What Are Investors Really Listening For? Melissa Withers and Nate Therrien “Pop-Up” to Go Off
Sometimes less is not more. In this case, Nathan Therrien went all in with RevUp Managing Partner Melissa Withers in an episode of his “Pop-Up” podcast that is equal parts origin story and operator insight.
From her unusual path into professional investing to boxing matches at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, Nate and Melissa riff on all things early stage investing.
After 100+ investments, Melissa brings a sharp perspective to what makes a company fundable and sustainable. She also dives into the signals that really get her jazzed. Whether you’re raising capital or building quietly in the background, this conversation is full of wisdom for founders.
Watch the full episode now on YouTube, or keep scrolling for some of the highlights.
Here are some key highlights:
Teams over solo founders: "It is very difficult today to build a business without a team. As a founder, you have to put in the work to find a way to get yourself out of that solo founder status because it is a real red flag. Investors will be drawn to founders who have some demonstrable proof that they know how to build a team."
Thoughtful use of AI: “If you don't have a story for how you're using AI to create operational efficiency, that's a door slam moment.”
Clarity over echo chambers: “Founders [need to] recognize that your story is the skin of your company and without it you're just a bag of bones. Your story doesn’t just sell investors, it illuminates your operating roadmap. It's got to help me understand how you see the world. When I see a pitch that's been put together in a cookie cutter way, I find myself feeling like you left out the part that makes you different from everyone else.”
Melissa and Nate also talk about what it takes to walk away from bad advice, why founder vision matters, and how to build companies that don’t burn out the people inside them. It’s a candid and unfiltered take on what really matters as you're scaling a company beyond the pitch deck and buzzwords.
Hear the full conversation on Nate’s Pop-Up Podcast Series on YouTube or watch the video below.
More About RevUp Capital
RevUp Capital invests in B2B and B2C companies that are revenue-driven and ready to double down on growth. We deploy cash and capacity to help companies grow from $1-3M to $10-30M, quickly and efficiently, using a revenue-based model. Companies enter our portfolio with $500K-$3M in revenue, a strong growth rate, and a team that’s ready to scale. Our typical investment range is $300K-$500K.
More at www.revupfund.com