Lisa Tsou
5.0
(13)
Coached $100M in Startup Funding | Techstars Mentor for Founders
Studied at Stanford University
Works at The Winning Pitch
Available tomorrow at 5:30 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Lisa's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $199/hr
Get help with Fundraising, Cover Letters, and .
Lisa’s Startup Founders Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Executive
60+ people coached for Startup Founders
I provide independent strategy, solutions, and coaching for entrepreneurs so they can grow their businesses to the next level. I am passionate about working with innovative entrepreneurs and startups to develop unique strategies to grow and fund their businesses. Whether you are a startup on the track for traditional venture-capital financing or an entrepreneur on a more offbeat path, I can collaborate with you to develop and implement a creative and practical strategy for success. I also mentor and coach with a number of organizations that develop startups including Techstars Los Angeles, the Preccelerator, and the Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics, working with their portfolio companies as they prepare to present to investors. In addition, I have advised entrepreneurial programs at schools including the Incubator School, Marlborough School, and Project ECHO. For seven years, I ran the coaching program at Women Founders Network, an accelerator that connects women building high-growth businesses with the tools and resources they need to achieve business success. Since 2013, WFN alumnae have raised over $100 million in funding. If I look familiar, it may be because I speak regularly on issues related to startups, tech and women in business and have appeared in publications including The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Inc.com, Fortune, CNBC, StartupNation, Women 2.0, and GenHERation.
Lisa can help with:
Fundraising
Cover Letters
Contract Drafting
Business Strategy Development
Interview Prep
Venture Capital Strategy
About Lisa
Hi, I’m Lisa! And I am a storyteller who provides independent strategy, solutions, and coaching for students, entrepreneurs, and startups so they can reach their goals. I believe deeply that authentic storytelling combined with thoughtful strategy and excellence in execution leads to amazing outcomes! I received my undergraduate degrees in Quantitative Economics and English from Stanford, my J.D. from Columbia Law School, and my MBA from the University of Southern California (USC). During a long career in finance on Wall Street, I became passionate about helping founders bridge the gaps needed to get their innovative ventures off the ground. I started mentoring and coaching startups with a number of organizations that including Techstars, CTIP and the Greif Center at USC. For seven years, I ran the coaching program at Women Founders Network, an accelerator that connects women building high-growth businesses with the tools and resources they need to achieve business success. Since 2013, WFN alumnae have raised over $100 million in funding. If I look familiar, it may be because I speak regularly on issues related to startups, tech and women in business and have appeared in publications including The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Inc.com, Fortune, CNBC, StartupNation, Women 2.0, and GenHERation. Whether you are a startup on the track for traditional venture-capital financing or a student crafting a compelling application for their dream school, I can collaborate with you to develop and implement a creative and practical strategy for success!
Why do I coach?
Early on, I struggled with figuring out my path. Even though I was good at achieving things, they weren’t getting me to what I wanted, and I often felt like I was just spinning my wheels and just getting exhausted in the process. I knew I was missing things, but I didn’t know what they were, and it was frustrating! In time, I connected with mentors and coaches who helped me understand my purpose, clarify my goals, and start mapping ways to get there. With their invaluable guidance and unwavering support, I’ve been able to accomplish things I never knew were even possible. Now, helping others find that magical combination of strategy and purpose, giving them the tools to reach their goals, and supporting them on every step of the journey is the most rewarding work that I do. I’ve seen the difference that a coach and mentor can make in a person’s life. Let me be that person for you.
Work Experience
Educational Advisor
Aces College Essay Coaching
July 2023 - Present
I work with students to help write college essays that stand out to college admissions offices and prepare a college application package that they can’t forget.
Podcast Host & Producer
"Untold Silicon Valley"
June 2022 - Present
During the pandemic, I created “Untold Silicon Valley,” the podcast dedicated to exploring the forgotten and-almost-forgotten histories from Silicon Valley’s first decades with one part history, one part storytelling, and a pinch of snark. "Untold Silicon Valley" is the story of brilliant founders, forward-thinking innovators and the groundbreaking technology that has changed all of our lives. It’s also the story of seismic shifts in American culture in how we view work and business: why we work, how we work, who we work with and who we work for (if anyone!). It’s also a story of changing technology and innovation, the beginning of what we now call “venture capital”, the development of organizational culture, and successful (and in some cases, very unsuccessful) leadership. Available now on Apple Podcasts. More information is available at UntoldSiliconValley.com. Tech Savy, Growth Strategies and +2 skills
Entrepreneur in Residence
Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP)
December 2019 - Present
I advise the brainy and exciting innovators at CTIP on a range of issues including from getting their businesses off the ground to business planning and growing those initial businesses, and seeking outside funding. CTIP services the Southern California community by helping innovators understand pediatric commercialization challenges early in the process and to identify viable paths to market through innovative business models and collaboration. Tech Savy, Fundraising and +5 skills
Mentor
Techstars
September 2016 - Present
I mentor the portfolio companies at Techstars in Los Angeles as they as preparing for their Demo Day for investors. Techstars is a Worldwide Network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Techstars was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2006 by David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, and Jared Polis. Tech Savy, Fundraising and +5 skills
Founder | Startup Funding Strategist
The Winning Pitch
June 2012 - Present
I advise and coach early-stage entrepreneurs on how to perfect their pitches and get the funding they need to succeed. I guide founders on how to demonstrate the viability of their businesses, intelligence and passion to investors, by developing and refining their messaging, content and delivery. I also provide my clients with high level growth strategy and business planning as they move to take their businesses to a higher-level. Tech Savy, Fundraising and +6 skills
Education
University of Southern California
MBA, Business
2010 - 2012
Columbia Law School
Juris Doctorate, Law
1994 - 1997
Stanford University
Bachelor's Degree, Economics
1990 - 1994
Stanford University
Bachelor's Degree, English
1990 - 1994
13 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Lisa has helped clients get into these schools: