No Story, No Investment
Oct 29, 2025
Let's talk suicide.
We’re having a hard time focusing on business. We’re sad.
Three kids in our orbit died by suicide this past month. One of them was like family.
He attended our book launch party in June at the New York Stock Exchange and then lived with us for 3 weeks this summer. We had no idea he was struggling.
He isn't just a statistic — he's a son, a brother, a boyfriend. He smiled in prom photos, enthusiastically went off to college ... and then was gone.
Saying he's part of an epidemic does a disservice to the pain of every parent, brother, sister, and friend who has lost someone special to them.
But that's what it is. Quiet, invisible, and everywhere.
Our kids are living in a pressure cooker — perfection, performance, comparison. And too often, they don’t see a way out. They think they have to be okay all the time.
No one is OK all the time. We know we aren't.
We can’t fix everything. But we can change the silence. We can tell them we love them — not for what they do, but for who they are. We can ask better questions. We can listen without judging.
Ask the kids in your life if they're OK. Or better yet, ask a question to show them you really care.
“I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately — how are you really doing?”
“You’ve been quieter than usual. What’s been on your mind?”
You probably aren't qualified to dish out advice about mental health challenges. Neither are we.
But all of us can make it known that we care, that we see you, and that you're not alone.
We don't need to provide the solution. But we all need to start the conversation.
And if your gut is telling you that someone is struggling, reach out to a therapist or call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It just may be what's needed to save a life.
We can’t keep losing our kids to quiet pain. Not one more.
INSIGHT
📈Don't Fixate on the Exit — what's important is going in the right direction today, tomorrow and the next year.
👀 Focus, Focus, Focus — the number one reason startups fail is when they chase too many ideas.
😴No Off-Days — as an entrepreneur, great sacrifice comes with great rewards.
CHEAT CODE: NO STORY, NO INVESTMENT
In fundraising as in marketing, your story reigns supreme.
Sure, having a killer product, a sharp market strategy, and a rock-solid distribution plan are crucial. But let's be real — they're just the starting point. It's the narrative that captures the hearts and minds of investors and customers alike.
A story is not just a pitch; it's an emotional journey. Investors want to believe in you, your journey and your vision. They're itching to be part of something bigger than themselves. That's why your narrative needs to hit home. When your story packs a punch, investors are not just interested — they're chomping at the bit to back your vision.
So, here's the deal: craft your origin story with care. You're in the director's chair, writing the script of your entrepreneurial journey. Don’t blow it by ignoring it. Write it down clearly and succinctly, and share it widely. Your origin story is your golden ticket to connect on a human level. It’s your moment to show why you’re fired up about your venture and how you plan to shake up the world.
Take the time to develop it thoughtfully. Make it authentic, make it memorable, and most importantly, make it yours. A killer story isn't just a fundraising tool; it's the bedrock of your brand and the secret sauce to building lasting relationships with investors, customers, and partners alike.
Want more of our cheat codes? Follow along on Instagram.
🆘 Access the 49 other cheat codes every entrepreneur needs to know from Shoveling $H!T: A Love Story.
🚜 Have you made a hard pivot? Jump into the Founders Farm and share some stories.
KASS & MIKE'S FOUR FAVORITE FINDS
🏦 Big banks like JPMorganChase and Goldman Sachs are starting to slow hiring due to AI integration.
🧑💻 'Vibe coding' is changing entrepreneurship. Here's a breakdown of different vibe coding styles.
🚩 What does Silicon Valley's China envy reveal about America?
💸 Robinhood wants everyone to be trading. This is their gameplan to getting everyone invested.
AROUND THE FARM
👨🌾 Join the next Founders Farm session
⏰ Tuesday, November 11th | 12:00–12:45 PM ET
📍 Click here to add it to your calendar
Got a topic you’d like to discuss?
Email: info@kassandmike.com
💸 We shared with CNBC how we dealt with our company going bankrupt.
💏 Secrets of Happily Ever After interviewed us on the ins and outs of our romance and partnership.
🎙️ We sat down with Mike Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur to discuss leading with empathy through the chaos of balancing life and entrepreneurship.
🎤 We spoke to the Moneywise Podcast about everything from founding companies to surviving the dot-com bust.
📚 Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story debuted on the New York Times & USA Today bestseller lists! We couldn't have done it without the support of this community—the purchases, the shares, showing up to events, writing reviews and more!
FINALLY, WANNA GET INVOLVED?
📖 Get bulk copies for your team.
⏰ Invite us to speak at your event.
🤯 Share your thoughts on social: #FoundersFarm
⏩ Forward this dispatch to 3 entrepreneurs who should be getting it!
Thanks for reading. And, never stop shoveling. An entrepreneur who loves to shovel is unstoppable!
