It’s been a month…
My husband lost a university friend three weeks ago.
Healthy. Fit. Early 40s. Two young kids. Just sold a business this year.
He came to Lisbon only last month and was playing paddle with my boys and sharing with Olly about the plans he had for 2026.
But three Tuesdays ago he went to bed and didn’t wake up.
I keep thinking about “Rookie” (Tom) this month -his wife, his kids and all of the plans he had for next year that will never be.
I wasn’t close to him personally -he was what I’d call a “peripheral friend” from Olly’s uni days – but I’ve found myself weeping often this month for all that was lost for him and his family.
So when I say it’s reset my mind this month, I mean it’s made me stop putting things off -for the moment at least -because it sucks that tragedies are often real catalysts for momentum and change.
Here’s what I’ve been up too:
1. November 28 (Thanksgiving): My fundraising journey officially began.
I’ve now had two formal meetings for our angel round. (BRB just re-reading this line about 87 times because who is this girl.)
Sixty days ago I could not tell you the difference between angel money, VC money, pre-seed, seed, Series A, TAM, SAM, %$#&%^^^ 🥴🥴🥴
(props to ME for literally getting a PHD in “WTF are these acronyms and why does this world make it so intentionally confusing?”.)
But as I write this, I can confidently walk someone through financial models and tell the “number story” of MyStoryPro.
As someone who stopped taking math as a junior in high school and basically gave away video services for the first few years of running “my business”…this is a big deal.
(Note: losing money on video projects = bad business model)
And apparently, I’m also as naive as I am EXCITED to do this and if you ask most women, fundraising is like the 9th portal of hell (are there 7 other portals? because I just made that phrase up.)
But I’m excited because I’m not raising money to prove our concept.
We already did that.
I’m raising money to put fuel under a rocket ship that’s hovering above the ground and needs a real blast-off..
Bad spaceship puns and metaphors brought to you by me. Unfortunately I cannot blame AI on that. 🚀
MyStoryPro has had product market fit since day 1 and we’re profitable.
Oh and the AI space desperately needs more female perspectives who don’t have the privilege of rambling incoherently on stage high on ketamine and still being treated like visionary tech leaders.
If you haven’t seen this yet, it says everything about who’s currently helming the AI ship.
And I want off that particular ride.
As one mentor, Claire, said to me, “YOU are giving THEM an opportunity. They need you more than you need them.”
Debatable.
And another mentor friend Dawn, who just raised $30M (bow down) for her own venture fund got close to her zoom camera and said straight face to me:
“There are boys fresh out of Stanford raising millions on napkin sketches. Stop it and go after it.”
She also told me the only goal of the first meeting is to get to the second.
And I’m proud to say that I am two for two so far.
If you’re reading this… apologies in advance.
You’re about to be my emotional support fundraising animal.…
It’s been a long up and down year of me constantly feeling like I don’t belong as a “non tech” person… whatever that even means.
And then last week, MyStoryPro -my own AI tool basically called me out.
MyStoryPro generated these (I have something in my eye) storytelling analysis (think Spotify Wrapped but for the stories you told, the themes you repeat, the identity patterns you lean on).
And as a thank you we sent these to our 13 founding members who paid us $1100 for an ANNUAL YEAR MyStoryPro subscription before they even used the tool in 2024?!? (even I was like um… you sure about this?! Does this thing work!?!)
And then I got mine…
“You’re STILL asking permission to take up space. Why?”
“You’re raising money but questioning if you belong in VC rooms. Stop it.”
“Stop asking ‘Am I allowed to be here?’ and start asking ‘What do I want to create NOW THAT I’M HERE?’”
I wanted to laugh and cry and defend myself… but ultimately I said out loud:
“Oh my God. I DO do that.”
I decided that I will not be carrying that energy forward next year because I don’t want to spend my time on this planet stewing in that.
Because it turns out… you can combine storytelling AND tech. (so take that lizard brain.)
And then something big happened…..
We also officially closed our FIRST enterprise deal with Montclair University.
Every student in their AI for Entrepreneurs program will now have a MyStoryPro account.
Of course universities need what we’re building – because students deserve to learn about AI in a way that’s NOT rooted in “speed and efficiency at any cost.”
All of this -the loss, the fundraising, the enterprise deal, the uncomfortable “Love Letter” has me in major end of year reflection mode.
I don’t want another year of shrinking, apologizing, or waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say I’m allowed to build something big.
Rookie didn’t get another year.
So I’m not wasting mine.
I’m going after this with the energy of someone who knows life is short, the industry is chaotic, women founders are needed, and the work we’re doing at MyStoryPro matters.
****there were a lot of bathroom pep talks this month and it’s only halfway through🫠
Which brings me to January…
Applications are open for my very FIRST Keynote edition of my signature storytelling program – Founders Fire.
Some alumni are already coming back to craft their next story for bigger stages – and this feels like the perfect way to kick off a year where I’m diving into a lot of uncharted territory.
There are a lot of AI tools in the market. What sets us apart? The story we tell – about our product, about me and Wiebke, about what we’re building.
Story is everything. It’s your competitive advantage.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally shape yours, consider applying.
I’m running this round with a Founders Fire alum whose speaking career took off after we uncovered her “big idea” and turned it into a story that got her paid.
If you’re still reading this…. We are real friends.
Thanks for sticking with me always (even through all those Black Friday emails:).
I hope this inspires you to go after your thing – whatever it is.
Life’s short.
XO
Patrice
