Harry Potter and the Hero’s Journey narrative in pitching to investors

Emmet McGonagle

June 17, 2022

From Beowulf to Bilbo Baggins, the hero’s journey is one of the most celebrated frameworks in storytelling. Coined by Joseph Campbell in 1949, the narrative follows a bright-eyed protagonist as they venture from home in search of adventure, before achieving victory (against all odds) and returning home, forever changed for the better.


While the hero’s journey worked out well for Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Spiderman, Dorothy and even Toto to some extent, this narrative framework also plays an important role for startups. Take Facebook, for example: Mark Zuckerberg and peers were students when they began the inner workings of what would become the world’s biggest social platform. 


“I saw The Social Network recently and really enjoyed it”, Jan Lederman, director of Valhalla Private Capital, wrote in her Quick Guide For Business Startups. “It’s a good story, well told (and well-acted),” she continues.


“Unfortunately, there aren’t that many Facebook-type success stories out there.


While Lederman does not advise using Facebook as a model for your typical business start-up due to having “no business plan, no shareholder agreement and no IP protection, or at least nothing that was visible in the movie,” Zuckerberg’s rise to entrepreneurial stardom is a prime example of the potential power of storytelling in business.


A pitch is an exercise in telling the journey of your company, so take the time to refine your story and don’t be afraid to play up to the pleasures and pitfalls of your experiences as a company. What’s the origin story of your business? What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you navigate rocky terrain to stand out amid your competitors? 


Do you have a question about angel investing? Get in touch with Valhalla Private Capital via our contact page.

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Workers Call for Pay Transparency

By Emmet McGonagle • November 29, 2023
More than half of workers believe that disclosing worker compensation details on job postings will lead to better equality in pay, according to the latest iteration of LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Index . The index - which is based on a survey of 3,302 members in Canada between June and September 2023 - found that 52% of people asked felt that people sharing their pay information (including salary and bonus) would improve workplace equality, compared to 48% in 2022. This number varies between different generations, with younger Canadians more likely to express support for pay transparency (73%), followed by 69% of Millennials, 46% of Gen X and 44% of Baby Boomers. However, 37% of those surveyed remarked that they felt anxious about sharing their pay information - a 2% rise from the year prior. Likewise, just under half (49%) said they felt well compensated for the work they do while 74% expressed that the pay gap between CEOs and employees had become too wide. The people of LinkedIn have come out in their dozens to give their two cents on the topic, with Adrienne Tom , executive resume writer for executives, saying: “ I'm all for salary transparency, so long as the number is clear and legit. Some postings list salary ranges so wide that the actual salary number isn't entirely clear, leaving job seekers confused.” “If you have a manager who is not advocating for the pay gap, you are working for the wrong manager,” remarked career strategist Sweta Regmi , while noting that women in Ontario earn an average of $0.87 for every dollar earned by men. On the topic, she added: “Salary ranges with job postings can help close the gender pay gap while allowing companies to find qualified candidates more quickly.” Do you have a question about angel investing? Get in touch with Valhalla Private Capital via our contact page .