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In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Leah Williams, a pitch deck strategist and designer, for a real conversation about what it actually takes to pitch investors.

This episode strips away the glamor around venture capital and angel investing and gets into the harder truth: investors are not funding dreams, ideas, or excitement alone. They want proof. Leah breaks down why founders need traction, paying customers, a working beta, and a clear understanding of their business before approaching serious capital.

Juming and Leah also explore the different types of pitch decks entrepreneurs need to understand, including teaser decks, reading decks, and presentation decks. Leah explains how each one serves a different purpose, from getting the first meeting to supporting a deeper investor review to guiding a live pitch. For founders who think one generic deck is enough, this episode delivers a much-needed wake-up call.

The conversation also gets practical about the cost of creating a professional pitch deck. Leah explains why founders should expect to invest real money into the process, with professional decks ranging from around $1,500 to $12,500 depending on the startup’s stage, complexity, and funding goals. The episode also touches on the importance of speaking the language investors expect, including financial structure, market opportunity, growth potential, and the kind of clarity venture capitalists are trained to look for.

Another major theme is timing. Leah and Juming discuss why early-stage founders should not rush into investor conversations before they are ready. Instead, they talk about when to bootstrap, when to rely on friends and family, and how accelerators, incubators, and local support programs can help founders prepare for larger funding opportunities.

This episode is a blueprint for entrepreneurs who want to raise capital the right way. Whether you are building your first startup, preparing for a seed round, or trying to understand what investors actually want to see, this conversation gives founders a clearer picture of the mud, pressure, preparation, and discipline behind pitching for funding.

Connect with Leah Williams at leahcatherine.com.
Listen to The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast at utepodcast.com.

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In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, Juming Delmas sits down with Dr. Matthew Zaideman for a candid conversation about business ownership, masculinity, grit, and what it really takes to lead when pressure hits.

Dr. Zaideman shares that his path into ownership was never random or rushed. Rather than starting from scratch, he spent five years working inside the practice he would eventually buy, intentionally studying both the clinical side and the operational side so he could learn what worked, what did not, and what mistakes he wanted to avoid when the business became his. That long-term mindset set the stage for a transition into ownership that was strategic, patient, and deeply intentional.

The episode goes beyond business mechanics. Shortly before buying the practice in 2017, Dr. Zaideman’s son was diagnosed with autism, and that moment transformed his motivation. What had once been a goal of ownership became something much bigger — a mission. He talks about how that diagnosis reshaped the way he saw his work, his future, and the type of foundation he wanted to build, not just for his business, but for his family and the people he hoped to help.

Juming and Dr. Zaideman also dig into what separates true entrepreneurs from people who panic when circumstances shift. They talk about the “automatic” instinct that business owners need — the ability to adapt, survive, and problem-solve without freezing when something goes wrong. Dr. Zaideman reflects on how that mindset helped him navigate the uncertainty of 2020, when he quickly pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering antibody testing after his normal chiropractic schedule dropped off. It becomes one of the clearest examples in the episode of what entrepreneurial grit looks like in real time.

A major focus of the conversation is the evolution from being the business to actually building a business. Dr. Zaideman explains how he worked to stop being “the product” by expanding services beyond himself, bringing in massage therapy and health coaching so the company could continue operating and serving clients even when he was not physically present. That leads into a broader discussion about the role of a CEO — not as the star player doing everything alone, but as the strategist who builds the team, sees the whole field, and empowers the right people to do their jobs well.

The episode also offers strong insight into hiring, accountability, and leadership. Dr. Zaideman speaks honestly about the cost of holding on to underperforming employe

Support the show

Support us by Joining Patreon.
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Produced by Juming Delmas Studios
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