Small Actions Build Relationships
Get Press, Secure Deals & Impress Investors
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Episode Drop
Episode 109 Modern Picnic: Surviving the Adpocalypse introduces one of the best founders The Pitch has ever seen.
Vol 1. Issue 10
One day in the car, Josh and I were discussing which companies to bring on the show. We were excited about one founder, (who will remain unnamed) who said he would send over more info about his business.
But he never sent it.
Meanwhile, I had just gotten off a call with Ali, founder of Modern Picnic - a female, cosmopolitan version of Yeti.
Ali immediately impressed me. She’s a force, and a classy one at that.
In discussing if we should bring unnamed-founder on the show, I used Ali as my benchmark. Ali followed up immediately after our call with her deck and anything extra I might need to make a decision.
Your pitch is more than just the words you say in the Zoom call. Your pitch is in your actions.
Based on Ali’s quick follow-up, I assumed these 3 things about her:
1) She values the opportunity to be on the show.
2) As a business leader, she is likely responding quickly and following up with other partners, customers, and investors.
3) She goes after what she wants.
My presumptions were correct. Listen to her After-The-Pitch segment of Episode #109. She secured relationships with three more big stores and has garnered press from big names like Good Morning America.
I had to know how she's making all these connections. In her follow up interview we asked Ali about it.
Josh: How are you building all of these relationships so quickly?
Ali: So the Container Store came about very fast. We got introduced to somebody who introduced us to somebody, and next thing you know, within a week we were on the call with six people from Container Store's leadership team. Whereas someone like Nordstrom I've been emailing for years... But sometimes it's just a timing thing.
Sometimes “no” just means maybe later.
So last year they said no to us and I've been keeping them updated. I always keep people in the loop - even if I don't get a response - about what's going on with the business. And, finally, I got a response. They were like, "Okay, here's the form. Fill this out, send it back to us and we'll get up by Q2."
Ali has been updating me since her pitch in November. It’s kept me excited about her and her business.
How is Modern Picnic getting all this press??
Ali: It's insane. Last week alone, we were on E-News, Marie Claire, the New York Post, and Oprah Daily. We've been in the media over 370 times at this point.
The reason for that is there's so many ways to slice and dice the product and the brand. Whether it's the healthy eating aspect or the sustainability aspect, or the female founder aspect. Or it's just function-based products for nurses and doctors.
How do we do it? It's really about relationships and connections and the power of a thank you note. We treat our editor relationships as we would our ambassador relationships or influencer relationships. Always saying thank you and tagging them.
It seems pretty simple. Ali follows up. She says thank you. She keeps the connection open - even after a denial. Ali is intentional with her relationships in small ways. And she is reaping big rewards.
A note as we wrap up Women’s History month:
My daughter listened to Ali’s episode. She’s 11. She rode the roller coaster - shocked and upset as each investor passed. Cheering when she heard The Pitch Fund invested!
I feel thankful my daughter gets to hear someone who sounds like her - a girl - crushing it as a CEO and as a kind, intentional human being.
Modern Picnic Asks
Wholesale connections as we look to grow that channel
Investor intros as we open our seed round!
Apply to invest in the syndicate —> Modern Picnic
Go shopping at modernpicnic.com!
Around the Web
Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine, Jason Feifer, has a delightful newsletter I discovered this week. Read how to make relationships stronger and more long-lasting which ties in nicely with our theme.
Elizabeth Yin offers unique thoughts on AI: What Does the Near Future of Artificial Intelligence Look Like and What Should I Build?
This is just cool: DNA analysis of Beethoven’s hair reveals health issues — and a family secret (I heard about this from my kid!)
The Pitch Deals
The following are open deals from The Pitch Syndicate. Click the company name to learn more and apply. Or invest in all the deals from the show via The Pitch Fund!
Tether - U.S. incorporation complete. Updates coming! (Listen to ep. #102)
Dressd - Clothing rental company w/local pickup targeting sororities. (Listen to ep. #104)
Modern Picnic - Every applicant so far listed their reason for investing as “Impressive Founder” (Listen to ep. #109)
The Social Scene
Follow The Pitch on Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Apply to The Pitch to record this June in San Diego, CA.
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