Nicole DeTommaso’s Post

Communication is key. Whenever you want to convey a message, an idea to your peers, your shareholders, or your investors. Stop speaking clearly. Start speaking concisely. Concision means that a sentence of seven words is good; but if the idea can be conveyed with equal clarity in five, the sentence is not concise. E.g. WORDY: The fact of the acquisition had the effect of causing many changes. CONCISE: The acquisition caused many changes. #marketing #startups #founders #contentmarketing

💫 Investor decks should leave a mark 💫 I recently had the pleasure of crafting the story for a startup founder in their investor deck. Recognizing some gaps and opportunities, it was time to communicate a tighter narrative that would excite investors and MAKE them want to be part of the action. 📱 This was the text I received from the founder. "This investor has seen a LOT of decks...and they just emailed me saying 'that might be the most creative and funny deck I've received, ever.'" The founder's phone is ringing off the hook, and they can't keep up with the number of text messages. 🎩 #brandstrategy magic at play 🙌 #marketing #startups #brand #vc #investor #testimonial #openforwork

Things that are difficult about VC: - Sourcing quality deals - Nurturing your network - Finding your niche - Embracing uncomfortability - Managing your time - Dreaming bigger - Pitching consistently - Trusting your gut - Building your brand Everything takes time. VC is a long game on all fronts. If you're someone who likes immediate feedback loops, this is not the career for you. The feedback loops can be 7-10 years. You have to learn to celebrate the little wins. #venturecapital #startup #founder

How can I help as many founders as possible to grow their own business?  I've been busy the past few months refining my marketing coaching model. Designed to be both accessible and effective, this new approach aims to help founders gain customers, generate revenue, and achieve real growth 🚀 To make it even more accessible, I'm offering a 15% discount throughout September. This isn't a one time deal. The discount applies for as long as we work together. However, the discount is just a part of my broader mission: to ensure no founder gets left behind. If you're from an underrepresented community or cost is a real barrier, please get in touch. We'll find a way to make it work 🤝 More details in the link in the comments #marketing #gotomarketstrategy #founders #startups #angelinvestors 

Co-founders can make or break a startup! I was lucky enough to have brothers as co-founders—an extraordinary alignment of trust, vision, and shared values. Not everyone encounters such luck in business partnerships, and even I might not experience it again! Choosing the right co-founder is a strategic decision critical to your business's success. Here's why your co-founder’s choice matters and how to navigate this crucial partnership: Many rush into co-founder choices through the wrong avenues. Whether it's being swayed by a smooth-talking individual, relying on impressive credentials, or accepting someone pushed by a respected figure—these shortcuts often lead to mismatches. From my experience, co-founders aren't found by force; they align ORGANICALLY, much like the way genuine connections form unexpectedly. ✅ But why is this choice so pivotal? In the world of startups and business, tough times are inevitable. Your co-founder should be your anchor—a person who understands, supports, and complements your strengths and weaknesses. The ideal co-founder doesn't exploit weaknesses but collaborates to overcome challenges. It's like a partnership where trust and mutual understanding serve as pillars for success. ✅ How to choose wisely? Look beyond pedigree; are they engaged in shared projects or significant life experiences? This creates a foundation of trust, affirming their ability to navigate challenges and contribute positively to your business. What would you add to this list? How can someone find their perfect match? #startups #cofounders  

Six issues which early-stage start-ups frequently get distracted by: - 1️⃣ Focusing effort on the next big thing, rather than delivering what they've got right in front of them. 2️⃣ Inability to articulate product/market fit. 3️⃣ Heavy reliance on a single customer. 4️⃣ Trying to secure investment too early. 5️⃣ Believing that creating social media accounts and posting every now and again will lead to a rush of new business. 6️⃣ Opting to surround themselves with people who agree with, rather than challenge their ideas. This is from my experience as a Fractional COO. If I were to pick the one point which really makes a difference, it would be number 1️⃣; focus on delivering the thing you've got right in front of you. #fractionalcoo #founder #ceo #md #businessowner #sme #startup

The ad folks in the 50s and 60s (and again in the 80s) had it right. Evoke an emotion and you create an incredible perception. ➡️ For example, the investment firm of EF Hutton did a brilliant campaign building trust…”when EF Hutton speaks, people listen.” This campaign grew new clients for them by nearly 30% in a year! It is all about creating and managing perceptions! Who is ready to “woosh” things up a bit? And what the heck does that even mean? More to come in just a few weeks! So many exciting things to share (soon)… #networking, #woosh, #smallbusiness, #emotionalintelligence, #startup, #marketing, #helpingothers, and we certainly cannot forget, #perceptionmanagement

Can you describe your product in one compelling sentence? Practice until you can. 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱. 👉 Many founders I talk to, try this and fail. Often, even after a few minutes I still wouldn't know what they do if someone asked me at that moment. 🤔 👉 When you first meet an investor, you need to be able to describe what your product does in one compelling sentence. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘇𝘆! 🏋️ What is your one sentence? How long did you practice it? #Startups #Communication #VentureCapital --- Beyond Tomorrow: We invest in founders who change the way we live and think. Be part of tomorrow! 🚀

"So, here's my idea: I want to offer our expertise as an executive advisor to startup founders who could use some guidance on their journey. Whether it's refining your strategy, optimizing sales and marketing, building high-performing teams, or tackling financial challenges—we can help" #startups #founder #growthadvisor #coach

Let's talk about advisory boards. An advisory board is essentially a group of people who you can turn to for, well, advice. Usually, advisory boards help fill knowledge gaps and can give guidance on anything from product design and marketing, to team development or even business strategy. Advisory boards are *not* the same as a board of directors. People on your advisory board don't have voting rights, can't make financial decisions on your behalf, and aren't responsible for governance. So do you need both? Or can you just have one? Lots of startups build an advisory board first. This is a great way to rally people behind your success and get helpful input and feedback as you build your company. At some point, you'll need to create an official board of directors. This can replace your advisory board, or you can choose to keep both. The most important thing is to make sure whoever you're going to for advice on your business is as invested in your success as you are. #startups #founders #advisoryboard