Ep 84 - Lead With the Money, Not With the Pain: Inside Tips for a Better Raise, With Naseem Sayani

In this episode, Naseem Sayani, Director, Innovator's Circle, WHAM and VC investor & ecosystem builder, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to expose the structural gaps female founders face and how to overcome them with strategy, confidence, and financial clarity. Naseem breaks down why women often lead with pain instead of profit, why this undermines fundraising, and how shifting storytelling toward economic opportunity can transform investor outcomes. Drawing from deep experience in consulting, venture building, and women’s health innovation, she outlines the real reasons women negotiate less, accept predatory terms, and hesitate to take salaries—even when the business demands it.

Check out Naseem's sharp insights on:

1. Why most female founders lose investor interest early and the simple narrative shift that instantly changes the fundraising conversation
2. The hidden bias in “leading with pain” and how reframing your pitch around market size and money unlocks investor confidence
3. Why founders routinely miscalculate market size and how to paint a compelling future vision that pulls investors toward your company
4. The red flags investors look for in early teams and the specific “superpowers” founders must assemble from day one
5. The most overlooked post-funding mistake women make and how to protect your equity and runway as you scale
6. Why many founders underestimate predatory term sheet risks and how to build the small advisory circle that keeps you safe
7. The difference between a true product and a feature and the unforgiving test that reveals whether your idea is actually fundable
8. Why financial fluency matters more than financial perfection and how to speak to your model in ways that earn investor trust
9. The real reason founders stumble in regulated markets and how early clinical, payer, or regulatory expertise changes your trajectory
10. Why leadership development determines whether you keep the CEO role and how coaching, community, and thought leadership help you scale with your company

and much more!