From IB to VC: Pitching as an under 30 y/o

For some background on myself I'm in my mid 20s, previously worked in investment banking, and have now moved over to a VC-like incubator and asset management firm. The firm I work for is rather unique in that we've actually funded several successful companies that started internally. I've been working on my own idea for a company over the last year and have garnered a lot of internal support and attention from everyone below the partner level and will likely be pitching to our partners in the next month or so.

Here's the problem: I'm worried there will be a stigma around funding someone as young as myself. I've been told multiple times by some of my colleagues that I trust to be careful because our partners may like the idea and want to bring in an outside entrepreneur to take over. I'm not saying necessarily that I'm completely opposed to the idea of having someone with more experience take on a CEO role, but I've put hundreds and hundreds of hours into this project and certainly want to be recognized as the/a founder.

Here's the question: Who has some advice on how to keep this company from being taken away and given to some entrepreneur from the valley with 5-toed shoes and a couple successful exits under his belt? I would also love to hear pitch advice (of any type) or from any bankers who have faced similar types of issues with moving into high level positions at a young age.

Shout Outs will be paid when I ring the bell at NYSE (or ICO;) )

2 Comments
 

therealwolf, pure crickets, that's where I come in. Any of these useful?

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  • More suggestions...

Maybe one of our professional members will share their wisdom: @cik11" @syd2017" Conner-Tidd

Hope that helps.

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