Excited to meet the investor today! This is going to be huge.

The investor is also excited… for an entirely different reason.

Founder: ‘I’ve got the next big startup idea!

Investor: ‘Perfect! I’ve been meaning to pitch my new fund!

Founder: ‘It’s a revolutionary AI platform…’ Investor: ‘Great! We’re raising for early-stage AI startups.

Founder: ‘Wait… invest? I thought you’d be funding me!

Investor: ‘Oh… I assumed you were looking to invest in my fund.

Founder: ‘I mean, I get why you’d want to back me… I have great ideas.’

Investor: ‘Exactly! And I see why you’d want to invest - our fund is exclusive.

Founder: ‘You’re still talking about your fund, aren’t you?’ Investor: ‘And you’re still talking about your startup?’

An awkward silence. Founder: ‘Uh… lunch?

Not every meeting ends in a deal. But at least there’s always food.