Costly Mistake!

As a startup founder, how do you hook investors with an irresistible product?

Let’s face it -  venture capital (VC) isn’t easy.

It’s highly competitive, and most entrepreneurs struggle to even get a foot in the door.

But here's the secret: to stand out to VCs, your product has to be something people can’t stop using.

Think about the apps you check every day - your phone, email, or social media.

That’s the kind of product VCs love: one that gets users to come back again and again.

If your product becomes something people need to use regularly, you’re already on the right track.

The more habit-forming your product is, the more likely you’ll catch the attention of investors looking for something they can bet on.

So, how can you make your product that irresistible?

That’s the question the first article in the inside scoop section answers.

✅ Need VC Investments: Here is How to Create Irresistible Products
“What pain is your product solving?” If you can’t answer this, you’re not ready for investors. Learn how to design habit-forming products that get users -and VCs -hooked.

✅ A Costly Mistake: A Founder’s Story
“We ran out of cash, and the business failed.” For one founder, a failed wine education startup became a masterclass in entrepreneurship. Could these hard-earned lessons save YOUR next big idea?

✅ One Shopping Fail = $5M Win?
“It was supposed to be just a regular shopping trip - but it turned into a nightmare,” said the founder who turned fear into $5 million in sales. One scary experience sparked an idea so good it’s now a thriving business. How do YOU turn setbacks into success?

✅ Her Bike Blog Pays Big Bucks! 
“I wanted to see the world - and biking gave me the perfect excuse,” says Becky Timbers, whose blog now earns her $5k a month. What started as a passion project has become a thriving business. Could your hobbies fund your dreams?

Imagine sitting in a Zipcar, moments from delivering a talk on building a successful business - while your own is collapsing.

That was Josh Lachkovic’s reality as his wine subscription startup, Wine List, faced its end.

Just two years after launch, his business went under, but the lessons he took from the experience transformed him into a sharper, wiser entrepreneur.

Here’s what Josh learned:

1. Test the Problem, Not Just the Passion
   Josh fell in love with his idea but skipped validating the problem. Customers liked the idea of learning about wine but weren’t willing to pay for it. 
   
   The takeaway? Passion is great, but solving a real, validated problem is key.
   
2. Markets Change—Stay Flexible
   During the pandemic, Wine List thrived, but post-lockdown, demand fizzled. Josh learned that products must evolve with shifting consumer needs.
   
3. Don’t Let Fear of Failure Hold You Back
   The looming end of the runway made Josh overly cautious, stifling innovation. In hindsight, bold bets might have saved the business.
   
4. Revenue ≠ Customer Value
   Chasing quick fixes like tastings and one-off sales boosted revenue but strayed from the brand’s core mission. The result? Short-term gains, long-term loss.

Josh’s final insight: Failure isn’t the end - it’s a chapter. 

As one investor told him, “Now you know the secret: it doesn’t matter.

Fear of Failure Got You Frozen? These Picks Melt the Ice!

The fear of failure can feel like an icy grip, keeping you stuck in place while your dreams wait on the other side.

You keep questioning - “What if it doesn’t work? What if all this effort is for nothing?”

That doubt makes every step forward feel impossible.

These business newsletters are here to melt that fear and replace it with action.

Packed with proven strategies, inspiring stories, and actionable advice, they’ll give you the confidence to move forward, even when the path feels uncertain.

With these picks, you’ll learn how to turn every stumble into a stepping stone.

Start breaking the ice today!

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You’ve got the big idea brewing.

The kind that keeps you up at night, imagining the possibilities.

But here’s the thing no one tells you - convincing others to believe in your vision is hard. 

Investors have their own baggage, shaped by past failures in your industry.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

You’re not just fighting for your dream; you’re battling the ghosts of ideas that didn’t work out.

But let me tell you this - you’re not here to play it safe.

You’re here to solve a problem no one else sees or dares to touch. That’s your edge.

Be bold.

Don’t just whisper your vision; shout it from the rooftops.

Paint a picture so vivid, so undeniably exciting, that they can’t help but lean in.

Investors don’t just fund ideas - they fund conviction.

And don’t worry about being too much.

The world doesn’t need another watered-down pitch; it needs your raw, unfiltered passion.

So, go ahead - be the dreamer, the disruptor, the relentless force that makes them say, “This is the one we’ve been waiting for.”