resources & Links:

📋 Investor Quiz:
https://ph251bwc1lb.typeform.com/to/NX69XAOX

🏘 Understanding A, B, C & D Areas:
https://calvinrealty.ca/edmonton-specific-a-b-c-d-locations/

🗺 Investor Desirability Map:
https://calvinrealty.ca/investor-desirability-map/

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a fantastic evening.

We’re already looking forward to our next OREIG event on June 18th!

To Connect with OREIG founder, Julie Hoffman about
Coaching, The Wholesaling course, OR to talk about Membership, please schedule a meeting at www.StreetSmartDiva.com/book

After 20+ years and over 300 real estate deals, Julie Hoffman shares the real story behind building, nearly losing, and rebuilding a multi-million dollar portfolio.

This isn’t a highlight reel—it’s a practical breakdown of what actually works in real estate when things don’t go as planned.

From scaling to ~100 doors and becoming “equity rich, cash poor,” to navigating partner challenges and rebuilding through creative strategies, this session is packed with real-world lessons for investors at any stage.

If you’re investing in today’s market—or thinking about it—this episode will help you make smarter, more confident decisions.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why scaling too fast can create hidden risk
• The truth behind being “equity rich, cash poor”
• How creative financing strategies open doors when banks say no
• The biggest mistakes investors make with partners—and how to avoid them
• Why communication and relationships are often more important than the deal itself
• How to rebuild after setbacks using smarter systems and strategies
• A grounded perspective on navigating today’s Okanagan real estate market

To Connect with OREIG founder, Julie Hoffman about
Coaching, The Wholesaling course, OR to talk about Membership, please schedule a meeting at www.StreetSmartDiva.com/book