Startups Decoded

• S2E12: There Is No Perfect Pitch Deck - What You Actually Need, with Robert Harary, CEO and VC - Decko

  Robert Harary found his first venture deal while in high school detention, and hasn’t looked back since. Today, he sits at the center of the venture ecosystem as both an investor and founder, with a decade-plus obsession for making access to capital more transparent, efficient, and equitable.Robert is the #2 at Evolution VC Partners, where he’s been part of 300+ Culture Tech investments. He runs Timeless Ventures as GP, and has investments in companies like Colossal, Figure AI, and Sindarin. On the founder side, he co-founded DECKO (helping 300+ startups and funds raise $1.2B+) and Raisi (bringing founders in front of 2,000+ investors monthly).Startups Decoded is brought to you by Decko. Contact Decko and use the code word "Decoded" for 20% off. [email protected] this conversation, we break down:Why access to capital, not ideas, is the biggest bottleneck for foundersHow Robert evaluates moonshots (and why he backed OpenAI early)Lessons learned from co-founding DECKO and WeraiseWhere the venture ecosystem is failing—and what needs to changeHis belief that democratizing capital will unlock the next wave of transformative companiesChapters00:00 The Utopian World of Fundraising06:40 The Evolution of Pitch Decks13:16 Crafting the Perfect Pitch Deck20:12 Understanding Investor Psychology21:59 Cold Outreach and Investor Engagement23:50 The Three Pillars of Startup Success26:08 Effective Cold Email Strategies28:29 The Art of Storytelling in Fundraising32:40 Investor Marketing as a Relationship Game39:14 Building Long-Term Investor RelationshipsGuest BioRobert Harary is an investor, founder, and venture capitalist obsessed with making capital access more equitable. He is a GP at Timeless Ventures, #2 at Evolution VC Partners (300+ Culture Tech investments), and an angel investor in moonshots, including OpenAI and Colossal. He has co-founded DECKO and Weraise, platforms that have helped 300+ startups and funds raise $1.2B+ from Sequoia, a16z, Accel, YC, and others.Who Should ListenFounders frustrated by investor access or gatekeepingInvestors curious about democratized deal flowOperators interested in the “deck science” behind successful fundraisingAnyone tracking moonshot bets reshaping the futureMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com

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• S2E11: Use Banks, Not VCs: Non-Dilutive Capital for Founders with Ashley D. Bell & Redemption Bank.

  Attorney, entrepreneur, and policy leader Ashley D. Bell is building Redemption Bank, a modern Minority Depository Institution designed to give founders something Silicon Valley rarely does: non-dilutive capital that preserves ownership.With experience spanning the SBA, the White House, and co-founding the National Black Bank Foundation with Dr. Bernice A. King (daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), Ashley is fusing community banking, MDI syndication, and fintech infrastructure into a new model of founder finance.In this episode, we break down how to use banks—not just VCs—to extend runway, stabilize cash cycles, and raise without giving up equity.What We CoverWhy Redemption Bank: the market gaps MDIs can uniquely fill—credit where venture dollars don’t reachDebt > Dilution (sometimes): picking the right facility (LOC, equipment, AR, revenue-based) for your stageUnderwriting that sees your business: when ARR, AR aging, and cohorts matter more than FICOSyndication & Scale: how MDIs partner to increase check sizes without predatory termsTreasury as RevOps: banking tools that speed collections, reduce working-capital dragSignals & Stakeholders: why banking with a mission brand opens doors (enterprise, municipal, talent)Playbook: the 30-day path to “bank-ready” for early-stage companiesChapters 00:00 Introduction to Modern Banking and Treasury05:42 Ashley Bell's Journey to Redemption Bank11:08 The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.16:11 Redemption Bank's Unique Approach to Banking20:15 The Importance of Role Models in Entrepreneurship26:36 Reimagining Banking for Modern Founders34:25 Building Community and Trust in BankingAshley D. BellCo-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Redemption Bank. A former SBA Regional Administrator and White House policy advisor, he co-founded the National Black Bank Foundation with Dr. Bernice A. King to channel capital into underserved communities. As an attorney and entrepreneur, he’s focused on building a scalable, tech-forward MDI that expands access to responsible credit for founders and small businesses.Who Should ListenFounders exploring non-dilutive options (SaaS, e-comm, services)Operators/finance leads responsible for cash conversion cyclesAngels/seed investors advising portco’s on runway without dilutionEcosystem builders interested in MDIs, community finance, and equitable growthMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com

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• S2E10: The FemTech Edge: Build and Train by Your Menstrual Cycle - Lizzy Palmer (Founder, SyncN).

