The Art of Startup Storytelling: Donna Griffit
- Blueprint for Success
Donna Griffit is on a quest to help startup entrepreneurs understand the transformative power of storytelling. Disruption recently caught up with Griffit to talk about her book, Sticking to My Story, a comprehensive guide hailed as the "A to Z Bible for startup pitching.”
Griffit's journey toward writing the book was driven by a simple, but game-changing observation: startups often struggle to articulate their stories effectively. Even people with marketing backgrounds find themselves at a loss when it comes to communicating their vision clearly. Looking around the startup ecosystem, Griffit realized there was a knowledge gap when it came to communicating a startup’s story, taking it as an opportunity to turn her years of experience into valuable expertise.
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“People do not remember facts and figures and numbers—they remember stories, emotions, and the connections they forge,” she says.
But too often, founders forget who they’re pitching to, getting lost in the details rather than leaving investors with a captivating narrative that leaves a lasting impact.
“I see founders focus on conveying information, forgetting about how to actually connect with their audience,” she says, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and vulnerability. By turning the spotlight away from themselves and towards addressing investors' needs and desires, founders can create compelling stories that resonate more deeply, she says.
With her insights, disjointed pitches turn into cohesive narratives that captivate and persuade. “A well-crafted pitch brings a start-up to life,” she says.
Author - Mariam Ibrahim
Mariam Ibrahim is a writer, editor and communications professional currently based in Seoul. She currently serves as Managing Editor of Disruption.
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