Billion Dollar Backstory

Stacy Havener
  • 4.8 (19)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Host Stacy Havener brings you the storytelling tips, sales strategies, behavioral secrets, and inspirational stories that help YOU turn your words into dollars. Learn from sales and marketing experts. Meet finance and investment leaders, founders and fund managers who have made it, and the ones on the rise. Because there are people behind the portfolios. Their stories matter. So does yours. Presented by: Ultimus Fund Solutions // www.ultimusfundsolutions.com GemCap // www.geminicapital.ie @stacyhavener // www.billiondollarbackstory.com

  1. 2D AGO

    136: Founder First, Team Second (Here’s Why) | Story Snacks Series

    Most founders lead with the team because they’re trying not to sound egotistical. But allocators aren’t sitting there thinking, “Wow, great org chart.” They’re thinking: “Do I understand this firm yet?” In this episode, Stacy breaks down what allocators actually want in the first meeting and why you’re better off leading with a crisp origin story (even if the founder isn’t in the room to tell it). Listen in to learn:  How to tell the founder story without it sounding like “me, me, me” What to do when you’re not the founder (or the founder isn’t there) How co-founders/co-managers can stay aligned on one clear version of the story Where to place team so it builds trust instead of overwhelming the opener ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    9 min

  2. FEB 4

    135: Be the Jimmy Fallon: The Secret to Meetings That Don’t Go Off the Rails | Story Snacks Series

    If your meeting goes off the rails, it’s not because your prospects are “unruly.” It’s because no one’s driving. And with the right moves, you can take the wheel fast without making it weird. In this episode, Stacy breaks down how to prevent unhelpful tangents before you ever walk in the room (hello, champion prep call) and what to do in real time when someone hijacks the conversation. Listen in to learn how to: Prep with your champion so you walk in knowing who’s who in the zoo (and who might go rogue) Use a simple meeting prep doc so everyone stays aligned on the goal, flow, and roles Redirect tangents — whether they come from the prospect or your fund manager — without anyone feeling embarrassed (we don’t kick people under the table around here)  Be the Jimmy Fallon of the meeting who breaks the ice and keeps things moving without making it awkward sauce  This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    15 min

  3. JAN 28

    134: Do Different Audiences Need Different Versions of Your Story? | Story Snacks Series

    Ever felt the urge to tidy up your story before sharing it? You scan the room, see the impressive bios and the blazers, and think: “Oof... maybe I should skip that part.” You’re not wrong for feeling that way, and you’re definitely not the only one. In this episode, Stacy opens up about her London panel debut, where she felt that pull to edit out the messy parts of her story on the fly. She’s explaining why she chose to dig in her heels and tell the raw version, even though it was nerve-racking (and why she recommends you do the same).  Listen in to learn:  Why you shouldn’t prepare multiple versions of your story, pitch, or deck for different crowds How to adjust your story to fit the room without sacrificing authenticity and clarity The “still me, just work-me” approach that will help you tweak your delivery without losing the vulnerable parts of your story that make you memorable This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    12 min

  4. JAN 21

    133: If You’re Still Using the Traditional Sales Funnel in 2026, You’re Stalling | Story Snacks Series

    If you’re still following the traditional sales funnel framework in 2026, your firm’s growth is sure to stall.  Because the “inverted triangle” view of a funnel is oversimplified, and it’s starting to feel like the fundraising version of that tired investment process slide that makes everyone want to poke their eyes out.  It flops because not everyone in your funnel needs the same thing, and “just checking in” isn’t a follow-up strategy that actually moves people forward. That’s why in this episode, Stacy’s breaking down what actually works to keep your funnel healthy. Listen in to learn:   • Why the funnel isn’t a simple inverted triangle (and what it really looks like in practice) • What people at the top, middle, and bottom of the funnel actually need from you • The real job of the middle of the funnel (and why most teams ignore it) • Why filling the top of the funnel is harder than closing deals  • Creative ways to get in front of new prospects (without spammy outreach) • Why LinkedIn works so well for this when you share the right kind of content  This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    13 min

  5. JAN 14

    132: Brushed Off or Ghosted After a Meeting? Do This | Story Snacks Series

    You thought you nailed the meeting. The conversation went well, heads were nodding, and everyone seemed engaged. Then you followed up with a thoughtful email and… crickets. Or maybe you got hit with the four words every fund manager dreads hearing: "We’ll watch you." Most people take either of those as signals to retreat and move on. But what if they're actually something else entirely? In this episode, Stacy explains why hearing "no" (or radio silence) doesn't always mean your deal is dead.  She's also sharing the high school soccer philosophy that changed how she handles rejection in sales, plus the exact move that turned a "we'll watch you" into a $50 million yes. In this episode, you'll learn: What "maybe" really means and why it's probably not what you thinkHow to spark the honest conversation that could actually save the dealA meeting-prep strategy that helps you avoid ghosting before it ever happensThis is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    11 min

  6. JAN 7

    131: You Keep Making the Final Meeting—But You’re Not Winning (Here’s Why) | Story Snacks Series

    You made it to the final investor meeting again. You were sure this one was yours because your pitch was on point (no surprise, given that you rehearsed every line).  But still... no deal. What gives? Why are you always the bridesmaid but never the bride?  In this episode, Stacy is breaking down why so many fund managers find themselves stuck in this frustrating loop.  Listen in to learn:  Why trying to win allocators over in the last round is a losing game The kind of meeting prep that actually pays off (hint: it doesn’t involve you rehearsing lines for hours in the mirror) How to make your message land without over-explaining and putting everyone in the room to sleep  Why the final few minutes of your meeting are crucial and the secret sauce to standing out with your closing  This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    10 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    130: How to Create a Business Plan That Actually Moves the Needle in 2026

    If you’re like most founders, “creating a yearly business plan” is one of those tasks you keep bumping to the bottom of your to-do list.  Maybe you tell yourself you’ll get to it when things slow down, but they never do.  And before you know it, you’re steamrolling into the new year without a plan, which leads to overthinking every single decision and drowning in busy work.  And somehow you end the year wondering how you were so busy… without feeling like you moved the needle at all.  Stacy doesn’t want that to be your reality at the end of 2026. That’s why today, she’s walking through the exact planning framework she uses with clients inside her membership, The Boutique Investment Collective. In this episode, she covers: How to set a 10-year “10-bagger” goal that feels exciting and directional (not something that makes you freeze or avoid the plan altogether)Her process for breaking big annual goals into quarterly focuses you can realistically carry while still running a business (and a life)Why it’s time to stop using AUM as your only scorecardHow to get clear on what’s in your control, what isn’t, and where you’re wasting energy trying to force outcomesThe mistake that’s making your sales harder than they should be (and how to streamline your sales process in 2026)  ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    28 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    129: From a $5M Cold Call to a $1B Comeback: Cole Wilcox of Longboard Asset Management on the Fundraising Grind and Founder Resilience

    Everyone loves a success story, but what we don’t talk about enough is what it costs to get there. And what it’s like before the money is wired or anyone cares.  Before all of that, there was a guy with a phone, a thesis, and a long list of people telling him no. That guy was Cole Wilcox. In this episode, Stacy Havener sits down with Cole, CEO & CIO of Longboard Asset Management, to talk about what it really takes to build an investment firm when you don’t start with pedigree, proximity, or institutional backing, just conviction and the willingness to keep going when quitting feels rational. In this episode, you’ll hear: How one cold call turned into Longboard’s first $5M  Why founder-led fundraising is unavoidable in the early years, no matter how strong your strategy is What it feels like to hear “call me at $100M”… and then hear it again at $1B How surviving multiple market crises permanently reshaped Cole’s relationship with risk The moment Longboard nearly shut down, and the structural pivot that kept the firm alive The real cost of broken partnerships (and why people issues end more firms than markets) What resilience actually looks like when walking away feels like the logical move Why staying power might be the most underrated edge a founder has More About Cole: Cole Wilcox, Chief Investment Officer at Longboard, has specialized in trend following investment strategies for over 20 years. As a co-author of award-winning research, he has been profiled in bestselling investment books, featured in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Bloomberg, and is a frequent guest on popular podcasts. Cole leads a highly accomplished team at Longboard, delivering innovative, low-correlation investment strategies that leverage trend following to capture market opportunities. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

    1h 13m
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Host Stacy Havener brings you the storytelling tips, sales strategies, behavioral secrets, and inspirational stories that help YOU turn your words into dollars. Learn from sales and marketing experts. Meet finance and investment leaders, founders and fund managers who have made it, and the ones on the rise. Because there are people behind the portfolios. Their stories matter. So does yours. Presented by: Ultimus Fund Solutions // www.ultimusfundsolutions.com GemCap // www.geminicapital.ie @stacyhavener // www.billiondollarbackstory.com

Information

  • Creator
    Stacy Havener
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Stacy Havener LLC | All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Billion Dollar Backstory

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