Hi Reader

If you’ve ever watched The Apprentice and screamed at the screen, “For the love of branding, NO,” then you’re in good company this week. We’re also talking about the fine line between a killer pitch and a corporate snoozefest, why AI-native startups are scaling at speeds that would make even Bezos do a double take and what people are willing to sacrifice for permanent WFH. Get reading – it’s a fun one.

Enjoy!

The perfect pitch combines emotion with credibility

When pitching, most founders focus on the wrong things – big vision, impressive projections, a laundry list of features. But according to findings from the consultants Crampton Blackie, the real key to securing funding is telling a value story. Investors don’t just want to know what your product does; they want to understand why it matters, who needs it most and how it solves a pressing problem in a way that others can’t. It’s about the joining of the emotional story with the credibility story. Find out more here.

A lower wage for a better work/life balance?

As the WFH debate rages on, CNBC reveals that 40% of US workers would take at least a 5% pay-cut to keep working from home and 9% would take a 20% cut. For businesses, this could signal a major shift – remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era perk, it’s now a serious bargaining chip in hiring and retention.

Calling time on business buzzwords

For all those who are still grasping low-hanging fruit during paradigm shifts, while avoiding boiling the ocean, here are a couple of smart takes on the rise and rise of business jargon. Where did it come from? Why do we use it? And how do we stop?​

Are you suffering from algorithmic addiction?

It’s only one short step from spouting business buzzwords to creating cookie cutter business content that’s built to please the LinkedIn algorithm. This punchy piece from Storythings reveals how to avoid the fate of becoming a ‘B2B Zombie’.

The Wikileaks of beauty

Here’s an interesting way of addressing the smoke and mirrors that surrounds much of the beauty industry. Skincare brand The Ordinary is taking on the sector’s biggest myths with The Truth Should Be Ordinary – a set of whitepapers designed to debunk marketing fluff. While most brands treat transparency as a tagline, The Ordinary is turning it into a movement – cutting through the noise and putting knowledge directly in the hands of consumers. Check it out here.

Why graphic designers hate watching The Apprentice

An amusing piece in Design Week caught my eye, looking at the most hilariously awful branding moments from the show, from bizarre fonts to logos that look suspiciously like existing brands (or, in some cases, clip art). It should strike a chord with anyone who’s been in a meeting when the client asks, “Can we make the logo bigger?” Get the story here.

AI-native startups are scaling at lightning speed

A new wave of AI-native startups is emerging, and they’re not just tweaking existing models – they’re rewriting the rulebook. Unlike traditional companies bolting AI onto legacy systems, these businesses are built entirely around AI, making them more adaptive, scalable and capable of rapid growth. This piece in the Wall Street Journal covers companies such as branding agency Supernatural AI, which uses its own AI-driven platform to cut campaign development times in half, and StackBlitz, which hit $20mn ARR just eight weeks after launching a product. In other words, they’re scaling at speeds that would make even the best SaaS companies jealous.

And in a delightful bit of irony, while AI is reshaping industries, even the most AI-driven companies seem to be drawing some lines. Anthropic, one of the leading AI research firms, is telling job applicants not to use AI tools to craft their cover letters. 404 Media has the story.​

Game-changing free tools

Running a tight ship? Good news – some of the best resources out there won’t cost you a thing. From Unsplash for high-quality images to Otter AI for effortless transcription and Trello for seamless project management, these tools help streamline your workflow without draining your wallet. Check out the full list and start upgrading your workflow for £0.

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Drop me a line

That’s it for this week. Hopefully, something in here made you think, laugh or at least reconsider your stance on business buzzwords. Now go forth and leverage synergies like the thought leader you were born to be. And if you’ve spotted a trend, a wild story or just something too good not to share, hit me up. I’m always on the lookout for the unexpected. Until next Sunday, keep building, questioning, and – if all else fails – making the logo just a little bigger.

Cheers!
Adam

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