Many DeepTech founders struggle in fundraising because they come across as too nice: soft-spoken, hedging and more likeable inventor than decisive CEO. Investors invest in people they can imagine leading a billion-dollar company. Founders can build presence by cutting hedging language, training body language, telling micro-stories and seeing themselves as company builders.
I work with a lot of DeepTech founders. Visionaries. Tinkerers. Brilliant technologists. They build rockets, quantum systems, next-gen AI tools. The kind of stuff that can genuinely change industries – and the world.
But there’s one pattern I keep seeing. And it holds many of them back – especially when it comes to fundraising:
They’re too nice.
Too soft-spoken. Too gentle. Too much of a likeable inventor… and not enough of a sharp, decisive CEO.
And that’s a problem. Because investors don’t just invest in technology – they invest in people. In founders they can imagine leading a billion-dollar company. Founders who radiate clarity, drive, and the will to win.
What many underestimate: presence is not personality. You don’t need to fake it. You don’t need to be someone else. But you do need to learn to switch modes – from engineer to entrepreneur. From thinker to leader.
So what can you actually do?
1. Language audit: Many technical founders hedge everything they say: “I think…“, “Maybe we could…“, “I’m not sure but…“. That softens your presence. Swap those for statements: “We’re building…“, “We will…“, “We decided…“.
2. Train your body: Stand tall. Steady hands. Eye contact. A few subtle cues – and you instantly come across more grounded, more confident, more CEO.
3. Tell micro-stories: Share short, punchy anecdotes that show how you lead, how you decide, how you solve. That’s presence in action.
4. Redefine your role: You’re not just building tech. You’re building a company. That mental shift alone changes how you show up – in pitches, in meetings, in every interaction.
This isn’t about being louder. Or more aggressive. It’s about being more intentional. More visible. More credible as the person who can take this from idea to impact.
Because in the end, investors don’t just bet on the rocket.
They bet on the one who flies it.
Frequently asked questions
Why do DeepTech founders struggle with fundraising?
A common pattern is that they are too nice: too soft-spoken, too gentle, more likeable inventor than sharp, decisive CEO. Investors invest in people they can imagine leading a billion-dollar company.
Do founders need to change their personality to have presence?
No. Presence is not personality, and you don’t need to fake it. You do need to learn to switch modes, from engineer to entrepreneur and from thinker to leader.
How can technical founders improve their executive presence?
Audit your language and swap hedges like “I think” for clear statements, train your body language, tell short micro-stories that show how you lead and decide, and redefine your role as someone building a company, not just tech.
