Â
Â
The last two weeks have been about competition.
Even though I don’t spend much time on competition in the pitch, it’s absolutely critical that you as a founder understand it deeply.
Two weeks ago, I explained why saying “We don’t have any direct competitors” can be deadly.
Last week, I showe...
Â
Last week, I told you why saying “we don’t have any competition” destroys your credibility.This week, I want to keep my promise:
I’ll show you exactly how the strongest founders weave competition into their pitch, what to include, what to avoid, and what to leave for the Q&A.
Because here’s th...
Â
During my 11 years as a pitch coach, there is still one moment that makes my stomach drop.
It happens every time a founder delivers a great pitch, builds momentum, raises the energy - and then confidently says:
“Our only competitor is…”Or even worse:“We don’t have any competition.”
In that exa...
Â
There’s a moment that happens in every investor meeting, Demo Day, or partner pitch.It’s subtle.Easy to miss.But once you notice it, you can never unsee it.
It’s the moment you walk into the room.
Before you say a word, before the screen lights up, before anyone knows your numbers or your narr...
Â
Â
A few months ago, I started working with another cohort of brilliant startup founders. It was time for our individual sessions.As usual, the founder came in, stood straight, and delivered his pitch in that stiff, formal “presentation mode.”
Either they think that’s how you’re supposed to pre...
Â
A few years back, I needed a VA.I asked around in my network, and a friend introduced me to a former executive assistant from a big international company.
Her first email started with:“Hi Linda…”
It’s not the first time someone has called me Linda - maybe it’s my last name - but still.Coming f...
Â
Last week, I talked about why Selling Kills Your Investor Pitch.Because when founders pitch investors like customers, they lose trust - and focus.Investors aren’t there to buy your product.They’re there to buy your business.
But here’s the nuance most founders miss:Your investor pitch and your...
Â
Â
Let me tell you something I see all the time.
At almost every pitch event I attend, there are usually one or two founders who end their pitch with a QR code.It leads to their website, their product page, or even a special offer:“Scan here to try it!”“Join our beta!”
And it makes me upset - b...
Â
Let’s get one thing straight: investors don’t invest in products.They invest in people.They invest in you.
And yet, I constantly meet founders who struggle to talk about themselves with confidence.They can pitch their market, traction, and vision with fire - but when it’s time to sell the team...
Stop being naïve - your product won’t sell itself.Let’s be honest.It’s not cool.It’s naïve to think your product will “sell itself.”
Every week, I meet founders who still believe that.They genuinely think that if the product is good enough, investors will see it, understand it, and come running....
Â
Â
Raising capital can be very stressful.And in stressful situations - when we’re eager to get the outcome we want - we have a dangerous tendency to talk and talk and talk…Talktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalk
It’s like we believe that the ...
(this is a long one... but so important...)
Â
I was at an investor event some time ago when one of the panelists said something that really stuck with me: " You don't need to know the industry - but you must know the pain."Â
It resonated because I think we too often expect founders to be heavily...
