The Hidden Psychology Behind Why Investors Ghost You.

Inside today’s issue, you'll discover…

• Why investors are LYING when they say "not a fit" (and the primal reason they're really rejecting you)

• The unconscious "trust window" that determines your success before anyone reads a word of your pitch deck (it’s got nothing to do with what you’re wearing)

• What McKinsey, BlackRock, and PayPal executives know about first impressions that most founders miss

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Hey reader, It’s David.

Your investors are lying to you when they say, "interesting opportunity, but not a fit"...

They really mean something else entirely...

And it has nothing to do with your pitch deck, market size, or revenue...

It's about something way more primal.

See, neuroscience has shown our brains make trust decisions in milliseconds...

Before we even have time to think logically.

Which means by the time an investor is "reviewing your materials"...

Their lizard brain has already decided whether to trust you or not.

And in today’s digital age, the trigger for these instant trust decisions is…

…Your website.

Because that's usually their first touchpoint with your business that you have control over - and therefore, the judgment falls on you.

Yet most entrepreneurs defend their outdated sites with...

"It's good enough for now - we're too busy to update it!"

"Nobody really cares about design that much..."

"We'll fix it once we have more revenue..."

I used to think the same way.

Until I noticed something fascinating from my network of executives at companies like McKinsey, BlackRock, and PayPal.

The most successful companies don't just make better design decisions...

They make better PSYCHOLOGICAL decisions.

Here's what I mean:

Think about how you judge other companies' websites...

What makes you trust them instantly?

What makes you question their credibility?

What makes you want to learn more?

I bet it's not their fancy mission statement or bullet points.

In fact, just think about it for yourself - do you read through a whole website before making that trust decision? Or does something ‘in your gut’ tell you almost immediately… 

It’s that gut instinct that we listen to…

What's worse is that poor design isn't just unattractive - it's actively destroying your business.

Because when your site looks unprofessional...

• Potential investors close the tab before reading your copy.

• Dream clients choose your competitors without even contacting you.

• Partners question your credibility before giving you a chance.

(Been there...)

Then you'll spend months - sometimes years - trying to overcome these first impressions.

All because of unconscious psychological triggers you didn't even know existed.

But it doesn't have to be this way forever...

You see, we recently updated our own site to align with these psychological principles...

…As a result, our conversions are at all-time highs.

The math is simple:

Professional design = Instant credibility.

Think about it:

Your website is working 24/7...

Making first impressions every single day...

Including weekends...

Either building or destroying trust.

That's not a marketing choice. That's a business necessity.

And the worst part?

Your current site might be:

Triggering distrust because of subtle design flaws

Missing opportunities while you sleep

Slowly killing your brand's credibility with every visit

But there's a better way.

Your site can be a trust-building asset that actually grows your business.

Want to see how we did it? Check out our site: https://horizonsearch.co/ 

Notice how everything feels intentional and professional?

That's because we worked with a design team that understands these psychological principles: https://www.miuradesignlab.com/ (That’s not an affiliate link, I’m just a fan) 

They specialize in rapid transformations (1-week landing pages, 2-3 weeks for full websites).

Check them out if you want to make first impressions that win the hearts of customers and investors alike.

Because your business deserves a website that works as hard as you do.

David

P.S. Quick question for YOU...

I'm mapping out content for 2025, and here's the thing...

I’m blessed to have built a network of founders, executives, and experts across the business landscape over the years.

I'm talking about startup founders who've scaled to 8-figures...

Some on their way to unicorn status…

C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies...

Leading experts in marketing, product, AI, and beyond...

But instead of guessing which insights from these people you’d like the most...

I figured I'd just ask:

What would actually help you build your business faster?

Want behind-the-scenes stories from founders who just crossed 8-figures? (I have many in my network I could interview for this newsletter)

Deep dives into how F500 executives think? (e.g., how the C-suite at PayPal are thinking about using AI)

Or maybe breakdowns of specific tools and frameworks for marketing, product, AI, etc?

Hit reply and let me know what you're struggling with or curious about - and what you’d like me to share with you in this newsletter in 2025. 

No essay needed - even a few words help.

I read every reply and your input shapes who we tap into next from my network.