The Founders Playbook: How to Build, Fund and Pitch Your Startup

If you’re a founder, or dreaming of becoming one, this episode is your essential starter pack. I’m joined by Hattie Willis, founder of GuessWorks and If We Raise, to break down everything you need to know about building, funding, and sustaining a company…

We begin by stripping away the jargon and exploring the different types of entrepreneurs and what it really means to be a founder. From there, we dive into the world of investors: the types you’ll encounter, whether raising is right for you, and the red flags and green flags every founder should watch for.

Pitching is another area we go deep on, how to pitch to clients, your team, and, of course, investors, with practical advice you can put into action immediately. We also unpack the funding gap, what it means for women and underrepresented founders, and how to address it. Finally, we close with a conversation on founder wellbeing because building a business shouldn’t come at the cost of your health and happiness

This conversation is as close as you’ll get to a founder’s playbook. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode is your go-to resource for building smarter, pitching better, and thriving as a founder.

what you will learn in todays episode:

The biggest myths and jargon in entrepreneurship (and what they actually mean)
How to identify what type of founder you are
The key differences between raising and bootstrapping and how to know which path is right for you
Red flags and green flags when working with investors
How to pitch effectively to clients, teams, and investors
Why the funding gap exists and how founders can navigate it
Practical strategies for protecting and prioritizing founder wellbeing

Connect with Hattie Willis
GuessWorks: [https://www.guessworks.co](https://www.guessworks.co/)
Not my first guess instagram https://www.instagram.com/notmyfirstg...
If We Raise: https://www.ifweraise.com/about
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hattie-wi...

Connect with me
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