Billion Dollar Backstory

“Ugh… I’m going to sound like a broken record.”
If you’ve felt that in a 2nd or 3rd meeting, you’ve probably had the urge to “freshen up” your story just to keep it interesting.

In this episode, Stacy breaks down why that instinct can backfire.
She’s digging into what actually matters in follow-up meetings, especially when new people join, when the sales team thinks “we already covered that,” and when you’re tempted to improvise a whole new version of your story.
Listen in to learn:
Why “repetitive” might be a you problem (not a them problem)
Why you don’t want your story to shift too much between meetings
The simple test for whether you should “run it back” (even in a 3rd meeting
How to tee up repetition without it feeling awkward
This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.

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Running a fund is hard enough.
Ops shouldn’t be.
Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus
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Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Most founders lead with the team because they’re trying not to sound egotistical.
But allocators aren’t sitting there thinking, “Wow, great org chart.” They’re thinking: “Do I understand this firm yet?”

In this episode, Stacy breaks down what allocators actually want in the first meeting and why you’re better off leading with a crisp origin story (even if the founder isn’t in the room to tell it).

Listen in to learn: 
How to tell the founder story without it sounding like “me, me, me”

What to do when you’re not the founder (or the founder isn’t there)

How co-founders/co-managers can stay aligned on one clear version of the story

Where to place team so it builds trust instead of overwhelming the opener

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Running a fund is hard enough.
Ops shouldn’t be.
Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus
- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

If your meeting goes off the rails, it’s not because your prospects are “unruly.” It’s because no one’s driving.
And with the right moves, you can take the wheel fast without making it weird.
In this episode, Stacy breaks down how to prevent unhelpful tangents before you ever walk in the room (hello, champion prep call) and what to do in real time when someone hijacks the conversation.
Listen in to learn how to:
Prep with your champion so you walk in knowing who’s who in the zoo (and who might go rogue)

Use a simple meeting prep doc so everyone stays aligned on the goal, flow, and roles

Redirect tangents — whether they come from the prospect or your fund manager — without anyone feeling embarrassed (we don’t kick people under the table around here) 

Be the Jimmy Fallon of the meeting who breaks the ice and keeps things moving without making it awkward sauce 

This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.

---
Running a fund is hard enough.
Ops shouldn’t be.
Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus
- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Ever felt the urge to tidy up your story before sharing it? You scan the room, see the impressive bios and the blazers, and think: “Oof... maybe I should skip that part.”

You’re not wrong for feeling that way, and you’re definitely not the only one.
In this episode, Stacy opens up about her London panel debut, where she felt that pull to edit out the messy parts of her story on the fly. She’s explaining why she chose to dig in her heels and tell the raw version, even though it was nerve-racking (and why she recommends you do the same). 

Listen in to learn: 
Why you shouldn’t prepare multiple versions of your story, pitch, or deck for different crowds 
How to adjust your story to fit the room without sacrificing authenticity and clarity 
The “still me, just work-me” approach that will help you tweak your delivery without losing the vulnerable parts of your story that make you memorable 
This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.

---
Running a fund is hard enough.
Ops shouldn’t be.
Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus
- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

If you’re still following the traditional sales funnel framework in 2026, your firm’s growth is sure to stall. 
Because the “inverted triangle” view of a funnel is oversimplified, and it’s starting to feel like the fundraising version of that tired investment process slide that makes everyone want to poke their eyes out. 

It flops because not everyone in your funnel needs the same thing, and “just checking in” isn’t a follow-up strategy that actually moves people forward.
That’s why in this episode, Stacy’s breaking down what actually works to keep your funnel healthy.
Listen in to learn: 
 • Why the funnel isn’t a simple inverted triangle (and what it really looks like in practice)
 • What people at the top, middle, and bottom of the funnel actually need from you
 • The real job of the middle of the funnel (and why most teams ignore it)
 • Why filling the top of the funnel is harder than closing deals 
 • Creative ways to get in front of new prospects (without spammy outreach)
 • Why LinkedIn works so well for this when you share the right kind of content 
This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.

---
Running a fund is hard enough.
Ops shouldn’t be.
Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus
- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap