Zak Aghbal

For everyone who has asked for help with their pitch decks, maybe this will dissuade you from asking: 10 page pitch deck with 20 investor contacts (seems to be a post-StartupFest / post-Collision activity every year)

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This week, I interviewed Lara Acosta And she's never tried maple syrup How does she even live, you ask? Let's dig in. But first, a breakdown of the week: Post Impressions: 4299 → 2132 Pieces of content posted: 2 Profile views: 392 → 425 Comments #: 100 → 59 Followers: 906 → 936 Top lessons for the week: #1 A great way to find an offer Is to think of what YOU needed a year ago How we figured it out: ↳ Thought about which niche we're experts in ↳ Asked what WE needed 1 year ago ↳ Built that The result? We're now helping creative agencies escape the feast-or-famine lead generation cycle. #2 Our new content focus: ↳ Help you make better LinkedIn videos ↳ Help you nail cold outreach as a creative agency #3 I interviewed Lara Acosta this week. (Yes, I was terrified. No, I didn't pass out.) She dropped knowledge bombs on: ↳ Why she's doubling down on video ↳ The exact numbers it's done for her biz ↳ How you can make better LinkedIn videos Full interview coming next week. #4 I've been failing at posting consistently. How do you stay consistent when building in public? Share your tips. I promise to read them. (Can't promise I'll follow them. But I'll try.) Want to learn how to make better LinkedIn videos + rock cold outreach for your creative business? Follow along. See you in week 4 🫶

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USD 100k 🤯 🤯 That's what a new eCom marketplace startup I consulted yesterday is burning to build their own mobile app for their eCom store. Note that this is a bootstrapped one. The most saddest part for me as an entrepreneur: It will take them another 8 months more to get to a stable version of the app making it a full year of development. - A year that their founders should have spent on growing the revenues. - The fund they could have used for atleast next 10 years if they used a 3rd party mobile app builder. - Upcoming year's where they will again lose time trying to perfect the app. And much more... Most traditional businesses wants their tech inhouse. But what they don't realise is all other services they use like logistics, warehousing, payment gateways, and sometimes even the products they sell are somebody else's and they are hell bent on building the tech inhouse. Think strategically my friends, spend your hard earned money on the right things.

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Do you feel like you’re pouring energy into YouTube with little to show for it? In this video, we reveal the exact strategy that turned a single YouTube video into $178,000 in five days—without ad revenue or endless content creation. You’ll learn how to leverage the Decoder to create highly focused, conversion-driven videos that position you as the go-to expert while attracting your ideal clients effortlessly. Link in Comments ==>

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🌟 Unlock the power of investing in startups with equity crowdfunding platforms like StartEngine and SeedInvest! 🌱💼 These game-changing websites have revolutionized the way regular investors can support promising startups and receive equity in return. 🚀💰 Before diving in, remember to do your due diligence: review fees, minimum investments, and platform track records to make informed decisions. 🧐💡 Success in the world of equity crowdfunding requires thorough research and a keen understanding of the risks involved. Read More- https://lnkd.in/eeJMCMvv 💪💼 #EquityCrowdfunding #Investing #Startups #FinancialFreedom

When you launch a new podcast agency — Podcasting For VCs by The Peers Project — in your favorite city on earth.🗽 VCs, you dominate NYC let’s be honest. And the reality is — 100s of you already have your own podcast. Not having a podcast as a VC in 2024 is like not having a website in 2010 – it’s imperative in order to compete! VCs, don’t be the only one in your industry (and in the City) not leveraging the power of podcasting. #podcasting #venturecapital #nyc — ✅ VCs, follow me for proven strategies to start your podcast and build your brand: Michelle Akhidenor

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Let's talk about Investor Pitching Your pitch deck is the face of your company! Here is a sample pitch deck of a startup called Bloom in

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When celebrities invest cash into startups they often get lower valuations in exchange for promotion. And I believe that is exactly what happened with Ronaldo’s latest investment in wearable technology company WHOOP. The Portuguese soccer icon just invested and became an official global ambassador for Whoop, the wearable technology company. “Whoop has had a transformative impact on my life both on and off the pitch,” Ronaldo said in a statement. “I wear Whoop while training, sleeping, and recovering. It’s been one of the most important tools helping me elevate my game and monitor my health.” The financial details of the investment have not been disclosed, but according to Whoop, the deal represents one of Ronaldo’s “most significant investments to date.” Although it could definitely be true that Ronaldo invested cash, I don’t believe he paid the full price for it (but this is just an assumption). Often when celebrities invest, they get discounted valuations or do a part equity deal in exchange for promoting the company. Ronaldo for example has 629 million followers on Instagram and is the most followed person on the platform. One post about a company and the website will probably blow up (which is exactly what Ronaldo did this morning btw announcing his partnership with Whoop). Besides getting a financial injection, most often the startups receiving the celebrity investment also gain a lot of social exposure, which they normally have to pay millions of dollars for. So it makes sense to do a part equity deal or offer a lower valuation. What do you think? 

