The Pitch

The Pitch

After the Pitch: A Name Change, A Game Change (Hykso)

Apr 17 • 49 min

When Khalil Zahar and Tommy Duquette first pitched their boxing workout startup, Hykso, the investors saw a big opportunity. They wanted to know: Could Hykso be more like Peloton, an at-home cycling system that was starting to take off? Three years later,…

Can A Startup Solve Homelessness? (#63, Samaritan)

Apr 10 • 35 min

Jonathan Kumar pitches his startup, Samaritan, which aims to help people who’ve lost their homes. But can he convince the investors it’s OK to earn a profit off of homelessness? Today’s investors are Charles Hudson, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus and Phil…

Pivot or Die (#62, Feedback)

Apr 3 • 40 min

Ben Walters came on the show to sell the investors on Feedback, an app that lets restaurants change their prices on the fly. But when Ben shows up in the pitch room, he’s already decided that it’s time to make some changes to the business. Can he get the…

After the Pitch: From Startup Novice to Veteran (Shift)

Mar 20 • 37 min

After a stellar pitch on our show back in 2017 — one that got $100K in the first five minutes — founder Mike Slagh hit the ground running with his startup, Shift. In this episode, we catch up with him to find out if Shift, a job-placement service for…

Can a Zebra Survive in a Unicorn World? (#61, Hearken)

Mar 13 • 41 min

Jennifer Brandel of Hearken is pitching a new kind of business. She calls it a zebra: a company that’s driven by a mission — but still wants to make money. And Jennifer’s mission with Hearken is to help journalists do their jobs better. But can she and…

Is This the Amazon Prime of Airline Tickets? (#60, SkyHi)

Mar 6 • 35 min

Rama Poola is here pitching his airline ticket business, SkyHi, where customers pay a monthly fee to access tickets on the cheap. But the investors are worried that it sounds a lot like MoviePass, a company that offered a subscription for unlimited movie…

Disrupting Work Happy Hour (#59, CultureForce)

Feb 27 • 34 min

Ryan Husk wants to take your workplace culture up a notch. His startup, Culture Force, matches companies to “experiences” designed to improve community at work. He says it can be a huge business, but the investors want to know why it’s more than just a…

Park Your Pooch Here 🐕 (#58, DogSpot)

Feb 20 • 38 min

Chelsea Brownridge wants to help dog owners keep their pooches safe when they’re out running errands together. Her startup, DogSpot, makes internet-connected dog houses, with features like webcams and A/C, and puts them in front of retail stores that…

Where Losers Go To Win (#57, Thrive Fantasy)

Feb 13 • 33 min

After losing his shirt on sports betting sites DraftKings and FanDuel, Adam Weinstein decided to flip the script on daily fantasy sports and give everyone a better shot at winning. He’s changing things up using prop bets instead of traditional fantasy…

After the Pitch: ‘It Was a Disaster’ (Industrial Organic)

Feb 6 • 41 min

After a failed pitch on our show back in 2017, Industrial Organic founder Amanda Weeks was ready for redemption. And she found it, to the tune of $4.2 million. Now she’s back — with a lot to say about how much she and her business have grown. Today’s…

Shark Tank vs. The Pitch (#56, Monti Kids)

Jan 30 • 45 min

Zahra Kassam has been on the road in a major way, pitching her startup, Monti Kids. A few months before our show, she pitched on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Today we find out: Did she win over any investors in her two very public pitches? And how do our investors…

A New Spin on VR (#55, Tribe XR)

Jan 23 • 39 min

Tom Impallomeni is here to pitch Tribe XR, a VR app that teaches people to DJ. He’s got a vision for using virtual reality to teach creative skills — but the investors are skeptical. Can Tom convince them he’s putting the right spin on VR? Today’s…

Is Selling in Walmart a Good Thing? (#54, Copper Cow Coffee)

Jan 16 • 38 min

Debbie Wei Mullin is pitching her pour-over Vietnamese coffee startup, Copper Cow Coffee. The company is already doing well on Walmart’s shelves. But does she have what it takes to take the brand online? Today’s investors are Alexandra Stanton, Sheel…

