What 100 Failed Pitches Teach About Founder Mistakes

Hey founders,

This isn’t a usual Saturday email—because it isn’t a usual Saturday.

Today’s Foundevo Special Edition is packed with hidden gems founders rely on to raise faster, build smarter, and spot opportunities ahead of the crowd.

Think of it as a private vault of frameworks, tools, and insights you won’t uncover by endlessly scrolling X or LinkedIn.

Which idea will ignite your next breakout move? Open and explore

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 Startup Post-Mortem Analysis: What 100 Failed Pitches Teach About Founder Mistakes

Not every pitch fails because the idea is weak. Analysis of over 100 failed decks shows a clear pattern of founder missteps that investors consistently flag.

 Key takeaways from the data:

Patterns suggest that clarity, credibility, and context matter more than flashy design or buzzwords.

Curious to see how top founders avoid these pitfalls—and what makes investors lean in? Dive into the full analysis here.

 The Rise of Small Teams With Big ARR: 3-Person Startups Crossing $10M

Lean teams are no longer a limitation. In fact, some of the fastest-growing startups are scaling past $10M ARR with just three people.

 What sets them apart:

The lesson is clear: scaling today is less about team size and more about clarity, focus, and intelligent use of technology.

Explore the full breakdown of these “small but mighty” startups—and what larger teams can learn from them.

 Top 5 AI Tools Founders Are Actually Paying For (Not Just Testing)

AI hype creates noise, but spending patterns reveal what really delivers value. These tools are not just being tested—they’re part of recurring budgets.

 Where founders are putting real dollars:

The signal is clear: tools that directly drive revenue, leads, or time savings survive beyond the trial phase.

 Curious to see the full list of founder-approved AI tools (with use cases)? Check out the detailed breakdown here.

⚡ Get the Investor Intel Before They Say Yes

A new founder vault is revealing how to spot capital before the pitch even begins—offering a rare edge in early-stage fundraising.

Key highlights from what’s inside:

Which of these funding shortcuts will help founders raise faster and smarter?

➡️ Explore the full investor vault to gain an edge before your next pitch. ️ 

Find your customers on Roku this Black Friday

As with any digital ad campaign, the important thing is to reach streaming audiences who will convert. To that end, Roku’s self-service Ads Manager stands ready with powerful segmentation and targeting options. After all, you know your customers, and we know our streaming audience.

Worried it’s too late to spin up new Black Friday creative? With Roku Ads Manager, you can easily import and augment existing creative assets from your social channels. We also have AI-assisted upscaling, so every ad is primed for CTV.

Once you’ve done this, then you can easily set up A/B tests to flight different creative variants and Black Friday offers. If you’re a Shopify brand, you can even run shoppable ads directly on-screen so viewers can purchase with just a click of their Roku remote.

Bonus: we’re gifting you $5K in ad credits when you spend your first $5K on Roku Ads Manager. Just sign up and use code GET5K. Terms apply.

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 Founder’s Reading List: One Underrated Book Every VC Recommends

Not every must-read for founders is on the bestseller lists. Some titles circulate quietly in venture circles, but consistently show up in conversations with top investors.

Why this book stands out:

The pattern is clear: the most respected investors value depth of thinking more than hype-driven playbooks.

Want to discover which book VCs repeatedly recommend—and why it’s shaping smarter founders? Explore the full insight here.

We hope these tools and resources give you an extra edge as you keep building and growing.

Stay tuned—more insights are coming your way in the next edition. Until then, enjoy the weekend and keep pushing forward!

Warm regards,
Team Foundevo

P.S. Got questions, suggestions, or just wanna say hey? Hit reply — we read everything.