When you are working on a technical or scientific innovation, pitching a specialized VC firm may seem like the light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, someone who will get it. Or… will they?

Today’s guest, Steve Molino, is Principal at Synthesis Capital based in New Jersey. And today’s episode asks: How can founders with complex tech craft pitch decks that help them get there, past the initial interest? Ironically, having cutting-edge technology may make it harder, not easier.

Steve Molino works across food tech and biotech. Previously, he led investment activity at Clear Current Capital as Partner and Head of Investments. He focused on early-stage investments and now covers Series A, B, or later.

You are listening to Scaling Nerds, the podcast covering all things communications for science and tech founders.

Links

Connect with Steve Molino:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmolino/

Check out Synthesis

https://synthesis.capital/

Connect with me:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-marina/⁠

marina@r2g.media

Resources Mentioned:

Granola AI

Slidebean

Slidesgo

Canva

A crisp crash course on announcing your fundraise correctly, including:

• a good timeline for drafting, reviewing, and sending out the press release

• how to correctly manage stakeholder feedback

• and how to maximize the benefits of the announcement

The guest you’ll hear from today, Elisheva Marcus, and I met at the Deep Tech Momentum conference in Berlin and connected over nerding out about comms.

Elisheva Marcus has an MSc in Biomedical Communication and brings expertise from the San Jose Mercury News, Ada Health, Bayer, and more. Since 2020, she has been the VP of Communications at Earlybird Venture Capital, supporting portfolio founders as a sparring partner.

By the way, Earlybird Venture Capital was founded in 1997 and is among the most experienced venture investors in Europe, covering all development and growth stages from pre-seed to growth in industries like fintech, health tech, and deep tech.

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Links

Connect with Elli:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisheva-marcus/

Check out Earlybird:

https://earlybird.com/

Connect with me:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-marina/

Structure of a Strong Press Release or Announcement

1. Title

   • Use active, direct language.

   • Avoid buzzwords.

   • Commit to a single, powerful title (no subtitle).

2. Key Bullet Points

   • Three concise bullets summarizing the essential news.

   • Designed for quick journalistic scanning.

   • Represent the three to four main ideas the body will expand on.

3. Header Information

   • Include date and location.

4. Opening Paragraph

   • Start with a strong, engaging first sentence.

   • Avoid generic or slow openings.

5. Main Body

   • Expand on the bullet points in a clear, logical flow.

   • Ensure coherence and story progression.

   • Cover the who, what, where, when, and why.

   • Include:

     • Amount raised (with correct denomination)

     • Impact and significance

     • The team and why they’re the right people

     • A quote from leadership or a client

     • How the funds will be used and why it’s memorable

6. Closing Section

   • End with a short About section or call to action.

   • Provide contact or follow-up information.

Climate activism failed to inspire hope, can founders fill the void? Discover why the next cultural revolution won’t be led by politicians, but by startup leaders.

Episode Summary

In this solo episode, Marina Schmidt dissects how startup founders have become some of the most powerful public communicators of our time—and why that power matters. She explores the rise of founder evangelism, the cultural shift from corporate branding to personal leadership, and the urgent need for integrity-driven voices in an era of polarization and information overload.

Drawing on her decade of experience across media, startups, and communications, Marina outlines six theses that map the transformation of founders from company builders to narrative shapers—people who influence culture, policy, and public trust. She argues that after the failure of fear-based climate activism, the responsibility to offer hope, direction, and credible optimism now falls to founders who are building tangible solutions for a better future.

• The rise of founder evangelism and the decentralization of influence

• How social media and podcasts transformed CEOs into cultural figures

• The power shift from institutions to individuals

• Founders as lighthouses: signaling hope, direction, and vision

• The dark side of influence—when founders mislead or polarize

• Why climate activism failed and what founders can learn from it

• The “Hope–Hook–Opportunity–Path–Excitement” framework for storytelling

• The role of founders in restoring public trust and building new role models

  
  

The role of founders is no longer limited to business leadership. In an age where voices travel faster than institutions, founders shape how society sees the future. They can deepen divides—or illuminate the path forward. The question is not whether to speak, but what kind of lighthouse you want to be.

Key Words

founder branding, founder influence, startup communication, leadership storytelling, public narrative, media influence, hope-based communication, climate activism, decentralization of media, founder evangelism, science communication, tech founders, responsible leadership, thought leadership, narrative framing, communication strategy, startup culture, future builders, social impact founders, trust and influence