After the Pitch: Is the ICO Gold Rush Over? (PopCom)

Jan 9 • 37 min

After a frustrating round of fundraising for her company PopCom, Dawn Dickson decided that VC was broken. She opted to take a different route: an initial coin offering, or ICO. But then her best-laid plans got all mucked up … by Uncle Sam. Today’s…

Best of 2018

Dec 19, 2018 • 25 min

Josh sits down with the investors to ask about the most memorable pitches in 2018: the good, the bad, and everything in between. The pitches mentioned in this episode are #29 ShearShare, #32 Boundless, #35 Petit Pot, #39 Bluffworks, #41 Shipsi, #42…

Investors Get Feisty at Our Philly Pitch-off (#53)

Dec 12, 2018 • 41 min

This week, The Pitch is live from The Wharton School at the University of Philadelphia. Three of Philly’s most promising young startups take the stage in front of Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus and a packed house for a live pitch competition.

After the Pitch: Sudden Coffee

Dec 5, 2018 • 39 min

Back in 2016, Sudden Coffee founders Joshua Zloof and Kalle Freese tried to sell the investors on their premium instant coffee. Two years later, we checked back in with Joshua and found that Sudden Coffee is still working out some kinks in the business:…

Introducing Without Fail

Nov 14, 2018 • 39 min

The Pitch brings you Without Fail, a new podcast from Gimlet Media where host Alex Blumberg asks people who have pursued incredible things: What worked? What didn’t? And why?

Fitbit … for Dogs (#52, Waggit)

Oct 31, 2018 • 29 min

Susan Sierota wants to help dog owners keep their furry friends healthy with her pet-tech startup, Waggit. Can she convince the four investors that her smart collar will win best in show? Today’s investors are Alexandra Stanton, Jake Chapman, Charles…

This Bot Can Fight Your ATM Fees (#51, Cushion)

Oct 24, 2018 • 35 min

Founder Paul Kesserwani says we’re all losing way too much money to fees — credit card fees, bank fees, ATM fees. And he thinks his company, Cushion, has the answer: A friendly bot that will battle those fees for you. Can he convince investors that…

Ticket Scalpers, Beware! Blockchain Is Coming for You (#50, Bandwagon)

Oct 17, 2018 • 34 min

Why should you care about blockchain if you’re not a huge cryptocurrency nerd? Bandwagon founder Harold Hughes says it can help you score better seats to see your favorite team — and avoid the risk of walking up to the gate with a fake ticket. Can he…

Nuts Can Kill. Are Seeds the Answer? (#49, Blake’s Seed Based)

Oct 10, 2018 • 35 min

Blake Sorensen has a deathly nut allergy — one that’s led to some harrowing trips to the ER. But then he decided that enough was enough. So he started a company, Blake’s Seed Based, to make snacks safe for people like him. Will the investors get on board…

Will This Space Startup Make It off the Ground? (#48, Atomos)

Oct 3, 2018 • 35 min

Atomos co-founders Vanessa Clark and William Kowalski want to build a nuclear-powered spacecraft for moving satellites around in orbit. Can they capitalize on all the new money flowing into the final frontier — or will their sci-fi ambitions be too much…

Can This Tiny Gadget Keep Kids in College? (#47, Fletch)

Sep 26, 2018 • 32 min

The college dropout rate is high, and schools are paying the price… to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Marquett Burton says his education startup can help solve the problem. Will the investors agree? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil…

Never Get Lost Again (#46, Somewear)

Sep 19, 2018 • 30 min

Somewear founder James Kubik thinks going off the grid shouldn’t have to mean going out of cell phone range. That’s why he created a device that turns smartphones into satellite communication hubs. Can he convince investors to join him on the trail?…

Whatever Happened to Virtual Reality? (#45, SVRF)

Sep 12, 2018 • 38 min

Sophia Dominguez is on the show pitching SVRF, an augmented reality/virtual reality startup. But it can be tough to get investors excited about VR, which has attracted tons of hype—without much payoff. Can Sophia convince investors that VR’s time has…

Is This Sports App the Next OpenTable? (#44, Playven)

