Angel investor Alicia Syrett catalogs the real reasons angels and VCs say no — most of which founders never hear — drawn from hundreds of her own pitch meetings.
Decodes the polite pass into its actual causes so founders can fix the right problem.
This video was created by TEDx Talks and features Alicia Syrett. We summarize and link with attribution; all rights belong to the creator.
Watch on YouTube →
1h 6m
Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins recounts pitching for three years and being rejected by more than 100 investors before closing Canva's first round, including how she reworked the pitch around each objection. She details the kitesurfing-with-investors period in Silicon Valley and how rejection shaped the company's strategy.
28 min
YC partner Brad Flora's Startup School talk on how startup fundraising actually works: what investors are looking for, how rounds come together, SAFEs, and how to run a tight process. Draws on YC batch data and his own founder experience.
58 min
Hustle Fund GP Elizabeth Yin takes live pitches from real founders and gives unfiltered feedback in real time, explaining her actual investment thought process as she reacts to each pitch.