I explore this question in my short, partly visual emails, crafted through my lens as a pitch designer in deep-tech. Join me for insights on effective communication, marketing, design, psychology, and the philosophy of value.
Not a 'Storyteller'?
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As a professional, especially in STEM related fields, the idea of being a "storyteller" to succeed might not sit well with you. I get it. I don’t use the term myself—'storytelling' can feel like spinning the truth, putting words over actions. But how do you communicate effectively without compromising who you are? That’s where NARRATIVE comes in. Your story is the unchangeable sequence of events—the facts of your journey. It’s not something you should, or even can, alter without losing a sense of truth. Your narrative, however, is how you frame those facts. It’s about perspective, structure, and the order in which you share events. Imagine you’re filming a documentary. Take an example: Story: Emily dreams of becoming a chef. Despite financial difficulties and no family support, she works hard, takes odd jobs, and eventually enrolls in culinary school. After years of dedication, she opens her own successful restaurant. Narrative 1: “I wanted to be a chef, but life had other plans. Late nights, odd jobs, and endless doubt—it was a grind. But I kept going, driven by the vision of my own restaurant. Today, that dream is my reality.” Narrative 2: Emily’s restaurant quickly became a local success, achieving a 30% profit margin within six months and serving over 200 customers daily. But this success wasn’t an accident. It was the result of three years of disciplined savings from working multiple jobs, which allowed her to invest $50,000 into launching her restaurant. Same story, different impact. Here's the thing.. If your business depends on your constant communication, developing a sense of narrative is non-negotiable. The right narrative ensures your message hits home without changing who you are. Yours, Sagi |
What makes people see value in a thing?
I explore this question in my short, partly visual emails, crafted through my lens as a pitch designer in deep-tech. Join me for insights on effective communication, marketing, design, psychology, and the philosophy of value.
Here's a thought experiment. You are a VC. About to start yet another meeting with a startup that reached out. It’s your third today - your seventh this week. After a couple of minutes of small talk, one of the founders connects their laptop and hits “Present.” You lean back in your chair, ready to listen. Now pause. What do you hope happens next? What could the founder say or do that will make you go: "Yes! This is the one. Not the team from the previous meeting. Not one of the other 22 I've...
If you’re scientifically minded, shouldn’t you question the entire premise of pitching? The idea that you are supposed to TALK people into investing in you. It’s not obvious to me that humans work that way. Don’t get me wrong, language is useful. It made us what we are as a species. But it’s also just noises you make with your mouth. It costs nothing and our subconscious knows it. Look at nature: A female wont "invest" in a mate unless he can present an impressive peacock tail or large set of...
If pitching feels like hard work, you’re probably trying to make investors agree with your solution. That’s not the optimal way to frame your pitch. Though we often ignore that fact - investors don’t evaluate your solution in isolation; they see many startups. That means that subconsciously, they’re constantly making comparisons. Here’s the thing Being selected is not the same as being agreed with. So, you need to rethink your framing: Imagine that, for the investor, each startup meeting is...