The Agony of “What Am I Supposed to Wear to an Investor Pitch?!”

The Agony of “What Am I Supposed to Wear to an Investor Pitch?!”

I was having lunch with a woman recently who I’ll call “Dior.” Dior has been a senior executive in a number of large media corporations and is now starting her own company and thinking about outside funding. We’d been having a lively conversation on different startup...
On the Importance of “I Don’t Think It Will Work…”

On the Importance of “I Don’t Think It Will Work…”

I was speaking to a founder who had gotten a meeting with a prominent VC recently.  Let’s call her “Red Shoes.” “Well, what did he say?” I asked. “He said he didn’t think it would work,” she said, clearly disappointed. “And?” “And what?” “And what else did he say?”...
Why Your Your Product Is Not Your Product (A Sheik in the Desert) 

Why Your Your Product Is Not Your Product (A Sheik in the Desert) 

I was working with a young entrepreneur recently with a very promising company which sells a very niche nutrition drink.  Let’s call him “Sheik.” Sheik’s made real headway with his company, securing regional distribution and growing sales and revenue.  He’s looking to...
Building Your Pitch Deck:  Letting Out Your Inner Superhero

Building Your Pitch Deck:  Letting Out Your Inner Superhero

  I was working with a founder on her pitch deck recently.  Let’s call her “Violet.” Violet and I had been introduced through a mutual friend.  We had spoken a few times previously about her very promising start-up, and we had finally set up time to review a...