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The Feedback Loop

Podcast The Feedback Loop
Sherveen Mashayekhi
Every week, 10 startup founders get up on stage in front of a live audience in NYC and give the 1 minute version of their pitch to two venture investors. Then, ...

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  • 3 Founders, 1 Minute Each, VC Feedback LIVE
    Welcome back to The Feedback Loop, where ambitious founders step on stage, pitch their startups, and receive honest, constructive insights from real venture investors. In Episode 054, we hear from three founders tackling media & entertainment AI, a concierge furniture e-commerce play, and a Web3 freelancer marketplace.Each pitch is followed by candid feedback from host Sherveen Mashayekhi (Founder & CEO of Free Agency) and guest investor Leeor Mushin from Formation VC. They explore how to:- Find (and explain) your industry inflection that makes now the right time for your startup- Tell a hero story that resonates with investors, showcasing why you’re the one to solve the problem- Avoid pitch pitfalls like referencing small ARR too soon or using confusing analogies- Position Web3 to mainstream investors without triggering skepticismBe sure to leave a comment on your favorite pitch and share your own feedback—because feedback is a gift, after all.About Our HostsSherveen Mashayekhi is the Founder & CEO of Free Agency. He’s a multi-time founder, angel investor, and LP in several venture capital funds. He’s seen thousands of startup pitches — good, bad, and in between — and provides nuanced feedback grounded in real-world fundraising experience.Leeor Mushin is Founder & GP at Formation, an early-stage fund that invests at the “formation” moment, often backing founders before they even have a formal deck. He previously spent time at Floodgate and co-founded a platform for unaccredited investors to participate in private markets.Sherveen on X: https://www.x.com/sherveenSherveen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmLeeor on X: https://x.com/lmushinLeeor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeormushinWant to Pitch Live on The Feedback Loop?Apply at afterfeedback.com to get your idea in front of experienced investors. It’s a chance to hone your pitch and discover blind spots you never knew existed.Thank you to these visionary founders for stepping onto the stage and sharing their bold ideas. The Feedback Loop exists to help startup teams refine their stories and take their next leap. Your pitch is only the first step on the journey to success — so be sure to subscribe for more no-nonsense feedback on how to pitch your startup.In a job search? Check out our newest channel focused on 2025’s ultra-competitive hiring:https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8Note: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.Key TakeawaysMapping Industry Inflections – Show how shifts in media, e-commerce, or global talent unlock new opportunities for your productBalancing Proof Points – Drop small numbers carefully, emphasizing customer love or quality of relationships over early ARRVerticalized AI – Why it pays to articulate niche back-office tasks, like film tax incentives or specialized RFP workflowsWeb3 for Freelancers – Avoid “hot-button” buzzwords unless you can illustrate a clear user benefit and global shift driving adoptionIf you’re into venture capital, AI workflows, consumer e-commerce, furniture, film & TV production, or Web3 marketplaces, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a friend who’s building the next big thing! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • Hinge-Meets-Yelp and AI Benchmarks | Ep. 053
    Welcome back to The Feedback Loop, where we feature bold founders pitching their startup ideas to real venture investors – live, candid, and unfiltered.In Episode 053, we’re joined by guest investor Leeor Mushin of Formation, a pre-seed and seed stage venture fund laser-focused on helping founders from the earliest phases of company building.Each founder has one minute to pitch. Then, they receive raw, transformative feedback to help tighten their story, pre-address investor concerns, and chart a path to building a venture-scale business.Follow Sherveen:X: https://www.x.com/sherveenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmFollow Leeor:X: https://x.com/lmushinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeormushinThis episode's venture investor:Leeor Mushin is the Founder & GP at Formation VC, a pre-seed and seed fund that invests at the “formation stage.” He partners with founders at the earliest stage, sometimes before there's even a deck. Leeor was previously a Principal at Floodgate (1st checks into Twitter, Lyft, Okta, Twitch, etc). He also created the 20|20 Fund, a venture club focused on investing in entrepreneurs from the Stanford GSB Class of 2020.As always, The Feedback Loop is hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi, a repeat founder, angel investor, and LP in multiple venture capital funds. He’s on a mission to help people reach the height of their ambition. In this case, that means helping sharpen startup pitches so founders can raise money, hire world-class teams, and sell their product with confidence.Want to pitch your startup live or attend The Feedback Loop in person?Head to afterfeedback.com to join our community of founders and investors.Thank you to these visionary founders for stepping onto the stage. The Feedback Loop exists to help founders refine their story and take their next leap. Your pitch is the first step on the journey to success — be sure to subscribe for more no-nonsense feedback on how to pitch your startup.Key Takeaways:- When to use “famous company” analogies in your pitch – and when they might backfire- Why user incentives matter – especially in dating and consumer social- The complexity of AI reliability – are customers willing to pay for AI model benchmarking?