Why Direct Feedback Matters for Founders
Key Takeaways
Investors rarely provide clear feedback, leaving founders with guesswork.
AJ notes that many investors “just pass…or stop replying” without pointing to specific improvements.
Launchpad’s pitch coaching helped refine communication and tighten strategy.
Targeted coaching improved messaging and business-plan details at a pivotal FDA stage.
Direct critique can accelerate preparedness for FDA submissions and fundraising.
Blunt, actionable notes translate into clearer tasks, budgets, and milestones.
Founders benefit from repeatedly iterating on their message.
Iterate, get feedback, improve then do it again.
Honest guidance increases confidence and clarity.
Clarity in story and plan strengthens first impressions with investors and partners.
“It’s hard to get feedback actually when you pitch… they’ll just pass or just stop replying to you and they never tell you where you can improve.”
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The Feedback Gap Most Founders Face
If you’ve pitched investors, you’ve likely met the silence: a pass with no notes, or no reply at all. Without specifics, you’re left to guess which part of the story missed market, milestones, or risk. AJ Singhal, founder and CEO of Com Therapeutics in Huntsville, Alabama, put words to this gap: real feedback is rare, and that slows learning. What changed for him inside Launchpad was the directness of the coaching specific, honest, and immediately usable. That kind of critique replaces guesswork with execution.Turning Coaching into FDA and Fundraising Readiness
Timing matters. When AJ joined Launchpad, his team was “about to submit” an FDA application to begin clinical trials in humans. In parallel, they were raising capital and cultivating pharma relationships. Coaching focused on two fronts: (1) pitch clarity what to say, how to say it, and in what order; and (2) business granularity budgeting for subsequent trials, projecting the funding required to reach market, and mapping a realistic path through clearance. This dual focus helped align scientific milestones with financing asks, so the next dollars could move the program measurably forward.Sharpening the Story: From Personal Pain to Clinical Plan
Com Therapeutics was born from a real problem: managing children’s eczema with steroid creams, wraparounds, and ad-hoc coverings. The company’s all-in-one therapeutic patch aims to deliver a natural anti-inflammatory compound over 24 hours while physically protecting sensitive skin from friction, irritants, and bacteria. Framed well, that origin anchors a clear value proposition; framed poorly, it can sound like yet another patch. Coaching helped translate a personal insight into an investable narrative: mechanism, intended use, comparative advantage, and the near-term clinical plan. That clarity strengthens first impressions with investors and potential acquirers.Iteration, Reflection, and Honest Critique
AJ points to two reinforcing truths. First, blunt feedback is rare and precious; second, ideas don’t arrive fully formed. The way forward is cyclical: present, receive critique, refine, and repeat. In practice, that means more pitch reps sometimes with coaches, sometimes with peers until the story lands with crispness and confidence. It also means building time for iteration into your operating rhythm, especially before key inflection points like an FDA submission or partnership meeting. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s continuous improvement toward a plan others can underwrite.Practical Takeaways for Decision-Makers and Aspiring Learners
- Ask for specificity. Push for clarity on what’s unclear, risky, or unconvincing in your deck.
- Tie budgets to milestones. Granular spend linked to trial phases reads as credible and investor-ready.
- Lead with clinical reality. Clearly articulate indication, mechanism, endpoints, and next study design.
- Practice the first two minutes. First impressions define the rest own the setup and the ask.
- Institutionalize iteration. Schedule practice sessions; don’t wait for chance meetings to get reps.
