​Investors don't fund decks, they fund people.

​Most founders walk into investor meetings with a performative deck and a forgettable story. They know their numbers. They know their market. But when they open their mouths, it sounds rehearsed. Or worse, boring and unmemorable.

​Whether you're just starting out on your fundraising journey, or are having trouble converting calls into checks, this workshop is for you.

​What this is:

​A live, interactive 90-minute session co-led by venture investor and startup advisor, Jess Schram, and creative producer and performance coach, Michael Linden. Together, we'll teach you the same storytelling craft that makes performers command a room and founders raise capital from prominent VCs at valuations they deserve.

​What you'll walk away with:

• ​The tools to create a pitch that sounds like you

• ​Confidence to effectively craft a story without feeling reliant on a script

• ​Ability to make people feel genuinely bought into you and your vision

• ​A structure that you can repeat in any room, with any investor

• ​Persuasion principles and frameworks that you will use for a lifetime

​Who this is for:

​Founders who are actively fundraising or will be soon. You don't need to have a polished pitch — in fact, it's better if you don't.

​Facilitated by:

​Jess Schram

​Jess Schram is a Partner and Director of Investments at Remedy Product Studio, where she backs and builds early-stage technology companies. A venture investor by day and a certified public speaking coach by training, Jess has sat on both sides of the cap table and has helped dozens of founders craft the stories that helped them raise millions. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a degree in Communication from the University of Maryland, where she graduated valedictorian and wrote her senior thesis on the world's most famous orators and the art of persuasion. She has mentored 40+ startups through Techstars and her side hustle, Field Advantage Advisory, where she has helped founders secure tens of millions of dollars in in funding at valuations that exceed expectations.

​Michael Linden

​Michael Linden is a performer, director, producer, writer, and creative consultant who has appeared in the Tony Award-winning productions of Hair and Spring Awakening, along with a decades-long career on prestigious stages around the world as a singer and actor.

​Michael is also the founder and CEO of Oakdale Entertainment, a full-service agency that creates, manages, and produces world-class entertainment for luxury cruise lines, theaters, performing arts centers, and unique venues worldwide.

​Format: Virtual via Zoom | 90 minutes | Small cohort

​Cost: $45

​Spots are limited!