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As a design leadership coach, I work with a lot of incredibly thoughtful designers. They care deeply about their craft. They want to elevate design in their organisation. They want to be seen as strategic, not just the team that makes things pretty.
As a newly minted Venture Partner I’ve seen a few hundred pitches and pitch decks the past 12 months. While this is nothing compared with some of my peers, I’ve noticed a few clear patterns start to emerge. Patterns which, if founders were better prepared, would significantly increase their chances of securing investment.
When I started Clearleft in 2005, we were arguably the first UX agency in the UK. Sure there were folks practicing various elements of User Centered Design; there were dedicated research agencies, dedicated IA agencies, tons of visual design agencies and even folks partnering on CX. However few if any had bought these threads together under the guise of “User Experience Design” as our friends at Adaptive Path in the US had done a few years earlier.
Balancing the creative and managerial aspects of design leadership. At some point in your design career, you may reach a crossroads. One path takes you back to your craftsperson roots, while the other leads you to uncharted territory.
A must-read for startup founders, this article reveals the top 10 practical books to help you overcome challenges and propel your business growth.
As the year concludes, take time for self-reflection and celebrate your design accomplishments. By highlighting your achievements, you'll gain confidence and insight to shape your future goals.
When a VC passes on your startup, it often feels personal. But in reality, most rejections come down to patterns they’ve seen before. Sure, some decisions hinge on chemistry or a gut feel, but most are rooted in a rational (if sometimes unspoken) assessment of risk and return.
As the tech landscape evolves, so does design. Industrialization and automation shift the focus from traditional skills to assembly-based processes, revolutionizing the profession. Explore the future of design and its dynamics.
As a Venture Partner at a VC fund, I’ve reviewed hundreds of pitch decks in my time. In fact most funds will receive thousands of decks a year, with only a small fraction leading to conversations and even fewer resulting in investments. With those kinds of odds, your pitch deck needs to be exceptional — think 8 or 9 out of 10 — to stand out.
Discover how to simplify your approach to strategy and achieve your company's mission and goals. In this article, learn what strategy really means and how to create a clear path forward.
Let’s break down some of the most common reasons why VCs pass-and what you can do to improve your chances. VCs don’t just invest in ideas; they invest in you as the person solving the problem.
Learn from the mistakes of a first-time founder! Discover seven valuable lessons that can help you navigate startup challenges and stay sane on your entrepreneurial journey.