𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗻 (𝘀𝗵𝗲/𝗵𝗲𝗿) is an angel investor and startup advisor who has financed $10B+ in commercial real estate and invested in nearly 30 early-stage companies. Through Masthead Strategies, she helps underrepresented founders sharpen their pitch, tell a clearer fundraising story, and walk into investor conversations prepared. Katie serves on the boards of Outcast Brands, Fierce Foundry, and the Enthuse Foundation—and she’s also the person to talk to if you want a candid take on Digital Twins.

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

Fundraising often goes sideways for simple reasons: the story is hard to follow, the “why now” is fuzzy, or the ask doesn’t match the stage of the company. In this episode, Anne Murphy and Kyle Shannon sit down with Katie Dunn to break down what strong pitches have in common, what makes investors lean in, and how founders can prepare for diligence before it becomes a scramble. They also get into one of Katie’s favorite topics—𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀—and how that way of thinking can change how you talk about proof, performance, and trust.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻:

• The first 2–3 minutes of a pitch: what matters most (and what can wait)

• How to define traction in a way that fits your stage

• The questions that signal real interest vs. polite curiosity

• Common red flags founders can fix early

• Why Digital Twins keep coming up—and what founders should consider as they build

𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘, 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘, 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘:

Catch a new episode of The AI Readiness Project every Wednesday at 3pm (PST), co-hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Want to meet others navigating this new terrain with humor and humanity? Visit The AI Salon or She Leads AI to find your people.