Sep 5, 2018 • 34 min

Finnish entrepreneur Topias Soininen says his startup, Playven, will revolutionize the way people book tennis courts. But first, the investors have to figure out exactly what it is he’s pitching. Today’s investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil…

Get This Party Startup in Here (#43, PartySlate)

Aug 29, 2018 • 28 min

Entrepreneur Julie Roth Novack says her party planning platform is exactly what event professionals have been missing. And it all hinges on a secret ingredient—something Julie calls “marketing gold”. Now she just needs investors to fork over some gold of…

How Much Do You Trust Your Barista? (#42, Bounce)

Aug 22, 2018 • 35 min

Cody Candee believes his company, Bounce, is the key to freeing us from the stuff we lug around all day. But can he convince investors that his temporary storage solution isn’t a liability disaster waiting to happen? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus,…

Can This Startup Help Retailers Take on Amazon? (#41, Shipsi)

Aug 15, 2018 • 38 min

Amazon is on track to grab nearly HALF of all online retail sales this year. But not if Chelsie Lee’s startup Shipsi has a say in the matter. She wants to give online retailers the ability to compete, by helping them offer super speedy shipping. But it…

Three Startups Enter. Only One Will Leave. (#40)

Aug 1, 2018 • 52 min

At The Pitch’s first-ever live show, three startups face off: Honeyfi, a budgeting app for couples; CBlocks, a cryptocurrency starter kit; and OpenBottle, an app to help people try high-end wines. But can the investors agree on which company should take…

Hacking VC: Josh interviews Arlan Hamilton

Jul 18, 2018 • 36 min

Josh sits down with Backstage Capital CEO Arlan Hamilton at the 2018 SXSW festival to discuss her unique path from tour manager to VC.

This Pitch is Damn Near Perfect (#39, Bluffworks)

Jun 13, 2018 • 44 min

Stefan Loble wows the room with his near perfect pitch for Bluffworks, a company that makes travel-business attire. But is his compelling story enough to get investors to sign on? Today’s investors are Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, and…

A Beauty Industry Veteran Goes Rogue (#38, LOLI)

Jun 6, 2018 • 31 min

Tina Hedges believes the future of beauty is all-natural, organic products. But the investors aren’t sure what to make of her food-grade products for your face. Today’s investors are Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, and Charles Hudson.

Can Tech Solve America’s Drug Crisis? (#37, inRecovery)

May 30, 2018 • 31 min

Founder David Sarabia’s experience with drug addiction inspired him to build an app, called inRecovery. It’s meant to help people who are in rehab. But can he get the rehab centers on board? Today’s investors are Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt, Jillian…

When Two Startups Love Each Other Very Much… (#36, Hostfully)

May 23, 2018 • 33 min

Margot Schmorak says half of all vacation rentals aren’t listed online—and she sees that as a big opportunity for her startup. But things get messy in the pitch room when Margot reveals that her company comes with a little extra baggage. Today’s investors…

The Proof Is in the Pudding (#35, Petit Pot)

May 16, 2018 • 32 min

Max Pouvreau has built gourmet pudding company Petit Pot with his Michelin star background and scrappy customer acquisition. Now he wants VC backing to take it to the next level—and potentially a big acquisition. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil…

Can Storytime Become Big Business? (#34, Caribu)

May 9, 2018 • 32 min

Max Tuchman is on a roll with Caribu, an app that lets parents and kids read together virtually. But can she convince investors that early success will lead to future returns?Today’s investors are Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, and Charles…

What Is a Startup Actually Worth? (#33, Tire Agent)

May 2, 2018 • 28 min

Jared Kugel needs a million dollars to get Tire Agent up and running. But things get tense in the pitch room when investors start questioning the value of his company. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt.

Is Immigration the Next Venture-Scale Business? (#32, Boundless)

Apr 25, 2018 • 32 min

The U.S. immigration system is a bureaucratic nightmare. And it’s only getting worse. Founder Xiao Wang has a plan to solve that with his startup, Boundless. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt.

Are Vending Machines the Future of Retail? (#31, PopCom)

Apr 18, 2018 • 34 min

When you think of cutting edge technology, it’s unlikely vending machines pop to mind. But Dawn Dickson has a plan to change that with her startup, PopCom. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt.

