EP32 — 4 Lessons Learnt From Student Startups

Wondering just how to create a concise and impactful pitch deck? In this episode I walk you through a five step template I come back to, every time I review someone's pitch deck.Now it's yours!Let me know how you get on - [email protected], if you're enjoying the show, we would LOVE it if you could leave us a little review 💕. Thanks!

This is a long episode, but worth every minute. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and join me and Doone Roisin as we talk through her remarkable journey. Doone Roisin is the founder and host of the popular podcast show, Female Startup Club, ranking in the Top 50 charts for Entrepreneurship. As a digital marketing expert, Doone has worked for global brands such as Snapchat, IMG and The Iconic – Australia’s largest online retailer. As an entrepreneur, she has launched her own companies, including the renowned direct-to-consumer jewellery brand, Kincs, the Female Startup private network and her soon to be launched new venture; a non alcoholic wine company.Since 2020, she has interviewed over 200 successful businesswomen, in a mission to educate and elevate female entrepreneurs around the world. She is actively supporting the Malala Fund in an effort to fight for girls' rights around the world and provide every girl the access to 12 years of safe, free education.More from Doone and FSC:Female Startup ClubLinkedin@dooneroisin on IG, Twitter, and TikTok

Today I talk with Philip Eliot, Operating Partner at Orchid Black, and someone who has tremendous experience in Venture Capital (20+ years!). I ask what makes startups and founders resilient though economic downturns, and what might be contributing to this abysmal statistic we keep hearing about: how female founded teams receive only 2.3% of venture capital out there. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too! What do you think? Is there a pipeline issue? How have you navigated entering the tech industry? Email me on [email protected] - I'd love to feature you on the show!Philip has been a venture capital investor for the last 20+ years, primarily in the enterprise software sector and more recently in the social impact sector as well (environmental sustainability, health, and economic mobility). After working as a strategy consultant at Dean and Company, with a focus on the telecommunications and utilities sectors, he began his venture capital career in 2000 at FBR Technology Venture Partners (FBRTVP). That was the height of the Internet bubble, and FBRTVP was one of the leading firms on the East Coast, ultimately producing a return of almost 10x to its investors. In 2018, he launched his own investment and advisory firm, Reflection Ventures, which focuses on early stage companies with positive social impact, in areas such as environmental sustainability, healthcare, and improving upward socio-economic mobility for lower-income Americans. He is currently an operating partner at Orchid Black where he has been advising cleantech and enterprise software companies. Philip holds an undergraduate degree in Physics from Harvard University.Learn more about Philip and Orchid Black here:Orchid BlackLinkedin

On this episode I'm joined by Mara Larson-Richard, co-CEO of Ada's List. We discuss her views on ethics and AI, the definition of a "woman in tech" and why it's often misunderstood, what female founders need more of, and finally, how to cultivate great networks. If you're interested in the Ada's List conference, you can get tickets here: Ada's List Annual Conf 2021 (onlive.events) and become a part of the community here: http://www.adaslist.co Mara Larson-Richard brings experience from politics, education and technology to her role in leading Ada’s List. Mara started her career working for Hillary Clinton, founded and successfully exited her own business, and most recently founded and grew the International business for Civitas Learning, an AI company serving more than 400 educational institutions globally. Mara is a frequent speaker on AI, data and ethics, including providing testimony in the British Parliament at the Technology and Data Ethics Inquiry. Along with her work at Ada’s List, Mara is currently attending the INSEAD GEMBA programme and is an active research contributor on the project lead by Northumbria University on using predictive analytics to improve student wellbeing as part of the Office for Students Mental Health Challenge Call. Mara lives in London where she loves pilates, unique experiences and spicy food.Find more of Mara:https://www.twitter.com/MaraRichardhttps://www.instagram.com/MaraLarsonRichardLinkedIn: Mara Larson-RichardFollow Ada's List:https://www.twitter.com/adaslist  https://www.instagram.com/adas_listLinkedIn: Ada's List

Today, I look back at coaching and mentoring students. While they face many a same startup challenge, their outlook on the journey can be inspiring for us all.Join the conversation on: [email protected] https://www.mennenia.com

