Builders Come Together: NYC Event Recap, Nailing the Open, Building Belief Through Design, Spotlight on Montrose FX

Thank You, NYC 🗽

First off—a huge thank you to everyone who came out to our pitch event last week in Times Square. It was such a special night, and honestly, one of our favorite gatherings yet. We had an incredible mix of founders, builders, operators, and thinkers all in one room, and the energy was electric.

We’re so grateful to this growing community of founders who keep showing up with curiosity, honesty, and ambition. Thanks again to everyone who joined us at the event—and if you couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at the next one.

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We wanted to reflect on a few standout ideas from the night—some ideas we’ve been sitting with, and others that you might want to carry into your own fundraising process.

1. Nina: Hit It Head On— Preparing to Fundraise

Nina opened the night by cutting straight to the heart of fundraising: showing that you understand your risks and you’re raising to solve them.

She encouraged founders to stop hiding the rough edges. Use your pitch to surface the real challenges, and show how you’re approaching them with intention.

Your fundraise is a tool. It’s a moment to say, “Here’s what we’ve proven, and here’s what we need to prove next.” That mindset flips the narrative from defensive to proactive. You’re not just raising capital—you’re inviting investors into your process to help get to the next milestone.

2. Jack: Don't Lose Them on the First Slide— Telling Your Company’s Story

Jack, our strategy director, brought a little tough love—and we thank him for it. He reminded us that you can lose your audience before you even get started if your first slide is a mess.

Jack challenged founders to start simple. One clear problem. One strong stat. Enough space to breathe. Because when your first slide lands, the rest of the story has room to unfold.

If you haven’t yet, check out the full writeup we did on how we structure the first four slides of a pitch deck. It's one of our most practical frameworks—and one we use with clients every week.

3. Nolan: First Impressions Matter— Branding & Design in Fundraising

Nolan, our creative director, spoke about something that often gets brushed off in early-stage fundraising: design and brand.

Your deck is often the first (and sometimes only) touchpoint an investor has with you. If it looks like it was built in a rush—or worse, feels like everyone else’s—it’s hard to stand out.

You don’t need to be flashy. But you do need to look like you care. Because if you don’t look like you believe in what you’re building, why should anyone else?

🎂 It’s Nolan’s birthday today!

Nolan plays a huge role in keeping everything we put out looking its best—and making sure our clients show up the right way.

Take a sec to wish him a happy one 👉 Connect on LinkedIn

Client Spotlight: Montrose FX 🌍

We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight this month on Montrose FX with the brilliant Sruli Benporath.

Montrose FX is changing the way businesses move money globally—with an all-in-one foreign exchange and global business account. Their platform is built to save time, money, and friction for modern businesses expanding internationally.

We got to sit down with Sruli to talk through his experience building Montrose, the challenges of growing globally, and the process of working with us to hone their sales deck. Watch the full conversation here.

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Until next time— we’ll be on the lookout!

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