Love,
Kass & Mike
We’re having a hard time focusing on business. We’re sad.
Three kids in our orbit died by suicide this past month. One of them was like family.
He attended our book launch party in June at the New York Stock Exchange and then lived with us for 3 weeks this summer. We had no idea he was struggling.
He isn't just a statistic — he's a son, a brother, a boyfriend. He smiled in prom photos, enthusiastically went off to college ... and then was gone.
Saying he's part of an epidemic does a disservice to the pain of every parent, brother, sister, and friend who has lost someone special to them.
But that's what it is. Quiet, invisible, and everywhere.
Our kids are living in a pressure cooker — perfection, performance, comparison. And too often, they don’t see a way out. They think they have to be okay all the time.
No one is OK all the time. We know we aren't.
We can’t fix everything. But we can change the silence. We can tell them we love them — not for what they do, but for who they are. We can ask better questions. We can listen without judging.
Ask the kids in your life if they're OK. Or better yet, ask a question to show them you really care.
“I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately — how are you really doing?”
“You’ve been quieter than usual. What’s been on your mind?”
You probably aren't qualified to dish out advice about mental health challenges. Neither are we.
But all of us can make it known that we care, that we see you, and that you're not alone.
We don't need to provide the solution. But we all need to start the conversation.
And if your gut is telling you that someone is struggling, reach out to a therapist or call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It just may be what's needed to save a life.
We can’t keep losing our kids to quiet pain. Not one more.
INSIGHT
📈Don't Fixate on the Exit — what's important is going in the right direction today, tomorrow and the next year.
👀 Focus, Focus, Focus — the number one reason startups fail is when they chase too many ideas.
😴No Off-Days — as an entrepreneur, great sacrifice comes with great rewards.
CHEAT CODE: NO STORY, NO INVESTMENT
In fundraising as in marketing, your story reigns supreme.
Sure, having a killer product, a sharp market strategy, and a rock-solid distribution plan are crucial. But let's be real — they're just the starting point. It's the narrative that captures the hearts and minds of investors and customers alike.
A story is not just a pitch; it's an emotional journey. Investors want to believe in you, your journey and your vision. They're itching to be part of something bigger than themselves. That's why your narrative needs to hit home. When your story packs a punch, investors are not just interested — they're chomping at the bit to back your vision.
So, here's the deal: craft your origin story with care. You're in the director's chair, writing the script of your entrepreneurial journey. Don’t blow it by ignoring it. Write it down clearly and succinctly, and share it widely. Your origin story is your golden ticket to connect on a human level. It’s your moment to show why you’re fired up about your venture and how you plan to shake up the world.
Take the time to develop it thoughtfully. Make it authentic, make it memorable, and most importantly, make it yours. A killer story isn't just a fundraising tool; it's the bedrock of your brand and the secret sauce to building lasting relationships with investors, customers, and partners alike.
Want more of our cheat codes? Follow along on Instagram.
🆘 Access the 49 other cheat codes every entrepreneur needs to know from Shoveling $H!T: A Love Story.
🚜 Have you made a hard pivot? Jump into the Founders Farm and share some stories.
KASS & MIKE'S FOUR FAVORITE FINDS
🏦 Big banks like JPMorganChase and Goldman Sachs are starting to slow hiring due to AI integration.
🧑💻 'Vibe coding' is changing entrepreneurship. Here's a breakdown of different vibe coding styles.
🚩 What does Silicon Valley's China envy reveal about America?
💸 Robinhood wants everyone to be trading. This is their gameplan to getting everyone invested.
AROUND THE FARM
👨🌾 Join the next Founders Farm session
⏰ Tuesday, November 11th | 12:00–12:45 PM ET
📍 Click here to add it to your calendar
Got a topic you’d like to discuss?
Email: info@kassandmike.com
💸 We shared with CNBC how we dealt with our company going bankrupt.
💏 Secrets of Happily Ever After interviewed us on the ins and outs of our romance and partnership.
🎙️ We sat down with Mike Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur to discuss leading with empathy through the chaos of balancing life and entrepreneurship.
🎤 We spoke to the Moneywise Podcast about everything from founding companies to surviving the dot-com bust.
📚 Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story debuted on the New York Times & USA Today bestseller lists! We couldn't have done it without the support of this community—the purchases, the shares, showing up to events, writing reviews and more!
FINALLY, WANNA GET INVOLVED?
📖 Get bulk copies for your team.
⏰ Invite us to speak at your event.
🤯 Share your thoughts on social: #FoundersFarm
⏩ Forward this dispatch to 3 entrepreneurs who should be getting it!
Thanks for reading. And, never stop shoveling. An entrepreneur who loves to shovel is unstoppable!
Love,
Kass & Mike
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info@kassandmike.com
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