Ep 1 with Sharif El-Badawi, CEO of Dubai Future District Fund

The Perfect Pitch Podcast by Lucidity Insights

Sharif El-Badawi from DFDF reveals his take on Venture Capital in the region, and some potent advice for founders on approaching venture capital for funding, especially considering the current climate. He imparts a lot of wisdom, from what he thinks makes the perfect founding team, how to do your homework well, what characteristics he looks for in a winning founder, and the importance of embracing an existential crisis… All in the name of crafting the perfect pitch.

"The Perfect Pitch," is a newly launched Podcast Show by Lucidity Insights. Join LucidityInsights.com for an exclusive masterclass series featuring top venture capitalists in the region. Get all the essential insights to kickstart your fundraising journey. 🚀
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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. What makes the ‘Perfect Pitch’ (00:02:00)

3. Investor pet peeves when it comes to founders approaching for funding (00:05:40)

4. The importance of doing your homework (00:05:59)

5. Qualifying investors (00:08:16)

6. Crucial details in pitches (00:11:00)

7. The perfect startup founding team (00:12:08)

8. Understanding software sales cycles (00:13:12)

9. Insights from Sharif’s experience at Admob (00:13:58)

10. Traction as a proxy for startup viability (00:16:13)

11. Using precise vocabulary and metrics in pitches (00:17:10)

12. Advice for founders navigating the current climate (00:18:58)

13. Bootstrapping vs. venture-backed (00:22:28)

14. Importance of discipline in building a startup (00:24:47)

15. How great software products are created (00:29:43)

16. Focus on healthy unit economics (00:32:28)

17. How to set valuations for long-term viability (00:33:20)

18. How Lucidity Insights can Help (00:35:28)