Episode 417: Rob Hughes - Co-Founder, Koo Capital

Episode 417 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Rob Hughes, Co-Founder of Koo Capital. If you haven’t met Rob yet… you should. He is one of the personalities behind the Boston tech scene and he is doing his part to bring the extra energy and buzz that is brewing in addition to initiatives like the Massachusetts AI Coalition. We need more Rob’s, as he has a big personality and it’s only fitting that he is one of the faces behind Pitch Lift, along with angel investor, Steve Walsh. Pitch Lift is a Shark Tank style elevator pitch event that literally happens in an elevator. Founders get 30 seconds to grab the attention of an investor and make an impression before the doors open. It’s a fun but high pressure environment and you can see it in action on Instagram and TikTok. In addition to Pitch Lift, Rob is a co-founder of Koo Capital, a private credit advisory platform built by bankers for founders to help high-growth companies unlock non-dilutive capital to scale faster. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: 00:00 Introduction 02:05 Details on Pitch Lift & How it Got Started 07:20 How Pitch Lift Creates Social Content 09:26 Common Pitch Mistakes & Advice 11:59 Rob's Background & Early Career 18:13 Pivoting from Sales to Banking 22:27 Early Focus Servicing AI and ML Companies 24:45 Transition to Citizens Private Bank 29:00 Starting Koo Capital 30:58 His New Year's Resolution to Minimize Regret 31:58 Details on Koo Capital 33:24 Alternative Funding Advice for Entrepreneurs 36:17 What qualifications does Koo Capital look for? 38:24 Lessons Learned from Running his own Company 41:29 Reviving the Boston Tech Ecosystem 45:40 3 Essential Apps 46:43 Details on an Instagram Trail Reel 48:38 The importance of short video 49:50 Podcast & Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs 50:54 Rob's other passions and hobbies