Kay retweeted
He's an early investor in 150+ startups, including Gusto, Liquid Death, and Mercury. Book @jamesbeshara to get advice on:
✔️ How to craft your pitch deck
✔️ Fundraising from angels & VCs
✔️ Strategies for startup growth
✔️ ... and more
Book me on Intro: intro.co/marketplace?source=…
Kay retweeted
The founder of @solana is now on Intro! Book Raj to get advice on:
✔️ Blockchain technology
✔️ Fundraising for your tech startup
✔️ Going from 0 to 1
✔️ Scaling & operations
✔️ ... and more
Book me here: intro.co/marketplace?source=…
Kay retweeted
She got laid off from her job, became an entrepreneur, and sold her last company for $235 million.
Today, Kim Perell has invested in 100+ startups, including Winnie Harlow's new suncare brand which she co-founded.
Here's her advice on pitching an investor:
1. Master your elevator pitch
You should be able to explain your idea to anyone at any time.
Kim's advice? Be concise.
If you can't explain what your business does in less than 20 seconds, your elevator pitch is too long.
The extended version of your pitch should take no more than 20 minutes.
Remember: Your first meeting with investors will be short. A clear and concise message is key.
2. Account for every possible question
Your pitch needs to address every question an investor could have.
Questions like:
- What is the market need, and who is demanding it?
- How does your idea solve that need?
- How will your business idea make money?
- What have other companies in the space sold for?
- How much capital will you need, and how will you use it?
Investors want to know what they will get out of their investment, so be prepared to answer some tough questions.
3. Convince investors to believe in you
Your biggest challenge is convincing investors to believe in your ability to execute, so tell them your story.
What have you done that proves you can make this happen?
Businesses may change and trends may pivot — investors need to be confident that you can pivot, too.
Surround yourself with a team that supplements any perceived weaknesses. Balance realism and passion so potential investors can see that you will persevere, no matter what it takes.
If you don't feel confident in yourself, how do you expect investors to be confident in you? Exude confidence, even if you're not 100% sure how to answer a question.
Key takeaways:
1. Master your elevator pitch
2. Prepare for every possible question
3. Be confident
Want to get feedback on your pitch? Book Kim Perell on Intro.
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Kay retweeted
The co-founder of Foursquare is now on Intro! Schedule a call with @dens if you want advice on:
✔️ Fundraising from top VCs
✔️ Building a viral tech startup
✔️ How to go from 0 to 1
✔️ Growth & Scaling
✔️ ... and more
Book me on Intro: intro.co/marketplace?source=…
Kay retweeted
He grew up in poverty, selling flowers on street corners while also caring for his sick mom.
Today, he runs a $1 billion portfolio that has invested in 100+ successful startups.
He's partnered with Gary Vee, David Chang, and Christina Tosi to build VaynerMedia, Momofuku, and MilkBar.
Read this story if you need a reminder that your current circumstances ≠ your future success.
@mhiggins was raised by a single mom in Queens, New York.
He lived in a shoebox apartment with his mom and three brothers, where Matt slept on a mattress on the floor.
From a young age, Matt realized that if he wanted to break the pattern, he would have to follow his own path.
His mom was struggling with her health. Yet, despite her tough circumstances, she was a huge inspiration to him.
She was a high school dropout, but at age 38, returned to school to get her GED and two master's degrees.
Inspired by her journey, Matt had a realization...
"If I drop out of high school on purpose, I can also get my GED early. If I can go to college early, I can get a high-paying job and get us out of this situation."
And so he did.
Starting in 9th grade, he was held back three years in a row.
(Again, this was his master plan to get into college early.)
On his last day of high school, he went to turn in his textbooks.
His teacher said in front of the whole class:
"Higgins, what a waste. I'll see you at McDonald's."
Matt replied:
"If you see me at McDonald's, it's because I own it".
And guess what happened next?
He worked multiple jobs while going to school at night. 7 years later, he graduated from Queens College with a degree in political science.
He then got a law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
HE DID IT.
His career started taking off.
At age 26, he became the youngest press secretary in NYC history.
Everything was falling into place.
Until...
Sadly, on his first day at his new job, his mom passed away.
It was the toughest day of his life.
Matt knew that if his mom had been able to live longer, she was on the verge of reaching her fullest potential.
In her honor, he decided to reach his fullest potential.
He went on to:
- Become the youngest press secretary in NYC history
- Run the business of two NFL teams
- Appear on ABC's Shark Tank as a Shark
- Partner with Gary Vee to launch VaynerMedia
- Lead the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan after 9/11
- Teach at Harvard Business School
- Invest in 100+ startups like Momofuku and MilkBar
- Start RSE Ventures with billionaire Stephen Ross
- Become a WSJ bestselling author with his book "Burn The Boats"
... the list goes on and on.
This story is proof that you can overcome the toughest circumstances.
Your current circumstances ≠ your future success.
Scaling a business? You can now book Matt Higgins on Intro.
--
Repost and follow @useintro to learn how the world's most successful entrepreneurs built $100M+ businesses.
