What are the most common storytelling mistakes you see startup founders making?

Question

The best startups are the ones with the best stories, but there are common mistakes early stage founders make that sabotage their progress.

Selling features not benefits is one of the most common.

What other examples have you’ve seen?

Chikodi Chima · Accepted Answer

@katjaalissamueller Exactly. No one wants an email, they want a “me-mail.”

Answer

Founders often overcomplicate their pitch, making it hard to follow. Also, they sometimes focus too much on themselves rather than on solving the customer's problem. Keep it simple and customer-centric!

Katja Alissa Mueller · Answer

Talking about I/we/us, rather than you.

Alysha Light · Answer

Not knowing what your story is in the first place, is a big one.

Peyt Spencer Dewar · Answer

@chikodi “me-mail” never heard that one before 😅

Willie Tsang · Answer

Stories that are not focus and try to be everything.

Deu An · Answer

Not sharing the pain that comes along the process! Key aspect imo.

Chikodi Chima · Answer

@alysha_light Totally. What you think is cool and what the audience needs have to align, otherwise there’s no story.

Chikodi Chima · Answer

@willie_tsang_ Don’t try to boil the ocean

Chikodi Chima · Answer

@phil_bill Great point. And there’s the pain of inaction, which is an important piece of the persuasion puzzle.

Chikodi Chima · Answer

@cain_edw You can never go wrong focusing on the customer

Rishabh R · Answer

Making everything about themselves and not about their customers

What are the most common storytelling mistakes you see startup founders making?

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