Debi Kleiman, "First Pitch: Winning Money, Mentors, and More for Your Startup" (Babson College Publishing, 2020)

Today I talked to Debi Kleiman about her new book First Pitch: Winning Money, Mentors, and More for Your Startup (Babson College Publishing, 2020). For anyone who has ever watched Shark Tank, you know that investors respond not only by investigating business metrics but also by trying to get a sense of the entrepreneurs’ drive, smarts, and openness to coaching. This episode covers both the “clues” investors look for like confidence and the 4H framework that Kleiman has honed by listening to well over 1,000 pitches in-person during the course of her career. From a headline that sets the context, to making the audience feel something, taking them on a hero’s journey of what might be possible if this startup gets funded is crucial. Not to be overlooked is Kleiman’s advice on how female founders that do better than the meager 2% of all venture funding that typically comes their way to date. Debi Kleiman is an award-winning marketer, educators, and mentor. Now a managing partner of the Upside Angels, which invests in early-stage startups, she was previously the Executive Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College. Her MBA is from Harvard Business School. Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of eight books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. (https://www.sensorylogic.com). To check out his related “Dan Hill’s EQ Spotlight” blog, visit https://emotionswizard.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices