41: Pitch a Startup Founder with Natasha Masarenhas
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In this episode, we chat with TechCrunch reporter, Natasha Mascarenha, about a pitch that led to a phone call, which inspired a 4-part series on a well-known edtech company, Duolingo! What stood out about the founder that led to such an in-depth look at the company? We\\u2019ll dive into how this series developed, leaving you with tips on how to pitch your founder and best prepare them for interviews. Despite the reality of most startups not holding household names like Duolingo, our guest will guide you through making your client stand out by communicating with transparency and authenticity.
\\nIn this episode you\\u2019ll learn\\u2026
\\n- \\n
- How to prepare startup founders for media interviews \\n
- Why authenticity matters in storytelling and media interviews \\n
- What a TechCrunch reporter looks for in a subject line and email body \\n
Our guest is...
\\nNatasha Mascarenhas is a senior reporter at TechCrunch by way of Crunchbase News, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe and BostInno. She primarily reports on early-stage startups in edtech and future of work, through the lens of how culture and strong opinions can shape a company\'s trajectory. Beyond journalism, Mascarenhas spends her time cooking Indian American fusion recipes, dancing and writing on her personal blog.
\\nStories we talked about:
\\nHow a bot-fighting test turned into edtech\\u2019s most iconic brand, Duolingo
\\nBuilt by a refugee, Enlight\\u2019s edtech tool bets it can help students hope harder
\\nMedium sees more employee exits after CEO publishes \\u2018culture memo\\u2019