Feel the Boot

Afleveringen

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  Investors Judge You Before You Say a Word 23.06.2026 37min

  Investors form their first judgment about you before you've said a word about your product. At the early stage they bet on the founder, not the idea, which makes the signal you send long before the pitch one of the most important things you can control. In episode 133, Lance Cottrell sits down with Christine Blosdale, the Expert Authority Coach, to turn personal branding into something practical for founders who are raising money. They get into why expertise so often fails to translate, how to fix a pitch deck that buries the point, and the difference between confidence and the kind of braggadocio that makes investors run. Christine shares the "crown jewels" approach to surfacing the parts of your background that actually matter to investors, and Lance connects each idea back to the pitch decks and team slides he reviews every week. You'll also hear why your headshot and team slide quietly decide how seriously you're taken, how to handle imposter syndrome before a raise, and what it means that investors now Google and ChatGPT your name before a meeting. If you're a founder building credibility, visibility, and investor trust, this one is for you. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Investors judge you before you say a word 1:15 - Why expertise doesn't translate: clarity over credentials 3:11 - Bet on the founder, not the product 3:45 - The media kit photo that opened doors 5:51 - Build your founder press kit (your crown jewels) 8:21 - The 10-second elevator pitch (and the $5M version) 9:32 - Confidence without the arrogance 11:49 - Imposter syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger trap 13:09 - Why great actors battle imposter syndrome 13:56 - "Why you?" Proving you're the right founder 16:38 - The Walt Disney story: surfacing hidden value 18:34 - You're too close to your own pitch deck 19:29 - LinkedIn and video: where investors hunt 21:54 - Headshots and the team slide that kills your raise 25:21 - Props that make founders memorable 28:16 - When to start, and your AI-era footprint (ChatGPT) 30:37 - Books, content, and the biggest bang for your buck 35:18 - Free quiz: rate your expert authority 36:44 - It's never too late LINKS Blog post: https://ftb.bz/133B Watch on YouTube: https://ftb.bz/133V Podcast: https://ftb.bz/podcast Free Startup Fundraising Toolkit: https://ftb.bz/raise-yt From Christine Blosdale: Free Expert Authority quiz: https://expertauthorityquiz.com Website: https://www.christineblosdale.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-blosdale-579697168 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christineblosdale/ ABOUT FEEL THE BOOT Feel the Boot helps early-stage founders raise money and build companies that last. Lance Cottrell is an angel investor, founder of Anonymizer, and president of North Bay Angels, teaching the fundraising process he wishes he'd had when he started. New videos on pitching, investors, and startup strategy every week.
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  Stop Asking for Warm Intros First (They Come Last) 02.06.2026

  Warm introductions are the gold standard for getting investor meetings. But most founders chase them at the wrong time, and it actually hurts their raise.
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  Friends & Family Round: How to Protect Your Relationships AND Raise Money 19.05.2026 9min

  The friends and family round is how most founders raise their first capital — but it's also where the most relationships get damaged. If you don't structure it right, you can accidentally screw over the people trying to help you, torpedo your next funding round, and make every family gathering awkward for years. In this episode, I break down exactly how to talk to your friends and family about investing, how to structure the deal using a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), and the ethical responsibilities you have when your investors trust you more than they understand the deal. Plus, I'll give you a tool you can send directly to your prospective investors that explains everything they need to know — from someone with no conflict of interest. Whether you're pre-revenue, pre-product, or just trying to figure out how to ask your parents for startup capital without ruining Thanksgiving, this episode has you covered. ## Links Blog post: https://ftb.bz/131B YouTube: https://ftb.bz/131V Free Startup Fundraising Toolkit: https://ftb.bz/raise-yt Video to share with your F&F investors: https://ftb.bz/friends-and-family-explainer Y Combinator SAFE templates: https://www.ycombinator.com/documents
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  How to Build a Go-to-Market Engine That Makes Investors Pay Attention — with Javier Lozano Jr. 14.04.2026 47min

