In another packed day of learning and connection, the Stern Venture Fellows Summer Accelerator brought together alumni entrepreneurs, investor insights, and a hands-on pitch workshop to guide Fellows through the art and reality of startup storytelling and fundraising. The day highlighted the value of honest reflection, sharp narratives, and strategic investor engagement, all critical tools for founders navigating early-stage growth.
Alumni Panel: Stories from the Startup Frontlines
The day began with the SVF Alumni Panel, featuring founders who have stood where current Fellows now stand, and emerged stronger for it. Each panelist kicked off by pitching their ventures, offering Fellows a glimpse into how their storytelling has evolved with experience.
The panel included:
Ayman Mukerji Househam (MSW ’20), Founder of Jivika and winner of the 2024 NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge New Venture Competition
Busayo Ogunsanya, Co-Founder of Muse Tax and winner of the 2023 NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge
Ari Williams (NYU BA ’22), CEO and Founder of Skip List and 2024 Stern Venture Fellow
Their stories were honest and unfiltered, covering pivots, unexpected wins, rejections, investor missteps, and lessons that only come from being in the trenches.
Ari emphasized the importance of sharing your idea widely and debunked the myth that getting VC funding makes everything easier. Ayman shared that Jivika only does paid pilots, underscoring the importance of early value perception. Busayo reminded Fellows that entrepreneurship is rare and demands exceptional effort: “You can’t give ordinary effort and expect a rare outcome.”
Crafting Your Startup Narrative with David Dabscheck
The day continued with Fellows rolling up their sleeves for an in-depth storytelling workshop with David Dabscheck, founder of GIANT Innovation. In his session, Crafting Your Startup Narrative, Fellows explored the emotional and structural foundations of great startup stories, starting with core storytelling techniques and culminating in real-time pitch practice.
Dabscheck guided Fellows through the elements that make stories resonate with investors: clarity of problem, strength of insight, and personal connection to the mission. Founders then worked in pairs and small groups to refine their own pitches, receiving feedback from both peers and Dabscheck in a highly collaborative atmosphere.
Real Talk with VCs: Insights from the Investor Roundtable
The day closed with the Investor Roundtable | Real Talk with VCs, where Fellows had the opportunity to share their ventures and ask questions directly to seasoned early-stage investors. The panel included:
Jennifer Wolf, President and Partner at Initialized Capital
Jessica Millstone (NYU ITP), Managing Director of Copper Wire Ventures
Johnnie Yu (NYU Tisch), Consumer Investor at Listen Ventures
Michelle Kwok, Investor at Draper Associates
What followed was a candid and detailed discussion on how VCs evaluate startups, how founders should approach investor meetings, and what it really takes to build a venture-backable company. Panelists addressed changes in the market since 2020, shifting from a fundraising-centric approach to one focused on customer traction, execution speed, and insight depth.
They also offered advice on reading between the lines of investor rejections, understanding firm-specific processes, and the importance of knowing whether VC is the right funding fit. As Michelle Kwok noted, “You can build a great business that impacts a lot of people, but the math might not make sense for venture capital.”
Tips & takeaways
- Execution Over Ideas: Great ideas matter, but execution wins. Don’t hide your idea—share it, test it, and refine it in the open.
- Storytelling Is Strategy: Crafting a compelling startup narrative is as much about structure and clarity as it is about passion.
- Not Every Great Business Is a VC Business: Know your audience and funding path—venture capital has a specific model, and it’s not the only one.