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Investors are starting to look into Venture studios And it only makes sense… - An IRR of 60% - A proactive management process - Investing in multiple startups diversifies risk But this is only possible when  investing in the right studio So to help with that… Here are 10 aspects to consider during  due diligence with venture studios And how this process is different when investing  in Studios vs PE firms, VC funds, Accelerators, Etc.. P.S. For more In-depth venture studio insights  and statistics, follow me at (Matthew Burris) (I post every Mon-Fri 8AM EST)

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Lara Acosta thinks You should stop making videos... ...if all you want is growth and lead gen How's that for clickbait? The crazy thing though: She ain't wrong See, we've worked with dozens of businesses Most of our clients want 3 things: → More money → More customers → Really fast cars k, jokes on the last one But here's the truth: Video isn't always the answer. Lara Acosta (196k followers now) nails it: "Are you good at video? Do you even like it?" The best creators have another reason (beyond growth and leads) Because video is humbling and time-consuming: ↳ Camera setup ↳ Lighting ↳ Scripting ↳ Multiple takes Side note: Our new LinkedIn Personal Branding Video offer makes this easy for founders DM me if you're curious But if you're gonna start doing video You gotta know your 'why' beyond lead gen: ↳ Clarify your message? ↳ Show a different side of you? ↳ Connect with your audience? It's working great for us. It can for you, too. Want to see the full interview? Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3U4dCMK PS -Want 3-5 actionable video tips/week? Follow along as I build in public.

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From VC firm a16z, a guide for startup leaders to follow to create a social media presence for those leaders that contributes to your startup’s business success. “This post covers time-tested guidelines for starting from scratch, and taking a social presence from 0 to 1, including setting goals, identifying a target audience, and measuring success. Plus, tools and frameworks founders can use to know how, when, and what to post, especially if time is their biggest constraint.” https://lnkd.in/e9JdGhYp #legaltechnology #legaltech

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Can you imagine scaling your startup from 0 to $2MM ARR in just over a year? Anis Bennaceur can because he did it at Attention. Recently he joined me on the Learnings at Scale podcast. Anis is a world-class growth hacker who cut his teeth at Tinder before founding his first startup, Mixer. After a successful exit at Mixer, Anis is well on his way to repeating his success at Attention. In this episode, we talked about growth hacking, how to run experiments, and some of the actual tactics they've run at Attention to become one of the world's fastest-growing startups. Give the episode a listen and then come back and let me know what you think! Check it out on our YouTube channel here -> https://bit.ly/3L04sMe (rest of links in comments)

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Here’s why I’m bullish about the venture studio model And why more entrepreneurs, operators,  and investors should do the same  P.S. I’ve made a series of tools,  databases, and guides for studio owner Go to my profile (Matthew Burris) and check my featured section for access

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After making podcasts for unicorns like Shopify, Indeed and Alibaba, I can tell you The Peers Project’s Podcasting For VCs Guide will help you build your brand and grow deal flow.🚀 ➡️Comment “podcast” to steal this Podcast Guide and I’ll message it to you (must be connected with me!) — I’ve interviewed 250+ Founders on my global podcast PEERS and run an award-winning podcast agency in New York. ✅ VCs, follow me for proven strategies to start your podcast and build your brand: Michelle Akhidenor #podcasting #venturecapital #nyc

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Most creators are missing out on their biggest revenue opportunity... Their IP. Today, creators primarily monetize through: 1. Content sales 2. Brand deals 3. Product sales 4. Services But the future of creator income lies in monetizing their intellectual property—giving fans something unique, continuous, and interactive. That’s where TwinTone comes in. We turn creator IP into 24/7 interactive AI twins, we’re unlocking a new way for creators to engage fans and generate revenue around the clock, effortlessly without burnout. #MonetizeYourIP #CreatorEconomy #AI #Innovation #FanEngagement #IPMonetization

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