Do VCs Care About Startups Branding with Elena Mazhuha, Flyer One Ventures

Hey guys! In this issue I want to share with you the latest episode of the Brand Boost Podcast!

My guest is Elena Mazhuha, partner at Flyer One Ventures, Forbes 30 under 30, with over 5 years of experience and around 20 deals led. She's a powerhouse in the VC world! 😎

We talked about:

• Why a company name could be a disaster for your startup

• The surprising truth about how long VCs actually look at your pitch deck

• Why being too good at personal branding might backfire

• The secret to getting featured in TechCrunch

• When to start building relationships with VCs

Watch it on Youtube:

Here are 7 key takeaways from our talk:

1. Content trumps design in pitch decks. Focus on clearly communicating your problem-solution statement and team capabilities rather than obsessing over aesthetics.

2. Balance your current product with future vision in your pitch. Use a clear roadmap to show investors both your immediate plans and long-term goals.

3. Start building relationships with VCs early, even before you're ready to fundraise. Use LinkedIn and industry events to create warm connections.

4. Authenticity is crucial in personal branding. Don't try to be the next Elon Musk; be yourself and align your content with your company's strategy.

5. PR should serve a purpose. Before seeking media coverage, understand why you need it and how it aligns with your business goals.

6. Storytelling is powerful in pitches. Craft a compelling origin story for your company and use simple language to keep investors engaged.

7. Allocate sufficient time for fundraising. Plan for about 6 months, including preparation time, and aim to have a pipeline of over 50 investors.

Remember, it's all about "Numbers, Not Adjectives" when it comes to impressing VCs with your startup's brand!

How to make AI to be creative and brainstorm with you?

I posted on Youtube my Intro lecture from the AI Prompts for Brand Building: 5-Day Sprint. Check it out!

Learn in 6 minutes video how to:

• Overcome AI's limitations in generating unique ideas

• Act as a creative director in AI-assisted branding

• Craft effective prompts using the 6-key component method

• Implement the 10-80-10 rule for optimal AI collaboration

Join my “AI Prompts for Brand Building: 5-Day Sprint". The new cohort starts on Monday and costs only €19.

How It Works: Each day, you'll receive a video tutorial and a workbook with specific ChatGPT prompts to practice and apply what you've learned. I'll share insights and prompts that I use when working with brands every day, ensuring you get practical and actionable knowledge.

What You'll Achieve: In 5 days you'll have all the tools to create plenty of brand ideas, unique brand names, detailed customer personas, compelling brand stories, and a functional chatbot that reflects your brand's personality.

Here's our agenda: 

Day 1: Discover brand ideas
Day 2: Generate creative brand names 
Day 3: Create customer personas 
Day 4: Develop compelling brand messages
Day 5: Build a brand-specific Tone of Voice chatbot

Why you should join:

• 5 Days of AI Brand Building: Intensive focus on enhancing your brand using AI over 5 days.

• Daily Videos and Workbooks: Guidance with video tutorials and practical workbooks.

• No Prior AI Experience Needed: Perfect for beginners and pros alike.

• Applicable to All Brands: Whether you're starting fresh or enhancing an existing brand.

• Self-Paced with Lifetime Access: Learn at your own pace with access to course materials forever.

• Professional Insights: Get the same prompts and strategies I use in my daily work with brands.

Perfect for business owners, product and marketing managers, and brand strategists.

P.S. Don't miss out — we start on Monday! Sign up now for €19!

Have a great day,
Alex