Investors More Open To Business Pitches From Handsome Guys, Study Says

Investors More Open To Business Pitches From Handsome Guys, Study Says

By Shan Li, Los Angeles Times

The George Clooneys and Jon Hamms of the world have an easier time getting a table at a crowded restaurant or arguing for a promotion. Turns out, a pretty face also helps when pitching investors on business ideas.

Handsome men are much more likely to convince investors to back their business proposals, according to a new study. And men in general tend to do better than women at getting financing for their ideas.

Researchers from the business schools at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania took a look at business pitches in real life at “entrepreneurial pitch competitions” and also in controlled experiments where men and women presented the same content.

“Attractive males are particularly persuasive,” the study concluded.

The study, published online by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found that the attractiveness quotient does not hold for female entrepreneurs. Women — no matter what they looked like — have a tougher time getting investor support.

“Investors prefer pitches presented by male entrepreneurs compared with pitches by female entrepreneurs,” the study said. “Physical attractiveness did not matter among female entrepreneurs.”

Photo: Tax Credits via Flickr

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Danziger Draws

Jeff Danziger lives in New York City and Vermont. He is a long time cartoonist for The Rutland Herald and is represented by Counterpoint Syndicate. He is the recipient of the Herblock Prize and the Thomas Nast (Landau) Prize. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He has published eleven books of cartoons, a novel and a memoir. Visit him at DanzigerCartoons.

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