Can This Founder Reclaim Cocktail Hour? (#30, Swig + Swallow)

Apr 11, 2018 • 30 min

Craft cocktails are all the rage—but they tend come with high price tags and long wait times. Swig + Swallow founder April Wachtel wants to bring the craft experience out of the bar and into your home. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati,…

Has This Husband-and-Wife Team Stumbled Onto the Next Airbnb? (#29, ShearShare)

Apr 4, 2018 • 40 min

When Tye and Courtney Caldwell were having trouble renting space in their salon, they thought: why isn’t there an app for this? So they created one. But can they convince investors that their skills will transfer from the barbershop to the boardroom?…

Is This Entrepreneur Ready to Take On Facebook? (#28, 1 Second Everyday)

Mar 28, 2018 • 34 min

Facebook is the undisputed king of social networks. But Cesar Kuriyama thinks his app, 1 Second Everyday, could topple the giant. If he’s going to do that, he’ll need some serious cash.Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati, Phil Nadel, and…

Qleek Pt. II: What Happened After The Pitch (#27)

Feb 21, 2018 • 26 min

The surprising story of what happened to one startup after its founders pitched to investors—and thousands of listeners.

Dynofit (#26)

Feb 14, 2018 • 33 min

Maria Schneider wants to take physical therapy out of the clinic and into the home with the help of a small device. But is her technology the answer patients and doctors have been waiting for?

Rex (#25)

Feb 7, 2018 • 34 min

When scientist Amado Guloy saw an opportunity to combine farm animals and big data, he traded the laboratory for the boardroom and created Rex Animal Health. But can he convince investors he’s got what it takes to make it in the business world?

unGlue (#24)

Jan 31, 2018 • 32 min

The apps on our smartphones seem to be engineered for addiction. Alon Shwartz wants to fight this with an app of his own: unGlue.

Jiobit (#23)

Jan 24, 2018 • 34 min

After John Renaldi lost track of his kid on a trip to downtown Chicago, he vowed never to be in that situation again. So he created Jiobit, a tiny geotracker for kids. Can he convince investors that his device stands out among a sea of competitors?

Lunar Wireless (#22)

Jan 17, 2018 • 39 min

Hunter Rosenblume is pitching Lunar Wireless, a company he co-founded as an answer to pricey cell phone plans. But getting investors to gamble on a 22-year-old who claims he can take on a decades-old industry is a hard sell. Is a healthy dose of FOMO…

Metabrew (#21)

Jan 10, 2018 • 34 min

Romy Raad and her cofounder have created Metabrew, a healthy beverage they believe could replace your morning coffee. But can they get investors buzzing about this plant-based substitute?

We Answer Your Questions (Bonus)

Dec 27, 2017 • 18 min

We opened up our phone lines and you delivered—with questions about entrepreneurship, pitching, and the show. Thanks to everyone who reached out!

Harper Wilde (#20)

Dec 20, 2017 • 41 min

The founders of Harper Wilde want to take the B.S. out of bra shopping. That means convincing our investors that they’ve found a way to turn it from a major inconvenience into an easy at-home experience.

SandBox Commerce (#19)

Dec 13, 2017 • 40 min

When Sterling Smith left his job as a software developer to start Sandbox Commerce, he knew he had the skills to build great mobile apps. But in a world where it seems everybody has an app, can he convince investors there’s really an opportunity here?

ROWViGOR (#18)

Dec 6, 2017 • 37 min

Co-founders Kevin Allen and Moses McCall think rowing is the next big trend in fitness. To cash in on their hunch, they need to convince investors they can make waves in a space already crowded with competitors.

