Founder Story Studio
Develop a story-driven investor pitch that (1) locates your company in a larger narrative; (2) positions you as a credible leader; and (3) distills your data into the meaning humans require before they will act on, care about, or remember any of it.
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what it is.
A 30-day personalized design sprint for early-stage founders who are ready to leverage the twin powers of story and narrative to show investors why they should give a hoot about your company.
“Jess re-defined my "go-to story" in a way that allows me to connect with partners and investors much faster, creating authentic, meaningful connections with people. It truly shifted my personal intro and has made me a more approachable and investable entrepreneur.”
Dasami Moodley, Founder of Metta Labs (~$50M rasied)
who it's for.
Early stage (seed & Series A) founders who are committed to getting their story straight and becoming influential communicators before their next raise.
*Series B/C narrative reframe available for repeat clients only.
“Not only was Jessica instrumental in helping me close the round successfully despite difficult market conditions, but along the way she also pushed me to explore my 'growth edge,' identify beliefs and assumptions that were holding me back, and clarify what's really required to take my organization from X to 10X…Bottom line: if you struggle to create a story about your company that gets through the noise and sticks, you should hire Jessica today.”
Carl Hasselskog, CEO of Instabridge ($10M raised)
why it works.
The unique methodology powering the Story Studio has been tweaked & tested over 10+ years, across industries ranging from entertainment to finance; clients have collectively raised $235M+ in venture & institutional funding to date.
While Story Studio methods have been refined over a decade of experimentation, the accelerated 30-day sprint format represents an innovative container designed to solve founder needs on their timelines, and facilitate pitch readiness in a matter of weeks (versus months).
Proven to help you hook interest, bypass (then satisfy) the logical critic, appeal (with tact) to emotion and identity, and activate the imagination around what happens next.
“Without a doubt one of the best investments I've made as a first time founder... My approach to pitching now is 100% different than it was previously. I've personally found Jessica's coaching so beneficial that I've decided to have her work with other members of our team, as well. She is a rockstar and if you decide to make the investment, you will not be disappointed.”
Jake Bullock, Founder & CEO of Ravn ($5M raised)
Founder Story Studio - 2025 Waitlist
The Studio runs 2x per quarter on a first-come, first-served basis. Add your name to this list to be notified when the next session becomes available.
When we have an opening, you'll be contacted to schedule a brief meeting to assess fit and get your questions answered. If you are offered acceptance into the Studio, your spot will be held for 72 hours before it is released to the next client on the list.
what happens in 30 days.
Day 0: Live Pitch [Benchmark]
We kick things off with a live demo of your pitch “as-is” to establish a baseline and assess your unique needs & opportunities.
Weeks 1-2: Founder Story
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Articulate why you’re the right person to build the company
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Develop personal, professional, and industry POV's
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Refine 1-3 relevant personal stories that establish credibility & build trust
Weeks 2-3: Company Narrative
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Locate (and differentiate) your company in the context of a bigger unfolding narrative
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Excavate your 4 pillars of meta-story
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Organize complex data into coherent narrative arc that links past, present and future
Weeks 3-4: Investor Pitch
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Integrate company narrative & founder stories into straw decks (send ahead & talkover) using proven investor pitch format
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Experiment with pitching best practices and influence techniques
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Strategize answers to tough FAQ’s
Day 30+: Live Pitch [Growth]
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Your "after" pitch will be recorded and paired with additional tips & tricks for further refinement.
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Available Add-ons (+$)
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Finalized pitch decks (send ahead & talkover)
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Follow-on iterative coaching support
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Cold investor audience for further pitch practice + targeted feedback
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Key elements rendered in short video format
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Narrative strategy reframe for Series B raise (repeat clients only)
who's behind it.
"It's meee -- Jessica! "
[Real quick, have you seen that Rob Schneider movie where he accidntally swaps bodies with a teenager named Jessica? ... No? Ok, I digress.]
See 3rd person bio below, or jump to my origin story.
3rd Person Bio
The unique methodology that powers the Story Studio is the beloved brainchild and original creation of Jessica Mastors, founder and CEO of Story Magic.
Jessica strongly believes that in our current context of accelerating change, complexity, and uncertainty, innovators and experts will not succeed in moving us into a positive future – unless and until they learn to communicate in ways that get the rest of us to relate, remember, imagine, and care.
And for that – no matter your message or vision – you need story, narrative, analogy, and metaphor.
By learning how to leverage these tools for their unique contexts, Jessica's clients have collectively raised over $235M in VC and institutional funding, across industries ranging from tech to entertainment, finance, hospitality, health, beauty, education, information technology, and national security.
Founder Story Studio - 2025 Waitlist
The Studio runs 2x per quarter on a first-come, first-served basis. Add your name to this list to be notified when the next session becomes available.
When we have an opening, you'll be contacted to schedule a brief meeting to assess fit and get your questions answered. If you are offered acceptance into the Studio, your spot will be held for 72 hours before it is released to the next client on the list.
