One of the most powerful yet overlooked skills for founders: storytelling, Siqi Chen said in conversation with Andrew Chen.
“As a founder, storytelling is a super power,” he said, particularly when seeking investment.
During SF Tech Week, Brandon Penn of Runway, along with Andrew Chen and Siqi Chen, highlighted the importance of storytelling when it comes to building and leading a company. Founders often spend most of their time developing their ideas but little time talking about themselves or their products, Andrew said.
To be successful, though, you need to highlight your own accomplishments. While it might feel uncomfortable to talk about yourself, Andrew warns that no one wants to hear a dry, dictionary-like explanation. And investors want to understand the people behind the company.
Keep that in mind when explaining why you believe your startup will be successful, Andrew said.
“A great story always has conflict,” he said. Focus on a “why now,” or what is broken in the industry, or even the idea of an incumbent and a new contender.
And for founders who want to improve their storytelling skills: consume great stories, Andrew and Siqi said. Like an artist who wants to succeed in music listens to great music, you should watch and read great stories, taking note of what makes them work.
Telling the story and taking the big risk is actually how you get the money, Andrew says.
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