  Most founders are doing "random acts of marketing" — a little LinkedIn, some ads, a blog here and there. Trying to be everywhere, succeeding nowhere. Javier Lozano Jr. was the CMO at Wrapmate during their run from ~$1M to over $20M in revenue and a $16M raise. His fix was counterintuitive: do less. Find the one channel showing signals, go all in, and master it before adding anything else. In this episode, Javier talks about changing one variable that took their ideal customer profile hit rate from 15% to 95% on the same budget — and how his team used "narrative engineering" to build the credibility trail that made their raise possible months before they needed the money. Show notes and full transcript: https://ftb.bz/130B Watch on YouTube: https://ftb.bz/130VYT Free Fundraising Toolkit: https://core.feeltheboot.com/raise?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=organic_content&utm_content=ep130 Subscribe to BootPrints: https://ftb.bz/join-p
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  Your Product Won't Speak for Itself — Why Technical Founders Get Overlooked | Shayna Davis 24.03.2026 44min

  Most technical founders think their product will do the talking. It won't. Shayna Rattler-Davis has spent 15+ years helping leaders at companies like IBM, L'Oréal, and dozens of STEM startups learn how to show up with credibility in high-stakes environments. She hosts The Influence Economy Podcast (top 3% globally) and works with technical founders who are brilliant at building but struggle the moment they have to represent their company externally. In this conversation, we dig into: The competency gap most technical founders don't realize they have Why investors bet on leaders, not products — and what they're actually looking for How to develop your leadership identity before you start raising The difference between thought leadership and just reciting your feature list Where to start if you have zero public presence and a fundraise on the horizon The mistakes founders make when trying to project credibility they haven't built yet A dead simple weekly exercise your whole founding team can start today Shayna drops a story about watching 24 people on tech panels in a single day and only ONE who didn't need help. If that doesn't make you question how you're showing up externally, nothing will. Get Shayna's free insights report on leadership identity, branding, and messaging for technical leaders: https://techinfluence.us Connect with Shayna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaynarattler/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://ftb.bz/129V Read the full blog post: https://ftb.bz/129B ️ Free Fundraising Toolkit — Investment Readiness Scorecard, Validation Blueprint, Pre-Seed Valuation Guide, and more: https://ftb.bz/raise
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  Hockey Enforcer to $110M: Dave Burnett on Grit, Time, and Making AI See Your Startup 03.03.2026 55min

  Former hockey enforcer Dave Burnett took punches for a living, then helped build Achievers.com (sold for $110M), watched his own business go to zero twice, and came back both times. In this episode, we dig into why founders with non-traditional backgrounds often outperform the textbook startup playbook, how to make sure AI models actually know your startup exists, and a time management system built around 1,440 minutes that will change how you think about your day. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:32 Dave's path from hockey enforcer to serial entrepreneur 1:36 Building Achievers.com and the $110M exit 3:08 Why non-traditional founders have an edge 3:52 The enforcer mentality and entrepreneurial grit 7:05 Building for the future: swappable AI engines 8:25 AI models are commodities, not loyalties 10:30 AI is table stakes now 10:43 The dumbbell theory: where to build in the age of AI 15:53 AI visibility: does ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini know your startup exists? 19:47 What separates visible companies from invisible ones 21:00 How to use LLMTel to check your AI visibility 23:01 What early-stage founders should do now to show up in AI 25:18 GEO vs. SEO: what's different, what's the same 26:48 Mid-roll break 27:09 The 1,440-minute time management system 31:04 Color-coding your day in 10-minute blocks 32:23 Constraint-based prioritization: always work on the bottleneck 34:36 Embracing uncertainty and getting comfortable with failure 36:23 Building things nobody wants (and how to avoid it) 38:27 Why Dave went so granular on time tracking 40:51 Surviving a traumatic brain injury while running multiple companies 41:51 Notifications are other people's priorities 46:54 It's going to suck, and that's normal 47:59 When to pivot vs. when to double down 50:23 Going to zero twice: Great Recession and COVID 53:03 Business as an infinite game 55:01 Closing thoughts LINKS & RESOURCES Dave Burnett's AI Visibility Tool (LLMTel): https://llmtel.com Dave's Digital Marketing Agency: https://aokmarketing.com Dave's Book "From Bricks to Clicks": https://aokmarketing.com/book Dave on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davebburnett FREE FUNDRAISING TOOLKIT Grab templates and tools I built for the founders I coach: https://feeltheboot.com/raise Watch the video version of this episode: https://ftb.bz/128V Read the full blog post: https://ftb.bz/128B ABOUT FEEL THE BOOT Feel the Boot helps early-stage startup founders navigate the fundraising process. Whether you're preparing for your first pre-seed round or struggling to close a seed raise, we cover the strategies, frameworks, and mindset you need to raise capital and build a fundable company. Hosted by Lance Cottrell, angel investor and president of North Bay Angels. Subscribe and follow Feel the Boot wherever you listen to podcasts for episodes on startup fundraising, pitch decks, investor outreach, financial modeling, and founder strategy.
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  The 4 Filters: Why You Aren’t Fundable... Yet 10.02.2026 29min

