Siqi Chen is co-founder and CEO of Runway, and a master startup storyteller who has successfully raised tens of millions of dollars from some of the biggest names in venture capital. This is an honest conversation about how investors really think and what they actually respond to - and why it’s different from most of the advice out there.
In this episode:
Why standard pitch templates are good for investors but bad for you
The three-act structure Siqi uses to tell compelling startup stories
The four crucial questions you need to answer for investors
How to pick a good name
The risks of investing in "prestige track" founders
Full episode guide:
(00:24) Introduction of Siqi Chen and Runway
(01:15) Why traditional pitch templates don't work
(03:05) The five emotional stages of an effective pitch
(05:15) Three-act structure for startup storytelling
(10:01) Four key questions investors need answered
(12:33) What’s in a name?
(17:51) How to balance brand with performance marketing
(24:02) Lessons from a decade of angel investing
(27:25) How to evaluate founders
(35:35) Closing remarks and contact information
Where to find Siqi:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siqic/
Twitter: @blader
Website: https://runway.com
How to tell a story that sells your startup to investors