A lot of founders think they’re being smart by saying no to events.They tell themselves they’re “saving time” by staying at the desk, tweaking the deck, or sending cold emails.
In my book? That’s just stupid.Why?
Think about it for a second. Events are the biggest time-saver of them all.Where ...
You can feel it in the air.Summer’s over, autumn is here - and the startup scene is buzzing again.
Demo days. Breakfast pitches. Competitions. Investor lunches. Everywhere you turn, founders are on stage, energy is high, and fundraising season is in full swing.
But there’s one line I keep hear...
Vacations are over.
September is just round the corner and Investor meetings are back on the calendar. The runway clock is ticking again.
Every year, I watch founders come back from summer vacation all energized to pick up the speed and motivated to build something extraordinary. But when it...
A few years after starting my business, I heard that one of my customers had hired a well-known actor as a pitch coach for their startups.
My first reaction? Starstruck. My second? Self Doubt.
I thought to myself: “That is so smart…” and suddenly I started questioning my own path. Who wouldn...
Yayyyyy! You did it! You just finished your pitch.
Maybe the investors smiled. Nodded. Even asked a few follow-ups.And now you’re sitting there wondering:
“Did it land?”“Should I add more?”“Do I keep talking?”
This moment - right after the pitch - is where founders lose the second date.
The...
Last week, I wrote about how your pitch is pretty much like a first real date.
Just like a first date - you’re not there to prove your worth.You’re there to spark curiosity. Create a connection.Leave them wanting to see you again.
But now you might be wondering…
What do I actually say on that ...
Do you remember your first real date?The anticipation. The butterflies. The silent hope that this person might just get you.You probably planned what to wear, practiced what to say, rehearsed how to seem interested - but not too eager. (I know I did...)
Let's face it:
You didn’t walk in with...
I used to think the best pitch was one where no one had anything left to ask.No questions = nailed it.But over the years - and after coaching thousands of pitches - I’ve realized the exact opposite is true.
If your pitch leaves no room for curiosity, you’ve missed the point.You’ve explained ...
When you’re just starting out, it feels like anything is possible.
You see use cases everywhere. You imagine your solution transforming industries. Every conversation opens a new door. Your imagination becomes your fuel. And for a while, that feeling is pure magic.
You're unstoppable. The sk...
The other day I attended a big investor event.The room was packed with 250 investors, scanning for opportunities.A founder walks on stage and says:
"We are not raising capital at the moment but we would love more customers. Please scan our QR code."
The room fell silent.
In that moment, they...
A few years ago, I coached a group of promising startups preparing for a big pitch event. They had polished their decks, practiced their stories, and walked into the venue radiating confidence. The room was packed with 150 curious investors. The energy was electric.
But as I scanned the room...
When I worked at Ericsson, my main job was to present the company’s solutions to VIPs such as CxOs, industry leaders, governments, investors, and even royalty.Yes, I did over 5000 presentations in 5 years. That number sounds wild, but when you're doing event after event, it adds up pretty fa...