  Most founders think fundraising fails because of "bad luck." Usually, it fails because of simple physics. Fundraising is a sales funnel. If you have a structural leak at the top, no amount of "slick" pitching will produce a check at the bottom. In this episode, we pop the hood on pre-seed fundraising to look at the four filters your startup must pass before you even think about building a deck. Stop the "Fundraising Theater" and start building a machine that investors actually want to buy. Read the full blog post: https://ftb.bz/127B Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/127V [FREE TOOL] THE INVESTMENT READINESS SCORECARD Don't guess if you’re ready. Use the same diagnostic tool I use to screen startups for the North Bay Angels. Identify your gaps and fix them before you waste your one "bite at the apple." Get the Toolkit & Scorecard: https://www.FeelTheBoot.com/raise WHAT WE COVER: Filter 1: The Math (Portfolio Physics): Why a "nice" business isn't always a venture-investable business. We look at the $100M revenue requirement and the "Why Now" delta. Filter 2: The Evidence (Market Pull): The difference between "that’s a good idea" and "I need this now." We discuss unit economics and why $1 of marketing must generate $2 of net profit. Filter 3: The Moat (Structural Defensibility): Why being a "first mover" is often a disadvantage and how to build friction that stops well-funded predators from crushing you. Filter 4: The Machine (Founder-Market Fit): Why investors don't fund science experiments and how to prove you have the unique insight to execute your blueprint. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 The "Fundraising Theater" Trap 1:30 Why 99% of Success is Decided Before the Pitch 3:15 Filter 1: The Harsh Math of Venture Capital 5:45 The "Corpse Audit": Why Timing is Your Delta 8:10 Case Study: The "Empty Box" Pitch at North Bay Angels 11:20 Filter 2: Proving Customer Hunger 14:45 Filter 3: Defensibility & The First-Mover Fallacy 17:30 Filter 4: The Machine & Unique Insights 20:15 Is Your Startup Default Alive or Default Dead? 22:00 Your Next Step: The Readiness Scorecard ABOUT FEEL THE BOOT I’m Lance Cottrell. I’m a former astrophysicist and successful tech founder turned startup advisor. I view company building as an engineering problem with solvable mechanics. No fluff. No hype. Just the hard truths you need to reach escape velocity. Subscribe for more pragmatic startup advice: [Link to your channel] #PreSeedFundraising #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #AngelInvestors #PitchDeck #Entrepreneurship #FounderTips #FeelTheBoot
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  The Investor Warm-Up Protocol: How to Turn Cold Investors into Warm Leads 23.01.2026 6min