If you are in business because you’re looking to make a huge impact in the world, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Sofia Queiroz and Henry Wigan from Mustard Seed MAZE, a VC firm who believe social good and profitable businesses go hand in hand. Among others, their portfolio houses companies such as Olio, where Saasha and Tessa usher in the food sharing revolution and Beulah where founders Lavinia and Natasha empower survivors of human trafficking.We discussWhat might be contributing to the lack of funding of women entrepreneursHow MSM have a pipeline and portfolio of 30% female foundersWhat contributes to a great founder worth investing inThe one thing their female founders have in commonLearn more about MSM on their website, twitter and linkedin.Connect with Henry on linkedin and Sofia on linkedin.Henry co-founded Mustard Seed, and is a Board Member of MAZE. He was formerly a Director and Portfolio Manager at BlackRock in London, having started his career at Goldman Sachs. Henry was the recipient of the GSGL academic scholarship for social entrepreneurship and holds a First Class Honours degree from London School of Economics in Economics and Economic History. Henry serves on the boards of Winnow, Goodclub, Outmind, Student Finance and Knok Healthcare.Sofia is part of the investment team at MSM. Sofia's main focus is to identify the great businesses of the future, build the impact case of the ventures we partner with and help them scale while growing their social and environmental outcomes. Previously a Financial Services Consultant at Deloitte. MSc in ESCP Europe, BSc in Management from Catolica Lisbon School of Business.

Sehaam is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), founder of Better Conversations, and creator of the online course for leaders, CPD Certified Leaders Who Coach™.A seasoned entrepreneur and business owner, her coaching, consulting and teaching focuses drawing out the human in us to deepen our understanding of one another and strengthen our relationships. Because it’s our ability to reach across the divide and build inviting bridges, emotional connections, that earn us permission to influence for good.Sehaam is also the host of Better Conversations Podcast, giving her the privilege of exploring the minds of many diverse and wonderful humans, and holding disarmingly intimate conversations about conversations.Of Arab-English heritage, she is a single mum to 3 teenagers, a Fox Red Labrador and a long-haired ginger cat to match. Every morning is feeding time at the zoo.Find more of Sehaam here:Better ConversationsSehaam's courses and programsSehaam's Podcast

Harvard Business Review and Crunchbase have reported that in 2020 only 2.3% of VC capital went to women owned businesses. (see here: Women-Led Startups Received Just 2.3% of VC Funding in 2020 (hbr.org))This is outrageously low.In this episode I introduce our Investment Impact Series, a long time in the making, where I team up with fantastic people — angel investors, founders, VC firms — people with years of experience in this field to share their thoughts on why this is and what we could be doing differently.Learn more at https://www.cuttingthroughtech.com/lets-talk-about-the-2-3-percent

Many women I speak with have considered starting a tech company, when really, their unique value centers around their content. In this case, technology is just an efficient delivery vehicle. A few years ago, Eleanor found herself asking the same question as she continued to expand her growing coaching business. By honing in on what made her 7-figure business untouchable, she was able to set a very clear strategy that has skyrocketed her business even further. Listen as she walks us through it all in EP28 of Cutting Through Tech.Want to hear more from women’s business and leadership expert, Eleanor? You can find her at: eleanorbeaton.compowerpresenceposition.comincubatormastermind.comEleanor Beaton is the founder of SafiMedia, an education & coaching company for women entrepreneurs. SafiMedia is committed to advancing global gender equity one woman-owned business at a time. Together with her colleagues, Eleanor is on a mission is to double the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenue by 2030. Eleanor hosts the Power + Presence + Position podcast, a top-ranked podcast for female founders with over 1.5 million downloads to date. The former chair of the Visiting Women’s Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management, Eleanor has been featured in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and more.

You want to launch a tech business. You’re already familiar with popular methodologies, like The Lean Startup. You’re ready up for the race that is entrepreneurship. But now you encounter barriers, stopping you in your tracks and jeopardising your dream. Let’s look at how to beat those odds.Read the article at www.startupsmagazine.co.uk. Hit us up on Twitter (@mennenia) or email in on [email protected].