Why They Didn’t Invest
Most founders never hear the real reason an investor passed.
The feedback is vague. The follow-up goes quiet. And founders are left guessing whether it was the pitch, the numbers, the market or something they didn’t even realize they were signaling.
This Ugly Talk pulls back the curtain on investor “no’s.” Not the polite ones, but the real ones: flawed data rooms, misaligned narratives, weak fundamentals, and timing mistakes that quietly kill deals. We’ll also examine the deals investors regret passing on and what founders can learn from those misses.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
Clear up fundraising blind spots. Hear the most common reasons investors pass—pitch missteps, data room gaps, and narrative errors founders often don’t realize they’re making.
Get the unfiltered investor read. What investors in today’s market actually look for, what raises red flags, and what makes them disengage early.
Learn from missed deals. Understand why investors passed on companies they later regretted—and what founders did differently when they came back stronger.
Navigate Miami’s fundraising reality. How local dynamics, capital patterns, and ecosystem noise affect investor decision-making.
Leave with sharper signal. Practical guidance to tighten your pitch, clean up your data room, and approach your next raise with clarity and confidence.
🙋 Who You’ll Meet
Founders actively raising or planning to raise Seed–Series A
Angels, VCs, and ecosystem leaders familiar with Miami’s capital landscape
Ecosystem enablers who work in or well connected in the startup community of Miami
Builders who want honest feedback, not performative encouragement
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Emilio Escartin - Head of Investor Relations at White Manna Capital Partners, LLC
Emilio Escartin is a senior investment professional with over 30 years of experience across private equity, venture capital, and banking, spanning public and private equities, startups, and SMEs. Brings deep, hands-on expertise in deal structuring and the global raising of PE and VC funds, with a proven track record working with large institutional LPs, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. Maintains a strong international network across Europe, Latin America, the United States, and the Middle East (GCC).
An alumnus of IESE Business School and CUNEF, with executive education from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Currently serves as a Visiting Professor of Finance at IE Business School.
More speakers announcing soon! Stay tuned!
💬 What We’ll Talk About
Why investors really say no
The most common pitch, positioning, and diligence mistakes investors see—and how founders unknowingly signal risk.
Data rooms that kill deals
Red flags in metrics, documentation, and storytelling that stall or end conversations.
The pitch vs. the business
When a strong company loses because of a weak narrative—and when a great pitch can’t save weak fundamentals.
Deals investors regret passing on
What they missed, why they missed it, and what founders did differently the second time around.
Raising in Miami
Local challenges: signal vs. noise, short-term capital, founder branding, and navigating a fast-moving ecosystem without losing credibility.
Turning “no” into leverage
How to extract signal from rejection, recalibrate your approach, and re-enter the market stronger.
🤝 Co-Hosted With
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
🤝 Venue Partner
Mana Tech - At Mana Tech, our mission is to transform Miami into the ultimate hub for entrepreneurship across the Americas. From the heart of Downtown, Mana Tech is building the infrastructure of innovation that fuels this vision — connecting world-class entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and market access in a city positioned to lead the next era of hemispheric growth.
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: UglyTalk.com
🗣📢 Important Notice for Ugly Talk Attendees
Admission & Confirmation
Attendance is by approval only. Approved guests will receive a confirmation email along with a calendar invite. Invitations are non-transferable. Additional event details will be shared as the event approaches.
Code of Conduct
By attending, you agree to:
Maintain respect and professionalism, adhering to all venue rules, policies, and applicable laws.
Refrain from harassment, discrimination, unwelcome sexual advances (verbal or physical), intimidation, or inappropriate photography/recording.
Report any violations to the event hosts immediately.
Violations may result in immediate removal from the event and exclusion from future invitations.
Liability & Risk
Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The event organizers, hosts, sponsors, and venue are not liable for personal injury, lost or stolen belongings, or any other damages incurred during the event.
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Agreement
If you do not agree to this Code of Conduct, please refrain from attending the event.
Official Event Page: [Link]