  If your first interaction with an investor is asking for money, you have already lost. Cold pitching investors has a success rate of nearly 0%. Warm introductions have a success rate of over 50%. The gap between those two numbers is where most fundraising rounds die. Most founders think they are stuck because they don't have a rich uncle or a deep network. The reality is: You just have the wrong process. In this episode, I break down the Investor Warm-Up Protocol, a 4-step engineering approach to manufacturing warm relationships from cold contacts. Read the full breakdown on the blog: https://ftb.bz/126B Watch The Video: https://ftb.bz/126V RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS 1. The Deep Dive (Workshop Recording): This episode is adapted from my full 90-minute workshop, "From Cold Outreach to Capital." It covers the entire system, including target list building, email scripts, and automation tools. Get the Workshop: https://FounderQuest.com/cold-outreach 2. The Full System (Founder Quest Intensive): Want to rebuild your entire fundraising stack (Model, Narrative, and Outreach) with hands-on coaching? Join the next cohort of the Founder Quest Intensive. Apply here: https://FounderQuest.com/intensive In this episode, we cover: • The Radar Ping: How to become "familiar" before you ever send an email. • The "Quick Question": The specific type of DM that gets a reply (and what gets ignored). • The Update Loop: How to automate trust-building over time. • The Trap: Why pitching on the first call kills the deal. #startup #fundraising #venturecapital #founder #entrepreneurship
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  The Super Connector System: David Homan on Building Relationships at the Speed of Trust 20.11.2025 1u 3min

  Stop Networking! Build Trust and Community to Fund Your Startup | David Homan Are you an introverted founder struggling to raise capital? Do you find most networking events to be a waste of time and purely transactional? Super connector, author, and composer David Homan reveals the systematic, high-integrity approach to connection that actually opens doors to investors, partners, and key advisors. In this powerful episode, David dismantles the myth that extroverts are the best connectors. He explains why your ability to listen deeply and build relationships at the speed of trust is your most valuable asset, turning the loneliness of the founder journey into a strength. You'll learn the crucial difference between building a transactional network and a supportive community. Key Lessons You Will Learn: • The Introvert's Advantage: Why deep listening and high-quality, intimate connections beat "spray and pray" networking every time. • The Non-Ask Strategy: How to talk to investors before you need money to build momentum and let them experience FOMO. • Reputation Capital: The true cost of a bad introduction and why you must "honor the chain of connections" to protect your most valuable currency. • The Impact Ask: A systematic way to frame your requests to potential partners or investors so they immediately recognize how they can help. • Community Security: The high cost of opportunism and the strict rules required to filter out toxic, low-integrity contacts from your inner circle. Resources & Links Find the full transcript and blog post here: https://ftb.bz/125B Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/125V Connect with David Homan: https://orchestratedconnecting.com/ Struggling to Raise Capital? If you are a founder who needs checks now and hasn't built that network yet, don't worry. Learn the proven, systematic steps for warming up cold connections and securing investment directly: Cold Outreach Workshop for Founders: https://FounderQuest.com/cold-outreach #DavidHoman #FeelTheBoot #Founder #Startup #VentureCapital #RaisingCapital #Entrepreneurship #SuperConnector #RelationshipBuilding #Introvert #SEO
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  124. The 6 Startup Pitches Every Founder Needs 26.08.2025 10min

  The 6 Startup Pitches Every Founder Needs Most founders only create one pitch deck, and it costs them investors. In this video, I’ll show you the six pitches every startup founder needs to win funding. From your 3-minute competition pitch to your self-guided deck for investors to read on their own, each version has a specific purpose. Skip one, and you risk losing the deal. You’ll learn: ✅ Why different contexts demand different pitches ✅ The right length and structure for each type of pitch ✅ How to avoid the common mistake of using the wrong deck at the wrong time ✅ How to build a self-guided deck that actually gets read By the end, you’ll know exactly how to tailor your message whether you’re on stage, in a meeting, or in an investor’s inbox. Want to go deeper? Join my Pitch Deck Alchemy workshop for a 90-minute masterclass on designing a deck that gets you funded: https://founderquest.com/pitch-deck-alchemy Read the Blog: https://ftb.bz/124B Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/124V
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  123. Founder/Market Fit: Your Startup’s Early-Stage Advantage 11.07.2025 10min

