How to create a pitch deck for your startup with AIC RAISE

“You’re too old to start a business.” Naah…research tells a different story. The highest success rates in entrepreneurship come from founders in midlife and beyond. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal cited a study of millions of U.S. startups (2007–2014) showed the average founder age was nearly 42. I saw that play out last weekend at SCORE Austin's Business Masterclass pitch competition. This 12-week program is sponsored by Prosperity Bank. For 12 weeks, I’ve mentored one of the participants and watching her confidence, and her business, grow. Each of the 14 entrepreneurs came with a dream and the drive to make it real. They had two minutes to pitch their idea to a three-person panel, then answer tough questions about their plans. Their ventures ranged from home health care to regenerative power, organically sourced teas to special-event services. Most began as side hustles, and now they’re stepping boldly into their next chapter. The one thing they had in common was a dream to make an impact. So if you’re sitting on a business idea, or dreaming about a pivot, take this as a nudge: Midlife is not a setback. It’s your launchpad. If you’re exploring your own next chapter and want a thought partner on the journey, I’d be glad to connect. #NextChapter #MidlifeEntrepreneurship #SCORE #BusinessGrowth #Masterclass Texas Bankers Association SCORE Mentors

 The Founder’s First Subject – Mindset Before revenue. Before pitch decks. Before investors. The first subject every founder must master is Mindset. Entrepreneurship is not about chasing trends It’s about building resilience, patience, and clarity. If you treat it as a career, mindset is your foundation course. Ignore it, and everything else collapses. As your Startup Professor, I’ll keep repeating this truth: 👉 Businesses fail, but founders with the right mindset rise again. #StartupProfessor #EntrepreneurshipAsACareer #FounderMindset

What if one shot is all you get? That’s the pressure many entrepreneurs live with, not the freedom to fail forward, but the fear that one misstep means the door shuts for good. In our conversation, Robin Wilson gets real about what it’s like to build with that kind of weight. The pressure to be 100%, even when you’re tired, even when life is heavy, just to be taken seriously. Some get funded on a pitch. Others come with the business plan, the proof, the traction, and still have to fight for a seat at the table. 🎧 Hear this powerful moment and more on The Coach’s Corner with Denley. Have you ever felt like you had to be perfect—just to stay in the room? #StartupStruggles #LeadershipCommunity #EntrepreneurLife

Unlock the secrets to faster startup success with the power of mentorship! Discover how seasoned guidance turns challenges into growth opportunities. Why do budding entrepreneurs thrive with mentorships? You may have seen: 1. Startups scaling faster. 2. Innovative ideas taking flight. 3. Entrepreneurs navigating challenges seamlessly. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? Guidance from a seasoned mentor simplifies your path to success. Next time you face a business hurdle, ask yourself: - Who can help guide me through this? Mentorship accelerates learning and boosts success rates. Here are 3 tips to harness the power of mentorship: • Seek mentors with industry experience. • Engage in open, honest discussions. • Regularly review progress and adapt strategies. Do you believe mentorship can transform your entrepreneurial journey? Let's discuss! #MentorshipMatters #EntrepreneurSuccess #StartupGrowth #GuidedInnovation #MentorJourney

💡 Startup Pitch Tips If you’re preparing to pitch to investors, here are 3 things that can make or break your chances: 1️⃣ Keep your pitch deck sharp – Focus on the essentials: the problem, your solution, traction, market size, and why your team is built to win. Every slide should tell your story clearly. 2️⃣ Have your data room ready – Serious investors will want to dig deeper. Be prepared with financials, projections, customer metrics, and legal docs. A clean and organized data room shows you’re investment-ready. 3️⃣ Show conviction – Investors back people, not just ideas. Confidence, clarity, and vision matter as much as your numbers. And if you’re ready to put these tips into action, Pitch Perfect Season 4: REDEFINE is your stage. On September 26th in Orange County, eight startups will pitch live to top VCs, angels, and family offices. 📩 Apply to pitch: info@vabaus.com 🔗 Event details: https://lnkd.in/gJR-6Aph #PitchPerfect4 #StartupPitch #VABA #Investors #Entrepreneurship

