2 startup founders have 1 minute to pitch! Then, they get feedback – from an expert investor who is a venture-backed founder himself. Welcome to Episode 048 of The Feedback Loop!

Every week, early stage founders step into the hot seat to present their big ideas – from AI-powered tools, consumer social apps, new approaches to community, all the way to space tech and hardtech. After their minute to pitch, they get candid feedback from Sherveen Mashayekhi, helping them push forward with better stories as they raise money, hire teammates, and sell their products.

In this episode:

- the importance of "unhinged" product differentiation in a crowded market

- when to embrace (and when to hide) your unique product angles

- how to stand out in crowded AI markets (differentiate charting from data tooling)

- the dynamics of bottom-up vs. top-down sales motions

- enterprise data platforms and how LLMs transform financial analysis

2 concepts:

- financial data analysis platform tackling $500B+ market data industry

- an AI copilot for sales reps that's unfiltered and driven by individual needs

Be sure to leave a comment talking about your favorite pitch down below! And leave your own feedback for these founders and judges, because feedback is a gift, after all.

In a job search? Check out our latest channel for next-level advice in 2025's competitive talent marketplace: https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8

As always, The Feedback Loop is hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi, Founder & CEO of Free Agency. He's a many-time startup founder, angel investor, and LP in multiple venture capital funds.

Follow Sherveen on X: https://www.x.com/sherveen

Follow Sherveen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenm

To attend The Feedback Loop in-person or apply to pitch as a founder, head to afterfeedback.com.

Thank you to all of the brave founders who participated in this episode. The Feedback Loop is dedicated to creating an engine of support for startup founders attempting to change the way the earth spins. We're on your side.

Note: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

If you're in... venture capital, AI/ML, consumer tech, B2B SaaS, enterprise software, developer tools... building a startup accelerator, your own company, hobbyist mobile applications... the early stages of raising a pre-seed, seed, or Series A... or a startup and tech nerd like us, this content is for you.

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