PhD-trained narrative architect. 5 years in VC. I teach early-stage founders how to tell the story that gets them funded.
About
I've spent 5 years in VC reading pitches and supporting due diligence, and watching decisions get made. I know what investors are looking for, and what they don't say out loud.
I am a PhD-trained narrative theorist from Columbia University, with 400+ hours of experience training and mentoring Ivy League talent.
I know what a great founder story looks like from the investor's side of the table, I understand how stories make an impact, and I can teach you to build one yourself.
Individual Offering
Pitch Storytelling Program
My approach is based on a simple fact: storytelling is a structural problem. I don't give you a template, a script, or a list of tips. With five 1-hour sessions, I give you the tools to understand how and why a narrative lands.
You will walk out ready to present your business in a formal investor pitch, in a way that's both effective and authentic.
Diagnosis
You give me your pitch, I give you 30 minutes of brutal feedback. We align on your goals and map out the steps to get you there.
Deconstruction
We deconstruct your founder journey, your mission, and your business. We focus on your strengths and co-create a learning experience that fills in the gaps.
Architecture
Strong stories aren't telling, they're doing. Using your own pitch as an example, I teach you the basics of storytelling architecture, and we solve it together as a structural problem. We go beyond the 'what' and focus on the why and how. You learn how to ask the right questions yourself, without external support.
Delivery
Some VCs call it passion, others call it charisma. Either way, how you show up in the room can make or break your fundraise. Claude can't teach you that, but I will—in a way that's authentic, natural, and tailored to your existing skillset.
Result
This is where it all comes together. You give me your revised pitch, and I give you 30 minutes of final feedback. You walk into your next fundraising meeting confident and ready to deliver.
Individual Sessions
For founders who need focused support rather than the full program, I offer detailed feedback on a pitch or deck ahead of a specific meeting, preparation for a pitch competition or demo day, or networking preparation before a conference. Sessions are booked individually, as a single session or a short series.
Group Workshops
I offer storytelling workshops for founders and teams at VC funds, conferences, educational institutions, and other organizations. Each workshop can be adapted to the cohort, program, and industry.
Storytelling in Networking: Making Every Conversation Count
Most investor relationships begin as informal conversations. This interactive workshop guides founders through the basics of preparing for in-person events, entering conversations, introducing their business, and ensuring effective follow-up. Each participant walks away with a tailored 20-second elevator pitch they can use in their next conversation.
This workshop is available in a 60-minute online format for up to 30 participants, or a 120-minute in-person format for up to 20 participants. The extended version features more guided storytelling exercises for presenting different facets of a business.
Delivered for AgeTechX Conference. Upcoming at ESCP Business School Berlin and Female Founders.
From the Founders
Deger Turan
CEO, Metaculus
"I worked with Mila during the early stages of my career, and the conversations we had about how I was telling my story shaped everything. She has a rare ability to identify exactly where a narrative loses its audience, and to ask the questions that make you find the answer yourself rather than handing it to you. That clarity stayed with me after those early conversations ended. It carried through a Series A, an acquisition, and into what I'm building now."
Marcus Rossi
Co-Founder, Primordis
"I had the opportunity to work with Mila as Primordis prepared for a seed fundraising effort for our AI software company. At the time, we had a strong technology and traction story, but we needed to communicate it more clearly to investors outside our immediate domain. Mila brought a disciplined approach to storytelling and investor communications that helped us sharpen both our pitch deck and our overall narrative. The result was a significantly stronger fundraising narrative and a much more effective investor presentation. I would strongly recommend her to any founder looking to strengthen their investor messaging and strategic storytelling."
Shona Neary
Founder, CounterCult
"I worked with Mila at a pivotal moment for my business, and our conversations helped me refine my vision, think through alternative business models and revenue streams, and clarify what I needed to do next. She has the ability to cut through to what actually matters: what you're building, why it's valuable, and whether your plan reflects that."