​IB Founder-First Series #3: The Art of the MVP

​Founder-First is our series for early-stage founders. Last session was on validating demand before you spend a dollar. This one picks up right where that left off.

​📅 Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

​It’s easy to hide behind dense slides and industry jargon. It feels safe. But real investor and audience engagement happens when you strip away the clutter and lead with a clear, compelling story.

​In this session, Nicholas Adams of NINICO® breaks down the art of high-stakes storytelling and pitching. We’ll cover:

• ​The Cut List: How to aggressively strip out fluff and focus on the story that matters.

• ​Hooking the Room: Framing your problem and solution so people get it in the first 30 seconds.

• ​Handling the Tough Questions: Turning Q&A moments into opportunities rather than defense sessions.

​This isn't a lecture — it's an interactive conversation designed to refine your narrative. Bring your early-stage pitches, your draft slides, and your messiest ideas.

​💡 What You’ll Learn

• ​Narrative Optimization: Stripping away the technical jargon to highlight the single most compelling core of your story.

• ​Audience Hooking: Structuring your opening 30 seconds to immediately grab investors, customers, or partners.

• ​Q&A Strategy: Turning unpredictable questions into confidence-building narrative wins rather than defensive explanations.

• ​Capital & Buy-in Capture: Pitching for outcomes—framing your vision so decision-makers understand the value instantly.

​👥 Who Should Attend?

• ​Early-stage founders getting ready to raise, creators pitching new ideas internally or externally, and anyone struggling to explain what they do without confusing their audience.

​🍕 Food and drinks will be provided.

​Hosted by Innovate Bay.