  Founder/Market Fit: Your Startup’s Early-Stage Advantage Stop guessing about “Founder–Market Fit.” In this episode I break down how investors spot it at the pre-seed stage— and what to do if you don’t have it yet. When founders enter a market they’ve never lived, credibility gaps, weak insight, and scarce access can stall everything from customer discovery to fundraising. I’ll show you: • What “Founder–Market Fit” really means and why VCs look for it before they fund • Clear warning signs you don’t have it (yet) • Practical moves to build or borrow the fit you need • How great FMF accelerates product-market fit, hiring, partnerships, and Series A readiness Whether you’re raising your first round or refining your pitch, use these ideas to turn experience into a strategic edge. RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS Blog article & full transcript https://ftb.bz/123B The Feel the Boot Video https://ftb.bz/123V Free founder community — The Crossroads https://ftb.bz/crossroads Fundability Quiz — Are you really ready to raise? https://ftb.bz/fundable
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  122. How Founders Sabotage Themselves with ChatGPT 19.06.2025 12min

  Are you outsourcing your thinking to ChatGPT? That’s a fast track to sabotaging your startup. In this episode, I share two real conversations I had with founders who said they got their market size numbers from ChatGPT. That is a red flag for any investor. The problem is not that they used AI. The problem is that they didn’t understand what the answer meant or where it came from. I walk through the right and wrong ways to use tools like ChatGPT in your startup. Whether you’re researching your target market, writing content, or creating your financial projections, you need to know what is solid and what is just noise. You will learn: • When using AI makes sense and when it is a trap • How to ask for citations so you can verify the data • Why AI-generated financials almost always fall apart • What to do instead so you can sound sharp and raise with confidence This isn’t about avoiding AI. It is about using it well so you can think clearly, move faster, and make better decisions. Join The Crossroads Founder Community: https://ftb.bz/crossroads Take the Fundability Quiz: https://ftb.bz/fundable Listen to the Podcast: https://ftb.bz/podcast Read the Blog: https://ftb.bz/122B
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  121. The mindset shift that separates stalled founders from successful ones – David Neagle interview 03.06.2025 34min

  Most founders don’t fail because of a bad idea. They fail because fear, doubt, and hesitation stop them before they ever really start. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with internationally recognized mindset coach David Neagle to talk about what keeps talented people stuck, and how to break free. We explore: • Why so many founders never launch • The mindset shift that drives real change • How to push through fear and uncertainty • The discipline behind every successful entrepreneur • Why authenticity beats confidence when raising capital or building a team David also shares his powerful personal story, from working a warehouse job to tripling his income in 30 days, and building a multi-million dollar coaching business. If you’ve been struggling with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or fear of failure, this conversation will hit home. Read the blog version with full highlights and the embedded video: https://ftb.bz/121B Prefer video? Watch here: https://ftb.bz/121V Ready to connect with fellow founders? Join the Crossroads™ community: https://ftb.bz/crossroads Get David’s free Quantum Leap Blueprint to kickstart your next breakthrough: https://www.lifeisnowinc.com/pg-ftb
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  120. Unlocking Startup Growth: Fundraising Strategies and Resilience Tips with Paulo Andrez 01.05.2025 50min

  Unlocking Startup Growth: Fundraising Strategies and Resilience Tips with Paulo Andrez What separates the startups that raise capital and scale… from those that stall out? In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with Paulo Andrez—angel investor, serial founder, and startup turnaround specialist—to talk about the real challenges early-stage founders face. We dig into: • Why most founders raise capital too early • What investors like Paulo actually look for in a startup • How to recover from failure and pivot the right way • Why founder resilience is more important than brilliance • The biggest reasons startups fail—and how to avoid them If you’re working on a startup and planning to fundraise (or already trying), this episode is a must-listen. For the full blog recap: https://ftb.bz/120B Watch the full video: https://ftb.bz/120V Join our founder community, Crossroads, to go deeper with conversations like this: https://ftb.bz/crossroads You can follow Paulo on LinkedIn at https:// www.linkedin.com/in/pauloandrez or on his website https:// www.pauloandrez.com
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  119. Pre-Sell Before You Build: Avoid Costly Startup Mistakes — with David Hirschfeld 10.04.2025 51min

