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Tough Love & Smart Investing: What Founders Need to Hear w/ Jonathan Hakakian

March 19
40 mins

Episode Description

In this episode of VCs Off the Record, Jonathan Hakakian, Managing Director at Soundboard Venture Fund, joins Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne for a real talk on what makes founders truly investable. Spoiler: It’s not just a great pitch—it’s how you listen, adapt, and execute.


Key Takeaways for Founders:
✅ Investors need a conversation, not a monologue—don’t talk endlessly.
✅ Saying you have no competition is a red flag. If there’s no competition, is there even a market?
✅ The best founders take tough love in stride—investors aren’t critiquing you, they’re evaluating the business.


Want to secure funding? Learn how to position yourself for investment the right way.


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