- Fine-tuning your storytelling – it’s not just about hooking interest, but resolving key questions so investors walk away confident in your visionIf you’re into venture capital, dating apps, AI benchmarks, or early-stage startup strategy, you’ll find tons of insights in this episode. Drop a comment on your favorite pitch, and don’t forget: feedback is a gift—to founders, to investors, and to everyone on this startup journey.In a job search? Check out our newest channel for 2025’s ultra-competitive talent landscape:https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.Help us power the next generation of founders – like, share, subscribe, and see you in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • 2 Startup Founders Pitch + Get Unfiltered VC Feedback
    AI for RFP Automation? Local language models for SaaS? Corporate sustainability and B Corp certification? We’ve got all that — and more...Welcome to Episode 052 of The Feedback Loop — where early-stage founders get direct, no-nonsense feedback from real venture investors! In this episode, two founders step into the hot seat to pitch their big ideas: one is building local language models to automate RFPs for SaaS companies, and the other is helping businesses streamline their corporate sustainability journey (including B Corp certification). Complex businesses in unsexy markets – so how do you tell that story!?Each founder has just one minute to pitch, followed by candid Q&A with host Sherveen Mashayekhi (Founder & CEO of Free Agency & angel investor) and guest investor Jesse Middleton (General Partner at Flybridge, investing in the early stage). Watch as they dissect everything from market sizing to go-to-market strategy, revealing the power of great storytelling in a pitch.Along the way, you’ll hear:- Why domain focus and on-prem/local models can be vital when confidentiality and compliance matter.- The art of pitching sustainability: how to avoid alienating investors and instead emphasize bottom-line benefits, brand advantages, and ecosystem impact.- How a killer story is often more memorable than a direct answer to every single investor question.- Why politics or controversial statements can derail a pitch—and how to frame compelling narratives that persuade both believers and skeptics.As always, The Feedback Loop is hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi, a repeat founder, angel investor, and LP in multiple venture capital funds. He’s on a mission to help people reach the height of their ambition. In this case, that means helping sharpen startup pitches so founders can raise money, hire world-class teams, and sell their product with confidence.Our guest investor for this episode is Jesse Middleton, General Partner at Flybridge (an early-stage VC firm with investments in MongoDB, Firebase, Codecademy, Bowery, and many more). He is also an Investment Partner at Next Wave NYC and The Community Fund, was a founding team member at WeWork, and led the technology group at LivePerson. He’s also served as a key advisor to companies like fitmob, inDinero, and Squire.Follow Sherveen on X: https://www.x.com/sherveenFollow Sherveen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmFollow Jesse on X: https://x.com/srcasmIn a job search? Check out our newest channel for next-level advice in 2025’s ultra-competitive talent marketplace:https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8Interested in pitching live or attending The Feedback Loop in person? Visit afterfeedback.com to learn more.Thank you to these visionary founders for stepping onto the stage. The Feedback Loop exists to help founders refine their story and take their next leap. Your pitch is the first step on the journey to success — be sure to subscribe for more no-nonsense feedback on how to pitch your startup.Note: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.Share Your Favorite PitchWhich founder made you lean in? Who changed your mind the most? Let us know in the comments, and offer your own feedback—after all, feedback is a gift!If you’re in venture capital, AI/ML, SaaS, sustainability tech, or building the next wave of B2B products, stick around: we’re all about the early stages of raising pre-seed, seed, or Series A. Subscribe, and share this with a friend who’s on their own startup journey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • 2 Startup Founders Have 1 Minute to Pitch (Live Feedback!)
