For most founders, the deck is a cornerstone of their seed fundraising process. Unfortunately, most decks are terrible. They’re often difficult to understand, too detailed, or missing key details. …

In the latest Pitch Practice session, Joe Parlett showcased Featurewave, a sales efficiency platform built on Salesforce. The platform uses AI to guide sales reps through every stage of the process, streamlining content management and boosting overall sales effectiveness. Here were the key takeaways: #1. Solid team and initial customer base 🙌 #2. Add logos to the team slide for added professionalism 🔍 #3. Learn the words for maximum confidence🎙️ #4. Highlight the financial value of solving the problem 💵 #5. Use the term ‘AI’ cautiously; ensure it’s not just a buzzword 🤖 #6. Put emphasis on your traction; numbers speak louder than words 📈

Today, I want to talk about the importance of doing outreach when considering new opportunities. When you’re thinking about what’s next, it’s easy to only consider roles that hit your inbox. However, proactive outreach opens up many more possibilities. 1. Outreach generates new opportunities. Even if you get lucky with an unsolicited offer, reaching out…

Today, we’re discussing how long seed fundraising typically takes for startup founders. While we all hear stories of miraculously fast rounds, what’s most common? 1. Plan for 3 months from start to finish. That means delegating all your other responsibilities so you can stay focused on fundraising. 2. Don’t get discouraged if it takes time. Having a tough time fundraising is practically a rite of passage for…

Today we’re talking about how just one investor can essentially fill up your entire round. Of course, they could simply write a check for the whole amount, but that’s quite rare and it’s actually advisable to have a few different investors, even if you have lots of demand. So here’s…

If you’re fortunate enough to be generating strong demand before demo day — you don’t need much to complete the fundraising process, but it certainly helps if these materials are great. 1. Pitch Decks. I like to have 2 versions, one is long form that you pitch in a meeting and the other…

In the latest Pitch Practice session, Ohi Dibua and Andy Nguyen demonstrated a collaborative pitch for OurFit! Strong synergy between the founders and good preparation evident. Here were the key takeaways: #1. Seamless presentation, well-prepared 🖥️ #2. Enlarge team slide logos 🔍 #3. Focus on one problem per slide ❗️ #4. Hire a deck designer 💸 #5. Showcase one market size figure 📊 #6. Discuss growth, not fundraising goal 📈

As a manager, repetition is critical. It’s all too easy to assume your key messages have sunk in after communicating them once. Unfortunately, you will have to regularly reinforce priorities and goals to maintain your team’s focus. Here’s why you need to repeat yourself, the right ways to do it…

Today, we’re talking about preparing for your accelerator program interview. They require unique preparation because it’s different from a standard pitch. 1. Try to get 3 to 5 mock interviews. Start by tapping your network for alumni you know, but it’s also fine to hustle for them on social media. …