E148 | Why Investors Don’t “Get” Your Pitch—And How to Fix It with Heather Caouette
Provider's Edge | Peak Performance Guide for Healthcare Entrepreneurs - A podcast by Sabrina Runbeck, MPH, MHS, PA-C, HealthTech Power Broker, Business Partnership Creator, Board Advisor

CONFESSION TIME:You’ve got the traction, the tech, the team…So why do investors still walk away confused after your pitch?You’re not alone.In this episode, I sat down with Heather Caouette, a communications strategist who’s worked with high-growth startups and VCs, to unpack what’s really going wrong when brilliant founders can’t get buy-in.Spoiler: it’s not your product. It’s how you're telling the story.👉 If you’ve ever heard “That’s great, we’ll circle back” and never got the call, this episode is your wake-up call.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:💡 Why most HealthTech pitches fail not because of the product, but the positioning💡 The one test Warren Buffett says every pitch must pass💡 What investors actually look for in the first 60 seconds of a conversation💡 Why saying “we have no competitors” is a silent deal-killer💡 How to build a company that feels healthy—not just looks good on paper💡 How to prep for high-stakes visibility (like HealthTech Showdown)TIMELINE: 00:00:00 - Capturing innovative solutions and effective communication00:01:40 - Heather of Ray Communications shares her work experience00:03:20 - Challenges of communicating with different buyer personas00:07:21 - Importance of making technical innovations relatable00:09:29 - Healthy leadership and transparency00:12:03 - Focus on helping companies refine their messaging00:15:03 - Understanding different communication styles00:18:09 - Crafting a succinct 30-second elevator pitch00:29:13 - Summary of key communication strategies💬 Quotes to Highlight🎙️ Heather Caouette:“Investors want to know you’re aware of the challenges ahead… If there are no competitors, that means you haven’t done enough market research.”🎙️ Sabrina Runbeck:“Investors are not just looking at your plan—we’re looking at how healthy your company is… Are you having fun? Are your people sticking around? That tells us everything.”👥 Guest: Heather Caouette Founder, Raitt Communications Works with VCs, health systems, and startups to fine-tune messaging that actually lands. 🌐 raittcommunications.com🚀 Resources:🎯 HealthTech Showdown Present in front of active investors + buyers and win an $800 scholarship 👉 HealthTechShowdown.com📊 Business Impact Quiz Think you're building traction? See if it’s actually scalable. 👉 ImpactQuotientQuiz.com🗣️ Your Turn → What’s one part of your pitch you think investors don’t “get” yet? Drop your thoughts wherever you're tuning in—Apple, Spotify, or LinkedIn—and tag me so I can cheer you on (or help you clean it up 😉).Let’s turn your brilliance into buy-in. #ProviderEdge #HealthTechFounders #StartupStorytelling #SabrinaRunbeck #InvestorPitchTips #FoundersVoice