  94 percent of sports-science research excludes female physiology.The result? A $10 billion fitness industry that burns women out, leads to injury, and disrupts hormonal health.Lizzy Palmer, Founder and CEO of SyncN, is changing that. SyncN is the first cycle-aware fitness and nutrition platform that personalizes training and nourishment around women’s hormonal rhythms — used by athletes, creators, and founders who want performance without burnout.Sponsored by CherubIn this conversation, Lizzy unpacks:How SyncN helps founders align health with high performance — designing systems for consistency, not guilt.The hidden toll of fundraising — what chronic stress does to founders’ energy, hormones, and focus, and how to lead without self-erasure.Scaling through partnerships — how SyncN’s growth strategy ties mission to distribution through gyms, coaches, and women’s health platforms.What a free 6-month trial on SyncN?*Visit the SyncN Linktree and use the word Decoded” to unlock a Startups Decoded exclusive trial today. (Conditions apply)Disclosure: Andy Walsh serves as an advisor to SyncN. The views expressed here are my own and not influenced by my advisory role.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Health and Wellness for Founders01:21 Lizzy’s Journey: From Dance to FemTech04:37 The Gap in Female Health Research09:10 Understanding Female Physiology and Hormones13:16 Training Female Athletes: The Importance of Cycle Awareness17:57 Self-Compassion and Acceptance in Fitness22:15 Normalizing Conversations Around Menstruation25:53 Partnerships and Collaboration in FemTech28:15 Building Partnerships for Growth31:20 The Importance of Action in Partnerships32:52 Leveraging Professional Relationships36:10 Storytelling and Education in Fitness39:34 Mental Health and Founder Life43:50 Navigating Fundraising Challenges49:45 Introducing Sync In: A New Approach to Women’s HealthGuest BioLizzy Palmer is the Founder and CEO of SyncN, a cycle-aware fitness and nutrition platform helping women train and fuel in sync with their physiology. A former UX researcher at Meta and Roblox and a professional dancer and fitness coach, Lizzy founded SyncN to close the research gap in women’s health and empower female founders to optimize performance without burnout.Check out SyncNMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com

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• S2E9: From Peter Thiel’s Fellowship to 1517 Fund — The VC Who Funds Rebels (Michael Gibson)

  Forget Ivy League. Build Your Own Startup Empire.From Peter Thiel’s Fellowship revolution to building the 1517 Fund, Michael Gibson has made a career out of betting on outsiders. In this episode, he reveals how Thiel’s philosophy, back people, not pedigrees, shaped his mission to fund dropouts, renegades, and deep-tech builders rewriting the future.We unpack how to spot unconventional talent before the world does, why early bets on unproven founders can outperform safe money, and how the next wave of transformative startups won’t emerge from Ivy League halls, but from the edges of the system.Chapters00:00 From Journalism to Venture Capital: A Unique Journey07:05 The Dynamics of Founders and VCs12:50 The Role of Experience in Venture Capital17:32 Investing in Young Founders: The 1517 Fund22:56 Backing Renegades: A New Approach to Investment24:36 The Democratization of Innovation25:36 Identifying the Renegade Mindset28:10 The Impact of Educational Systems on Creativity32:25 Curiosity as a Key Trait36:20 The Role of Unorthodox Thinking38:40 Challenging the 10,000 Hour Rule42:16 The Importance of Unique Perspectives45:48 Managing Investor ExpectationsGuest BioMichael Gibson is the co-founder and general partner of 1517 Fund, a venture firm dedicated to backing dropouts, renegade students, and deep tech scientists who challenge the traditional path. Before starting 1517, he was Vice President of Grants at the Thiel Foundation, where he helped launch and run the Thiel Fellowship, and worked at Thiel Capital. With an academic background in philosophy from Oxford and early editorial roles at places like MIT Technology Review, Michael brings both intellectual depth and contrarian edge to venture capital. At 1517, he’s leading a reformation of how innovation is funded, betting on people with the courage to break from convention.Michael Gibson LinksLinkedInXBook: "Paper Belt on Fire"Who Should ListenFounders who’ve taken the unconventional path — dropouts, outsiders, or builders challenging industry norms.Aspiring entrepreneurs looking for insight into how Peter Thiel’s philosophy still shapes venture investing today.VCs and angel investors who want to understand how to spot raw, uncredentialed talent before it becomes obvious.Operators and innovators curious about how deep-tech and frontier thinkers are funded at the idea stage.Music Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com

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• S2E8: Founders: The Easy Way to Land Angels, Fast - Jaclyn Johnson, CEO - Cherub

  Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com

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