Kay retweeted
Building a B2B software startup? Zack Urlocker is now on Intro! Schedule a call for advice on:
✔️ Fundraising from VCs
✔️ Scaling your software startup to $1B
✔️ Lessons from Zendesk, Duo, PagerDuty
✔️ B2B SaaS
✔️ ... and more
Book me on Intro: intro.co/marketplace?source=…
Kay retweeted
In Founder Mode?
Alright let’s go!
I’ve been a shark on Shark Tank, cofounded numerous businesses from defense tech to international soccer.
I’ve run two NFL teams, acquired Magnolia Bakery, sold businesses for hundreds of millions of dollars. I’ve been within days of running out of runway, shaking with night sweats.
Whenever I was stuck, I realized only in hindsight that I had the answer stirring inside me all along.
But what I needed was someone who had been there, done that to hold up a mirror to my untapped potential.
Instead of being a roadblock.
A 15 min chat can change your life:
intro.co/MattHiggins
Kay retweeted
"You can recognize the first-timers because they are too secretive. Once you've done a few startups, you realize how much execution, difficulty, and risk there is." - Naval Ravikant (founder of AngelList, valued at $4B)
--
Follow @useintro for daily startup advice.
Kay retweeted
She got rejected by every single investor when pitching her "Chinese hot sauce". Today, her $50M Chinese food brand is sold in 5,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Target, and Costco.
Here's the story of how Jing Gao quit her tech job, raised $120K on Kickstarter, and produced her first batch of Sichuan chili crisp👇
Jing Gao is the founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, a company specializing in Sichuan flavors, like its ultra-popular chili crisp, hot pot kits, and frozen dumpling line.
Jing was born in Chengdu, China, but lived all over the world as her father was a traveling professor.
After living in Canada for over a decade, a job offer brought her back to Asia, where she lived in Beijing, Shanghai, and Singapore.
“When I was in China,” she reflects, “it was the first time I had realized how disconnected I had become from my heritage.”
Jing quickly reconnected to her culture through the local flavors of Chengdu.
She started an underground supper club showcasing Sichuan cuisine, hosting private dinners across the world.
Her Sichuan chili crisp was a big hit at her dinner parties, most guests asked if she had extra sauce they could take home.
That was the exact moment when Jing realized this could be a business. She continued to host dinner parties all over the world.
While in California, she attends Expo West, the natural food industry’s biggest trade show.
She was shocked to find out that only 5 out of 3,000 food vendors were Asian food brands.
She did what every entrepreneur would do: figure out if there's any demand for her business idea.
She launched a Kickstarter campaign.
Campaign goal: $35K
Actual money raised: $120K!!!!!
Consider the idea VALIDATED! She had proven that there was a ton of demand for her products and yet...
Investors told her it was "too niche" and they passed on investing 🙃
But guess what happened next?
Her Sichuan chili sauce blew up, revenue 20x'd, and she raised $12M through private equity.
Today, her $50M Chinese food brand is sold in 5,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Target, and Costco.
3 takeaways for entrepreneurs:
1) Validate your idea. Jing launched a Kickstarter to confirm whether there would be actual demand for her Asian food brand. After she got an overwhelming response, she went all-in 👏
2) Find a gap in the market. Jing recognized an untapped market opportunity in the Asian food brand space. The best way to find business ideas is to pick an industry you love & keep studying it.
3) Persistence pays off: Despite facing rejection from investors who deemed her idea "too niche," she kept going. The reward for not giving up? Every time Jing goes to Whole Foods, she now gets to take a selfie holding her own brand 🙌
Want to get business advice from a CPG industry expert? You can now book Jing Gao on Intro.
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Kay retweeted
"The greatest people don't need to be managed. They just need a common vision. That's what leadership is." - Steve Jobs
--
Want to be a better leader? On Intro, you can work 1:1 with the world's most successful CEOs & executives. Comment "interested" to get matched.
Kay retweeted
Bill Gates & Nikhil Kamath (India's youngest billionaire) discuss entrepreneurship in India and the lack of access compared to U.S. startups.
Are you building a startup outside the U.S. and want access to the world's most successful founders & investors?
We can help: intro.co/marketplace?source=…
Kay retweeted
I wish someone told me this when I started my first venture:
Getting started is the easy part.
Scaling is what separates a small idea in a garage from a game-changing startup that can redefine a category.
Whether it’s judging pitches as a recurring shark on ABC’s Shark Tank, teaching a direct-to-consumer class at Harvard Business School, or investing in 100+ global consumer brands, I’ve seen it all.
🚀 Do you want to work with me 1:1 to scale your business from $1M to $50M+? 🚀
From broad challenges such as defining your company’s true value proposition to working on granular tactics of efficient paid acquisition, we can work together to tackle the roadblocks getting in the way of your company and rocketship growth.
I’ve had the privilege to help so many of you on Intro these past few months. I heard you loud and clear: you’re looking for an ongoing advisor for your business. Someone who acts as a sounding board every single month.
That’s why I’ve now launched a subscription plan on @useintro where founders can work with me 1:1 on an ongoing basis.
