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Founder Unfriendly
What Investors Won't Tell You About Getting Funded

Charlie O'Donnell (Author)

9781394369874, Wiley

Hardback, published 13 April 2026

272 pages
23.1 x 15.5 x 2.8 cm, 0.454 kg

A strategy guide for founders who want to understand—and influence—the behavior of venture capitalists and investors so they can get their companies funded

In Founder Unfriendly, veteran venture capitalist Charlie O’Donnell walks you through what actually happens after you leave a pitch meeting. Based on his own extensive, first-hand experience, O’Donnell provides a clear answer to the question of why so many “mediocre” startups get funded while young companies with brilliant concepts and people get passed over time and time again.

The book skips the endless clichés about “successful founder traits” and recycled startup wisdom and gets right to the heart of why real VCs in the real world fund real companies with real money. It also explains exactly why those same investors say no so often, as well as what it might take to move them from a no to an enthusiastic yes.

Inside the book:

  • Granular, specific advice that will transform your pitch deck from a liability into a game changing asset
  • Strategies to shape the conversations investors have after you leave the room as they decide whether to fund your venture
  • How to change your strategy based on the relative strength and momentum of the sectors you operate in

Perfect for first-time founders trying to get the lay of the VC land, Founder Unfriendly is also a must-read for seasoned entrepreneurs trying to hone their fundraising strategies. It’s packed with proven and practical tools to help you build your company while capturing as much of the resulting value as possible.

Foreword by Ben Mckean, Founder and Ceo, Hungryroot xiii

Introduction ix

1 Free Your Mind: Dispelling Myths About Startups and Venture Capital 1

2 Show Me the Money: Who Gets Funded and Why? 29

3 I’m Putting Together a Team: Attracting Help and Support 49

4 You Can’t Handle the Truth: Being Rigorous and Honest with Yourself 75

5 There’s No Crying in Baseball: Doing the Hard Work 101

6 Keep Your Friends Close: The Importance of Trust 111

7 To Infinity and Beyond! Going Big 119

8 Sell Me This Pen: Getting Ready to Raise 139

9 These Are Not the Droids You’re Looking For: The Pitch 171

10 Dogs and Cats, Living Together: Mass Hysteria! Getting Yeses and Nos 211

Final Thoughts 227

Acknowledgments 231

About the Author 233

Index 235

Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]

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