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Founders...This is bigger than one night.
- Steve Walsh
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
A huge milestone for our team—and a lesson for every founder.
Hey friends,
Steve here.
Tonight is a big moment for us.
It’s the official launch of the Pitch Lift Boston Series for 2026 — and we have founders, funders, partners, and friends registered… with a growing waitlist behind them.
And honestly?
Who would’ve thought we could pull this off in January… in Boston.
Cold weather. Dark days. People hibernating. Yet the startup ecosystem showed up anyway.
A lot is riding on this
This isn’t a one-time event.
We made a commitment to run 12 Pitch Lift shows in Boston this year.That’s a big swing. And it’s a huge undertaking for our team.
It’s a year-long promise to founders that we’re going to keep the door open every month:
to pitch
to be seen
to build relationships
to create momentum
We’re no longer an “event.” We’re a show.
This is a shift we’ve been intentional about.
An event is something people attend.A show is something people experience.
A show has energy.A show has stakes.A show has story.
Pitch Lift is a show because we’re not just giving founders a microphone…
We’re showcasing founder stories in the most unique and exciting way possible:
inside an actual elevator.
It’s fast.
It’s intense.
It’s real.
And it forces clarity.
The lesson for founders
Every founder hits moments where the pressure turns up:
the stakes feel higher
the workload gets heavier
the outcome matters more
and the “margin for error” feels smaller
This week is one of those moments for us.
And here’s what I’ve learned after 8 years in this game and thousands of founder conversations:
You don’t rise to the moment.You fall back to your preparation.
That’s what separates founders who get momentum…
from founders who just get stressed.
So whether you’re launching a product, hiring your first team, or raising a round…
Here’s the playbook:
✅ Do the work early
✅ Simplify the plan
✅ Get your reps in
✅ Control what you can control
✅ Show up anyway
Momentum doesn’t come from comfort.
Momentum comes from committing when it would be easier to wait.
To everyone coming tonight
Thank you for believing in what we’re building.
This show is for founders — and it’s built because the ecosystem is choosing to build together.
We’ll be filming.
We’ll be capturing stories.
We’ll be creating moments.
And we’re just getting started.
Let’s lift some pitches.
Until next time—keep building.
Cheers,
Steve Walsh
Hands On Angel
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