  Pre-Sell Before You Build: Avoid Costly Startup Mistakes — with David Hirschfeld Most startups fail because they build something no one wants. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I talk with David Hirschfeld, founder of Tekyz and creator of the Launch First method, about how to flip the script and pre-sell your product before you build it. We explore how high-fidelity mockups, early customer conversations, and focused problem validation can help founders avoid wasting time, money, and effort on products that miss the mark. If you’re an early-stage founder, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you test, sell, and refine your idea before writing a single line of code. What you’ll learn: ✅ Why most startup products fail ✅ How to pre-sell using mockups ✅ When to raise capital—and when NOT to ✅ The difference between building what you want vs. solving real problems ✅ Why narrowing your focus is critical in the early stages Thinking about raising capital? Take my free 5-question quiz to see if you’re fundable: https://ftb.bz/fundable Connect with David Hirschfeld: Website: https://tekyz.com/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/tekyzinc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmhirschfeld Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tekyzinc Want more from this episode? Read the full blog: https://ftb.bz/119B ️ Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/119V Related video: Watch my episode on pre-pivoting your startup: [Insert link here] Chapters 00:00 Intro — Most founders build too soon 02:09 Why solving the right problem matters 06:37 The Launch First method explained 10:27 High-fidelity mockups that look real 15:17 Validating with real customer conversations 18:07 Pre-selling before you write code 21:42 Founder mindset mistakes to avoid 27:12 Why you shouldn’t raise capital too early 31:07 Real-world examples from David’s work 34:57 Final advice for early-stage founders Like this episode? Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more practical startup advice! #startups #founderadvice #productvalidation #entrepreneurship #FeelTheBoot #presell #startupfunding #startupmistakes
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  118. Avoid These Startup Finance Mistakes — Insights from a Fractional CFO 27.03.2025 28min

  Avoid These Startup Finance Mistakes — Insights from a Fractional CFO Most founders ignore finance until it becomes a problem—don’t be that founder. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with Josh Aharonoff, a fractional CFO who works with fast-growing startups to get their financials investor-ready. We talk about common finance mistakes, when to hire help, and what investors expect from your financials—especially when raising capital. If you’re pre-seed, pre-revenue, or thinking about raising capital, this conversation will help you avoid costly missteps and get your financial house in order. Read this as a blog: https://ftb.bz/118B Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/118V Take the quiz to see if your ready for funding: https://ftb.bz/fundable Topics we cover in this episode: • When founders should start caring about finance • How to avoid common finance mistakes • When to hire a bookkeeper vs. CFO • What financials investors expect at different stages • How to think about accounting (cash vs. accrual) • Tools for sales tax, payroll, and compliance • Building an investor-ready financial model Connect with Josh Aharonoff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yourcfoguy Model Wiz (Financial modeling tool): https://www.modelwiz.com Related episode: Watch my interview with John Li of PickFu to learn how to test and validate startup ideas: https://ftb.bz/102B If you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more startup advice! #Startups #Fundraising #FractionalCFO #StartupFinance #FeelTheBoot
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  117. Cold Start Your Startup Pitch: Hook Investors from the First Second 10.02.2025 4min

  Your Pitch is Losing Investors in the First 5 Seconds—Here’s How to Fix It! Most founders waste the most critical part of their pitch—the opening. Investors remember the first and last things you say. But instead of making an impact, most founders start with: “Hi, I’m [name], CEO of [company]…” That’s a HUGE mistake. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I show you how to cold start your pitch—a proven technique to instantly grab attention and keep investors engaged. You’ll learn: ✅ Why traditional intros weaken your pitch. ✅ How to hook your audience from the first second. ✅ The power of silence before you speak. ✅ A real-world comparison of bad vs. great pitch openings. Want to make your pitch unforgettable? Watch now and start strong! Read the Blog: https://ftb.bz/117B Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/117V More startup pitching tips: https://ftb.bz/pitching-playlist Get Help with your startup: https://ftb.bz/boost Take the quiz to see if you are ready for investment: https://ftb.bz/fundable Have you used a cold open in your pitch? Share your experience in the comments! Subscribe for more startup insights!
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  116. Fear is the Startup Killer: How to Overcome It and Get Started 17.01.2025 5min

