How I’ve helped founders raise over $300 million in funds

I love working with entrepreneurs.

Most of my coaching work is helping tech founders deliver a powerful investor pitch, by focusing on public speaking and storytelling.

The number I frequently use to illustrate that my work has real value is:

$300 Million.

That’s how much our clients have raised from investors, collectively, since I started, and every year when my team and I coach founders at TechStars, DMZ, Founder Institute and Collision, new clients raise millions more.

The secret to how I help entrepreneurs pitch so persuasively, and raise millions is:

I don’t come from a business background.

I was an actor - or as some actors like to say, an “artist” - since I was seven.

 I stumbled into entrepreneurship accidentally (the story is in my previous post).

But being an artist came with some real blind spots about business. Most actors I know can barely do their taxes.

The artist’s mindset tends to be: 

1. I love theatre (or painting, dance, music, etc.)

2. I’m gonna become as good as I can

3. Once I’m good, I’ll try to find my own unique way of doing it

4. Hopefully someone will pay me

The business/entrepreneur mindset tends to be: 

1. I noticed a problem that (type of people) have

2. I’m going to learn as much as I can about it and them

3. Once I do, I’ll create a solution

4. Hopefully they will pay me

The main difference?

Artists - ideally - are focused on what they need. What they need to express, how they need to express it, and to hell with what the audience thinks. 

This, as Rick Rubin rightly points out, is what makes great art.

Businesspeople, on the other hand, focus on what others need: namely, the customer (or shareholder, but that’s another story).

“You want this product to be different? Sure, we’ll change it! You’d pay more if we had a better option? We’ll create it for you!”

 But what entrepreneurs don’t realize:

 Storytelling is an art. And helps you raise money, gain customers, and grow your business.

So when I work with founders, I help them SHIFT their mindset from a business founders’ to an artists’, and ask things like:

• WHY did you start this business, and why do you love it so deeply?

• What is it about YOU and your perspective that is unique and valuable?

• How can you be more specific and emotional with the story you’re telling?

• Above what the investor wants, what do YOU want?

• And how much unpaid time can you dedicate to your CRAFT of public speaking and storytelling?

When an entrepreneur opens their mind to the artistry of pitching, selling, marketing and recruiting, they add a “soft” skill that can completely change their fortunes (like Warren Buffet did).

That’s how I’ve helped over 4500 founders raise more than $300 million.

I will always advocate for more artistry and emotional intelligence in the entrepreneur community.

If you liked this, please share it with someone who might also like it, or reply to this email, feedback goes a long way!

P.S. Check out my book if you haven’t yet! And please, reviews help a lot 💪