💡 Lessons From a Missed Opportunity I had the chance to participate in VC Fest and Demo Fest but life threw a few curveballs, and I missed it. At first, I felt like I had “blown it.” But after reflecting, I realized something important: Entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line. It’s juggling investor conversations, product building, and sometimes personal battles in the background. The real test isn’t whether you never stumble. It’s how you respond when you do. Here’s what I learned: Resilience means more than bouncing back; it means building systems to withstand pressure from all sides. Missing one door doesn’t mean the house is closed. There are always other ways in...through persistence, creativity, and relationships. Every founder has a war story. This is mine. I’m choosing to see this not as a loss, but as fuel for the next opportunity. And I’m grateful for the mentors and allies who remind me that the journey is just as important as the destination. To anyone else who’s felt like they “blew it” you didn’t. You’re just learning the hard, necessary lessons that make you stronger for what’s next. I've been to war and I can tell you from experience battles don't define the war. #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #StartupLife #GrowthMindset #FounderJourney #StoryNestMedia #Tech #Growth

Creating a compelling investor pitch often falters when founders rely solely on data dumps, leaving VCs unmoved and uninterested. 💼 Picture a passionate entrepreneur sharing a personal anecdote about spotting a market gap during a real-world challenge—this emotional hook transforms a standard presentation into an unforgettable story, securing that crucial funding round. The key actionable insight? Infuse your pitch with storytelling: Use relatable analogies and narratives to simplify complex ideas, build emotional connections, and make your vision irresistible. Keep it simple, avoid jargon, and back it with clear financials and team strengths for maximum impact. Venture Hints guides startups through these funding essentials with practical strategies, from crafting pitches to building lasting investor relationships. 📈 How do you weave stories into your investor presentations? Share your experiences below! #VentureHints #StartupFunding #InvestorPitch #Entrepreneurship

Founders who give up too early Entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line. It’s messy. It’s uncertain. It’s full of moments where you ask yourself: “Is this really worth it?” I’ve seen so many founders give up on their projects not because the idea was bad, not because the market wasn’t there… But because they lost resilience along the way. The truth is: every project goes through seasons. Some days, you’re celebrated. Other days, you’re questioning everything. And that’s where resilience becomes your strongest asset. Not your pitch deck. Not your network. Not even your product. Resilience is waking up one more time when yesterday felt like failure. It’s knocking on 100 doors even if 99 said no. It’s choosing to believe in your vision before anyone else does. Because often, the line between failure and breakthrough is not talent, not luck, but the resilience to keep going when it feels impossible. To all founders out there: Don’t let a bad week kill a good vision.

Got a bold idea? Ready to show it off to investors and corporate finance heavyweights who can take it to the next level? BCP Startups- This Is Your Moment. Golden Sands Capital, in proud partnership with The Spark is turning up the heat with pitching showdown built to get ambitious South Coast founders pitch-perfect, investment-ready, and in the spotlight. Whether your idea is scribbled on a coffee-stained napkin or you’re fine-tuning your Series A deck, this is your shot to turn potential into progress. This isn’t just another startup event. This is your launchpad. Here’s what’s waiting for you: - A stage to pitch without fear, in a room that wants you to win - Candid coaching that makes your pitch sharper, smarter, stronger - Direct access to investors, mentors, and seasoned entrepreneurs - A real chance to secure funding and fuel your growth The South Coast is overflowing with untapped talent. And the next big success story could be you. Don’t let funding be the barrier between your vision and reality. Got something exciting? Know someone who does? This is the sign you’ve been waiting for. Comment. Connect. DM us. Do whatever it takes to get in the room. Because when bold founders step up, brilliant things happen. Because it only takes one spark to light up the coast. Could it be yours? #BrightSparks #PitchToWin #SouthCoastStartups #InvestmentReady #GoldenSandsCapital #TheSparkHub #BCPInnovation #LocalLegends

Every entrepreneur faces storms, but it’s the mentally strong ones who sail through. Our Facilitator, Ahmad Hamwi, a mindset & business coach, entrepreneur, and investor, shares powerful insights on what separates winners from the rest in today’s fast-changing market: 1️⃣ Keep learning — curiosity 15% your business alive. 2️⃣ Be authentic — your story is your strength. 3️⃣ Embrace vulnerability — trust builds business. 4️⃣ Fail forward — every setback is a lesson. 5️⃣ Celebrate progress, not perfection — momentum matters. These aren’t just buzzwords; they are survival tools for every entrepreneur in Zambia and beyond. 💡 Tomorrow, Ahmad will be joining us at Empower 360 Cohort 2 to unpack Pitching a Business Idea & Understanding What Investors Look For, plus why startups fail and how to avoid common pitfalls.