Post by Aurora Tech Award

What kills a pitch in the first minute? We asked the people who hear hundreds of them. This spring in Santiago, Aurora hosted a closed dinner for 40+ investors: angels, local funds, and regional branches of leading international VCs from across Latin America. Bella Ghassemi-Smith presented our fundraising research, including the numbers behind a pattern the room recognised instantly: women founders keep overperforming, and bias keeps them out of sight. The conversation didn't stop when the plates were cleared. Between courses, we passed one question around the table at a time. This video holds the first one: what kills the pitch? The answers are strikingly consistent: slides overloaded with stats that help nobody decide; not knowing your own numbers; a deck with no story to carry it. Watch the full video to hear it in their own words, from the people who decide. This is the first episode of a series filmed at that table. Follow Aurora for the next question. ___ With thanks to everyone who shared their insights: Fabian Mella Lukacs (Founder of NeoVC), Daniel Stern (Director of Strategic Research & Partnerships at güil Mobility Ventures), Javiera Araneda de la Sotta (Executive Director at Start-Up Chile); Javier Cueto Soto (Managing Partner & GP at Imagine Ventures), Carol Gilberti (CEO at Mubius WomenTech Ventures), Valentina Papic Ponce (Directora de Expansión at Start-Up Chile by CORFO | Chilean Economic Development Agency), Maria Jose Vinueza Rudas (Senior Investment Associate at EWA Capital), Caro Rossi (Undersecretary at Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación), Gerardo Zañartu (CVC Manager at Empresas Empresas Carozzi S.A. S.A). #AuroraVentures

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