Investor Spotlight: Jillian Manus (#17)

Nov 29, 2017 • 25 min

You’re probably familiar with Jillian Manus the investor—but in this episode, we dig in a little deeper to understand how she became the VC force she is today. For more information about our show and the investors, visit thepitch.show

Qleek (#16)

Nov 15, 2017 • 41 min

After Ismail Salhi discovered his father’s old record collection gathering dust in the attic, he teamed up with Johanna Hartzheim to create Qleek. Together they hope to marry the nostalgia of vinyl with the convenience of digital music. But first they…

Shift (#15)

Nov 8, 2017 • 39 min

When Mike Slagh left the military, he wanted to find a job in tech, but he couldn’t get his foot in the door. And then he found out that he was one of approximately 300,000 service members who every year struggle to make the transition back into the…

Tushy (#14)

Nov 1, 2017 • 43 min

Miki Agrawal made headlines with the success of her first company Thinx—until she became the headline. Now she’s ready for a comeback with Tushy, her new business built on making bidets mainstream in America. But first she has to convince investors she’s…

Meet the Investors (#13)

Oct 25, 2017 • 26 min

The entrepreneurs usually own the spotlight on our show. But venture capital is a two-way street. On today’s episode, we hear from the people who make deals happen: our investors. Who are they and how did they become the ones calling the shots?

We’re back!

Oct 18, 2017 • 2 min

The Pitch is back on October 25th! The stakes are high as a brand new crop of scrappy entrepreneurs pitch their startups to investors. For more information about our show and the investors, visit thepitch.show.

Teamable (#12)

Aug 30, 2017 • 40 min

Entrepreneur Laura Bilazarian has an innovative solution for helping companies find great talent. But to convince investors, she’ll need to walk a razor’s edge between confidence and cockiness.

Tesloop (#11)

Aug 23, 2017 • 35 min

Haydn Sonnad pitches his plan to revolutionize regional transit on the back of Tesla’s electric charging network. But there’s a catch: this entrepreneur has to run his company between English class and Algebra. Extra: Haydn asks Elon Musk a question

Sudden Coffee (#10)

Aug 16, 2017 • 35 min

Two entrepreneurs believe they have the secret to making premium instant coffee. Will their startup hold up to a taste test with investors? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Howie Diamond and Jake Chapman.

Tuckrbox (#9)

Aug 9, 2017 • 37 min

Co-founders Meghan Carreau and Alex Payne are pitching their food delivery service built on noble ideals of making kids healthier and reducing headaches for parents. Can the founders convince investors that their startup will actually deliver on those…

Hykso (#8)

Aug 2, 2017 • 38 min

Could a little sensor designed to measure punches be the next big hit in a long line of fitness fads? The founders of Hykso think so. Now they just need to last a few rounds in the ring with our investors. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel,…

Shimmur (#7)

Jul 26, 2017 • 39 min

The social media landscape is a veritable graveyard of failed startups, but Matthew Peltier believes his company, Shimmur, is different. With a growing user base and a solid plan for revenue, he’s almost ready to go… all he needs now is a few hundred…

Guru Games (#6)

Jul 19, 2017 • 39 min

Between classes, part-time jobs, and social lives, college students Evan Thomas and Troy Pettie have been moonlighting to build a business they hope will bring millennials back into casinos. Will our investors be willing to take a gamble on Guru Games?

FITGuard (#5)

Jul 12, 2017 • 39 min

Concussions have cast a major shadow over contact sports, from youth leagues to the pros. But entrepreneur Anthony Gonzales thinks he can fix it by putting a gadget in the mouths of athletes. Now he just has to convince investors to put their dollars…

Skylights (#4)

Jul 5, 2017 • 39 min

David Dicko is bringing virtual reality to the skies. It’s an ambitious plan, and he’s going to need $1.8 million to take off in a punishing market. Will the investors trust his team to succeed where so many others have failed?

Industrial Organic (#3)

Jun 28, 2017 • 33 min

Most of us stop thinking about our food scraps once we take the trash to the curb. Not so for Amanda Weeks, who started a food waste company designed to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Now she just needs investors to get behind her plan to save the…

iMirror (#2)

Jun 21, 2017 • 36 min

The hotel room hasn’t seen disruption since the addition of the television in the 1950s. Pieter Boekhoff wants to change that—by transforming what happens when we look in the mirror. But first, he has to convince investors that there’s money to be made in…

Babyscripts (#1)

Jun 14, 2017 • 37 min

Juan-Pablo Segura has built an app that he’s sure will revolutionize the way expectant mothers receive medical care. But first he needs to convince a panel of investors to bankroll his plan—to the tune of a million dollars.