Here’s what you will get:
• 1:1 Video Calls (60 min / month)
• 1:1 Chat (Unlimited)
• Lessons on how to build a company for scale and large enterprise value
• Fundraising advice
• Guidance on: marketing, sales, business development, designing your org, culture, and more
• An emotional shoulder to lean on; a coach who can help you on this journey
Disclaimer: No pitches please. Only sign up if you’re ready to do the hard work and take your business to the next level. These plans are for businesses that are already doing $1M+ in revenue.
Ready to scale? Comment “interested” below and subscribe now:
intro.co/MattHiggins
Kay retweeted
Investors laughed at her when she was trying to raise $1M. Today, she’s worth $200M. Guess who has the last laugh? Great read 👇
Her college professors called her the “dumb twin.” Investors laughed at her when she was trying to raise $1M. Today, she’s worth $200M.
This is how Daniella Pierson went from having a newsletter with just 10 subscribers to running a $200M media empire👇
Daniella launched The Newsette from her college dorm room.
She was suffering from severe depression, ADHD, and OCD, all of which were undiagnosed at the time.
Her teachers doubted her potential, but she refused to let their opinions define her.
Daniella woke up at 5 a.m. every single day to write her newsletter while also trying to do well in school.
She leveraged Facebook to get more subscribers for her newsletter by inviting college students to become brand ambassadors for The Newsette.
It worked! The Newsette took off.
Her next goal? Fundraising.
While trying to raise $1M at a $10M valuation, one investor told her:
"You remind me of my granddaughter."
Daniella replied with:
“Oh, she must be so entrepreneurial.”
The investor said:
“No, she talks too much and doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Daniella left the room and cried the whole Uber ride home.
Once again, she didn't give up. That rejection became her fuel.
Instead of raising $1M from investors, she pushed herself to sell newsletter ads to 200 companies.
She hustled.
She grinded.
She persevered.
And guess what?
IT WORKED.
The numbers:
2019: $1M in ad sales
2020: $7M in ad sales
2021: $40M in ad sales
Today, The Newsette is worth $200M, reaching over a million daily readers.
And @fromdaniella?
She became the youngest self-made woman of color, according to Forbes.
3 takeaways:
1) Ignore the naysayers. Her college professors called her the “dumb twin.” Investors laughed at her. Today, she’s worth $200M. Believe in yourself, even when others don't.
2) Great founders know how to sell. Daniella’s ability to pitch her newsletter helped her land major deals. As a founder, you're always convincing people to buy your product. Become an expert at selling.
3) Start small. Acquire 1 customer per day. In the early days, your number 1 priority should be to get customers. Focus on 1, then 10, then 100. It's okay to grow slowly.
Which one resonates the most? Comment below.
You can now book Daniella Pierson on Intro.
--
Found this valuable? Repost and follow @useintro to learn how the world's most successful entrepreneurs built $100M+ businesses.
Kay retweeted
Her college professors called her the “dumb twin.” Investors laughed at her when she was trying to raise $1M. Today, she’s worth $200M.
This is how Daniella Pierson went from having a newsletter with just 10 subscribers to running a $200M media empire👇
Daniella launched The Newsette from her college dorm room.
She was suffering from severe depression, ADHD, and OCD, all of which were undiagnosed at the time.
Her teachers doubted her potential, but she refused to let their opinions define her.
Daniella woke up at 5 a.m. every single day to write her newsletter while also trying to do well in school.
She leveraged Facebook to get more subscribers for her newsletter by inviting college students to become brand ambassadors for The Newsette.
It worked! The Newsette took off.
Her next goal? Fundraising.
While trying to raise $1M at a $10M valuation, one investor told her:
"You remind me of my granddaughter."
Daniella replied with:
“Oh, she must be so entrepreneurial.”
The investor said:
“No, she talks too much and doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Daniella left the room and cried the whole Uber ride home.
Once again, she didn't give up. That rejection became her fuel.
Instead of raising $1M from investors, she pushed herself to sell newsletter ads to 200 companies.
She hustled.
She grinded.
She persevered.
And guess what?
IT WORKED.
The numbers:
2019: $1M in ad sales
2020: $7M in ad sales
2021: $40M in ad sales
Today, The Newsette is worth $200M, reaching over a million daily readers.
And @fromdaniella?
She became the youngest self-made woman of color, according to Forbes.
3 takeaways:
1) Ignore the naysayers. Her college professors called her the “dumb twin.” Investors laughed at her. Today, she’s worth $200M. Believe in yourself, even when others don't.
2) Great founders know how to sell. Daniella’s ability to pitch her newsletter helped her land major deals. As a founder, you're always convincing people to buy your product. Become an expert at selling.
3) Start small. Acquire 1 customer per day. In the early days, your number 1 priority should be to get customers. Focus on 1, then 10, then 100. It's okay to grow slowly.
Which one resonates the most? Comment below.
You can now book Daniella Pierson on Intro.
--
Found this valuable? Repost and follow @useintro to learn how the world's most successful entrepreneurs built $100M+ businesses.