Episode 417 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Rob Hughes, Co-Founder of Koo Capital.
If you haven’t met Rob yet… you should. He is one of the personalities behind the Boston tech scene and he is doing his part to bring the extra energy and buzz that is brewing in addition to initiatives like the Massachusetts AI Coalition.
We need more Rob’s, as he has a big personality and it’s only fitting that he is one of the faces behind Pitch Lift, along with angel investor, Steve Walsh. Pitch Lift is a Shark Tank style elevator pitch event that literally happens in an elevator. Founders get 30 seconds to grab the attention of an investor and make an impression before the doors open. It’s a fun but high pressure environment and you can see it in action on Instagram and TikTok.
In addition to Pitch Lift, Rob is a co-founder of Koo Capital, a private credit advisory platform built by bankers for founders to help high-growth companies unlock non-dilutive capital to scale faster.
In this episode of our podcast, we cover:
00:00 Introduction
02:05 Details on Pitch Lift & How it Got Started
07:20 How Pitch Lift Creates Social Content
09:26 Common Pitch Mistakes & Advice
11:59 Rob's Background & Early Career
18:13 Pivoting from Sales to Banking
22:27 Early Focus Servicing AI and ML Companies
24:45 Transition to Citizens Private Bank
29:00 Starting Koo Capital
30:58 His New Year's Resolution to Minimize Regret
31:58 Details on Koo Capital
33:24 Alternative Funding Advice for Entrepreneurs
36:17 What qualifications does Koo Capital look for?
38:24 Lessons Learned from Running his own Company
41:29 Reviving the Boston Tech Ecosystem
45:40 3 Essential Apps
46:43 Details on an Instagram Trail Reel
48:38 The importance of short video
49:50 Podcast & Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs
50:54 Rob's other passions and hobbies