    Welcome back to the ultimate startup stage — where ambitious founders pitch their bold visions and receive unfiltered, transformative feedback from real venture investors. In Episode 051 of The Feedback Loop, we dive into two radically technical yet incredibly compelling pitches that push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI-driven engineering and SaaS innovation.Each founder has just one minute to capture our attention before facing a barrage of insightful questions from host Sherveen Mashayekhi and guest investor Jesse Middleton. Their rapid-fire feedback not only refines these pitches but also unearths the subtle art of balancing technical depth with clear, compelling storytelling.Be sure to comment on which pitch resonated with you the most and share your own feedback — after all, feedback is the catalyst for growth!Follow Sherveen Mashayekhi:• X: https://www.x.com/sherveen• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmFollow Guest Investor Jesse Middleton:• X: https://x.com/srcasmIn this episode, we cover how to:Master technical storytelling: Learn how to simplify complex engineering narratives without sacrificing depth.Bridge the gap between legacy and innovation: See how AI can enhance traditional systems engineering and drastically cut down development timelines.Transform SaaS deployments: Discover the benefits of compiling infrastructure-as-code into versatile, on-prem solutions that keep sensitive data secure.Balance detail with clarity: Witness how founders navigate investor questions to keep their pitch focused and compelling.Understand market timing: From regulatory mandates to evolving enterprise needs, see how identifying the right entry point can make or break a pitch.Ready to pitch live or attend The Feedback Loop? Visit afterfeedback.com to join our community of startup builders and investors.Thank you to these brave founders for stepping into the spotlight. Remember: your pitch is the first step on the journey to success. Tune in, take notes, and transform your startup story!The Feedback Loop is all about getting ambitious founders on stage to pitch and get unfiltered feedback from experienced, honest investors.Because the thing that can hold even the best founders back from reaching their ambition? Their pitch. Whether a startup founder is raising money, recruiting a team, or selling their product, it's the pitch at the start of any given conversation that starts them on a journey to success.For those founders on stage and in the audience, it's an answer to the essential query: how to pitch your startup.Startup founders – get inside the mind of top investors as they break down the next wave of AI tools, reimagine eldercare solutions, and push early-stage pitching to new heights. You’ve got one minute to grab their attention and a few more to prove you belong on the cap table. Subscribe for more essential, no-nonsense feedback on your startup journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • How does Flybridge judge your startup!?
    Welcome back to the ultimate startup stage, where early-stage founders score direct, constructive feedback from real venture investors. In this episode, we've got AI-driven short-form video creation and a platform to catch early signs of dementia, all in the spotlight.Each founder gets one minute to pitch. Then, they hear how they can refine their story to fuel fundraising, hiring, and product growth. Listen in on how strategic storytelling can sharpen your pitch and land you that investor check.You’ll see how storytelling, focus, and market know-how can make or break an early pitch — and how a few simple tweaks can change an investor’s mind in minutes.This is Episode 050 of The Feedback Loop.In this episode, we cover how to:- master the art of storytelling – it’s not always about closing a round on the spot- differentiate from general-purpose AI by going niche and laser-focused on specialized workflows- pitch into healthcare with caution (and big ambition) – make sure you nail who’s paying and why- leverage your minute wisely – a targeted vision plus a clear user journey can seal the deal- demystify your buyer – whether it's SaaS founders or eldercare managers, name your champion and initial GTM early and oftenBe sure to comment on your favorite pitch below! And leave your own feedback for these founders and judges, because feedback is a gift, after all.In a job search? Check out our newest channel for next-level advice in 2025's ultra-competitive talent landscape: https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8As always, The Feedback Loop is hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi, founder & CEO of Free Agency. He’s a repeat founder, angel investor, and LP in multiple VC funds, bringing no-nonsense insights to early-stage pitches.Today's guest investor: Jesse Middleton is a General Partner at Flybridge, which has invested in companies like BetterCloud, Bowery, Chief, Codecademy, Firebase, MongoDB, and Splice. He is also an Investment Partner at Next Wave NYC and The Community Fund, was a founding team member at WeWork, and led the technology group at LivePerson. He’s also served as a key advisor to companies like fitmob, inDinero, and Squire.Follow Sherveen on X: https://www.x.com/sherveenFollow Sherveen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmFollow Jesse on X: https://x.com/srcasmThe Feedback Loop is all about getting ambitious founders on stage to pitch and get unfiltered feedback from experienced, honest investors.Because the thing that can hold even the best founders back from reaching their ambition? Their pitch. Whether a startup founder is raising money, recruiting a team, or selling their product, it's the pitch at the start of any given conversation that starts them on a journey to success.For those founders on stage and in the audience, it's an answer to the essential query: how to pitch your startup.Startup founders – get inside the mind of top investors as they break down the next wave of AI tools, reimagine eldercare solutions, and push early-stage pitching to new heights. You’ve got one minute to grab their attention and a few more to prove you belong on the cap table. Subscribe for more essential, no-nonsense feedback on your startup journey.Want to attend The Feedback Loop live or pitch as a founder? Visit afterfeedback.com.Thank you to these brave founders for stepping into the spotlight. The Feedback Loop aims to power startup builders with blunt, transformative feedback to shape tomorrow’s pitch-perfect companies. We’re on your side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The Feedback Loop

Every week, 10 startup founders get up on stage in front of a live audience in NYC and give the 1 minute version of their pitch to two venture investors. Then, they receive 5 minutes worth of feedback about their storytelling, pitch, and concept. It's not about an investment being made on the spot, but instead transforming the way a founder talks about their startup -- because the thing that can hold even the best of founders back? Their storytelling. Hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi and Free Agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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