  What’s stopping you from starting your dream business? For most people, it’s fear. Fear of failure, financial loss, looking foolish—or even fear of success. In this episode, we break down the most common fears entrepreneurs face and share actionable strategies to overcome them. Learn how to: ✅ Do the research that calms fear of the unknown. ✅ Test your idea with quick, low-cost experiments. ✅ Build financial and emotional safety nets. ✅ Surround yourself with mentors, advisors, and co-founders. ✅ Start small and “act as if” you’re already a founder. Your entrepreneurial journey doesn’t have to be terrifying. Take the first step today—because hope isn’t a strategy, but action is. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more startup advice and strategies! Explore more resources on https://FeelTheBoot.com ✉️ Let’s connect: subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/join Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/116B Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/116V #StartupAdvice #OvercomingFear #Entrepreneurship #FeelTheBoot
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  115. Why Startup Plans Fail (and Why That’s Okay) 01.01.2025 4min

  Why Startup Plans Fail (and Why That’s Okay) Welcome to Feel the Boot, the science of startups! In this episode, host I share three insightful sayings about planning and their relevance to startups. Using quotes from Dwight D. Eisenhower, Helmuth von Moltke, and Mike Tyson, I discuss the importance of planning and adaptability when facing unexpected challenges. Learn how to navigate the twists and turns of launching a business and how to pivot efficiently when your plans don't survive first contact. Join the discussion and share your experiences in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more valuable content! Get help with your startup https://ftb.bz/boost Subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/join Read the blog https://ftb.bz/115B Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/115V
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  114. Building Products Right: Essential Advice for Early-Stage Founders by Chad Perry 20.12.2024 37min

  Building Products Right: Essential Advice for Early-Stage Founders by Chad Perry Building a tech product as a non-technical founder can feel like a daunting challenge. Should you hire a developer? Outsource? What about mockups, tech stacks, and budgets? In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with fractional CTO Chad Perry, who’s worked with countless early-stage startups to navigate these exact challenges. Chad shares insider advice on: ✅ Why you should start with mockups (not developers). ✅ How to successfully outsource your tech development. ✅ When to hire a CTO, developer, or team—and how to decide. ✅ Tips for managing tech projects as a non-technical founder. ✅ Why focusing on your minimum viable product (MVP) is key. This episode is a must-watch for any founder building a tech product, especially if you’re overwhelmed by the process or worried about costly mistakes. Connect with Chad Perry on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/perryonfire Join the conversation: What’s been your biggest challenge when building your product? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Resources & Links: • Blog https://ftb.bz/114B • Video https://ftb.bz/114V • For help with fundraising, strategy, or messaging https://ftb.bz/Boost • More running your startup videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgMU_ie96T-I8qMi2th8SIuJfMjAkuyAe Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more startup insights! #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #techstartups #productdevelopment #FeelTheBoot --- Chad’s Bio I help founders and CEOs plan, build, and go to market with B2B SaaS products. But deep down I'm just a nerd who loves to code, market, and sell - and started a few tech companies. 20+ years in tech and software development, started a few businesses, trained with the world’s top marketing coaches, now supporting founders and executive teams in product development and strategy. If you want help starting or growing your tech business – connect with me on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/perryonfire/ Entrepreneur. Global citizen and former digital nomad. Closet hippie and probable hipster. Bicycle rider of the mountain and touring varieties. Former motorcycle rider. Aviator and pilot with a fascination for helicopters. Real life rocket scientist who's never built a rocket.