2 startup founders pitch, 2 venture investors give them unfiltered feedback on their concept and storytelling – live, candid, and unfiltered! In Episode 059, two ambitious entrepreneurs tackle AI-enabled DevOps automation and a SaaS-marketplace combo for local beauty services.It’s time for Episode 059 of The Feedback Loop!Guest InvestorMirit Lugassi is an investor at Laconia Capital, where she leads pre-seed and seed investments in B2B software companies. She cut her teeth in finance and fintech operations, including scaling a venture-backed AI/ML fintech startup (DueDil) and serving as VP of Customer Operations at an edtech company (Batelle). She then led investment strategy at SeedImpact, orchestrating deals between mission-driven angels and founders, and helped build 51 Unicorns, an investment club focused on female retail investors.Follow Mirit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miritlugassiFollow Sherveen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherveenmFollow Sherveen on X: https://www.x.com/sherveenWhat you'll learn in this episode:Explain the Problem First, FastEarly-stage investors have limited time—anchor them in your problem (e.g., wasted DevOps hours, solopreneurs needing better income flow) so they can ask smart follow-ups.Credibility is Non-NegotiableDon’t bury your background if you’ve done DevOps at Apple or orchestrated $4M in marketplace bookings. Investors want to know why you can tackle this domain—and quickly.Two-Sided Marketplace PitfallsLocal marketplaces + SaaS is a tough combo. Clarify how your product keeps providers around (via scheduling, payments, new clients) and captures enough value to scale.Deep Tech or Jargon? Keep It TangibleIf your solution is for Kubernetes or “autonomous DevOps,” walk investors through one typical scenario (root-cause analysis, config changes) so they grasp the real user journey.Demonstrate Actual Revenue & GrowthPoint to post-pilot evidence or real transaction volume from your platform to calm any skepticism. If your approach is new (e.g., devops autopilot), show partial proof that someone is willing to pay already.Want to Pitch Your Startup Live?Apply now at afterfeedback.com and join our growing community of founders and investors.Thank you to these intrepid founders for stepping into the spotlight. The Feedback Loop is here to help refine your pitch, sharpen your go-to-market, and share battle-tested investor perspectives. Make sure to subscribe for more real-time, no-nonsense feedback on how to pitch your startup.In a Job Search?It’s more competitive than ever. Explore our newest channel for 2025’s ultra-competitive talent landscape: https://youtu.be/dlbfZJmY8t8Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.If you’re exploring AI for DevOps, beauty & local marketplaces, or want to polish your VC pitch, this episode is rich with insights. Like, comment, and share with a friend — because feedback is a gift! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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