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I once had someone tell me something that stuck with me: “Founders... January makes your year.”

Just a full day to step back, close the year honestly, and think clearly about what actually matters. It’s one of the most valuable days I spend all year.

If you can’t explain what your startup does in 30 seconds, you don’t understand it yet.

Last week, we took The Pitch Lift to Los Angeles Tech Week — and this one was something special.

A founder story about clarity, courage, and a literal elevator pitch.

Lately, I’ve had too many calls with founders who are pre-product, pre-revenue, pre-launch… and already trying to raise millions.

Everything you need, step-by-step, to fill your investor pipeline fast.

And while every investor is different, they’re all listening for a few core signals in every pitch. Nail these, and you dramatically increase your odds of a follow-up meeting. Miss them… and you’re back in the inbox ether.

If you’re actively raising capital as an early-stage founder, you’re going to hear “no” — a lot. It’s not just normal. It’s essential. Rejection isn’t a roadblock; it’s part of the roadmap.

If you're building something from the ground up, chances are you're wearing every hat imaginable—CEO, head of product, lead fundraiser, even chief coffee-maker. But as the startup scales, the role of the founder needs to evolve just as fast as the business itself.

A strong follow-up from a founder is just as important as the pitch itself—because fundraising isn’t about one great meeting; it’s about building relationships over time.

What separates the founders who break through from those who stall out? It’s not just a great idea. It’s not even about funding (though it helps). The real difference lies in a handful of key traits that define high-performing entrepreneurs.

For early-stage founders, growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. The biggest leaps forward come when you step into new, high-pressure environments—where you’re pushed to refine your pitch, build authentic relationships, and learn on the fly.

I’ve worked with countless early-stage founders, and I’ve seen pivots that saved companies… and others that came too late. The best pivots aren’t about giving up—they’re about unlocking new growth.

For many early-stage founders, finding investors feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Everyone talks about venture capital firms, angel networks, and accelerators—but what about the untapped opportunities that most founders overlook?

The shift to remote work has transformed nearly every aspect of how we build and lead startups. For early-stage founders, this new landscape presents opportunities and challenges that are shaping the founder experience like never before.

Finding the right investors is one of the most critical steps in your fundraising journey. With so many tools available today, the process has become more accessible—but also more competitive. To help you get ahead, I’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Platforms to Find Investors in 2025, tailored specifically for early-stage founders.

In the startup world, the term "unicorn" is synonymous with massive success—a company valued at $1 billion or more. For many early-stage founders and investors, the idea of creating or backing the next unicorn can feel like the ultimate goal. But let’s take a step back and ask: Is chasing unicorn status really the right focus?

(Because Collapsing in a Ball Under Your Desk Isn’t a Founder Business Strategy)

Your fundraising slowdown might not be about your traction — it may be about signals you’re unintentionally sending. These five red flags often derail investor interest, but the good news is they’re all fixable.