🤖 #36: Vivian's Deeptech Insider: Your LinkedIn has no next step (here's the fix)

Hello and welcome to #36 edition of the fortnightly Vivian's Deeptech Insider.

I reviewed 50+ founder LinkedIn profiles last month.

The pattern was clear: incredible companies, brilliant founders, but profiles that said "I'm not serious about building relationships." No recent posts. No clear positioning. No way for investors, partners, or customers to take the next step.

Here's the reality: The "E" in CEO isn’t just for Executive. In my eyes, it stands for External. Your job isn't just to perfect operations behind closed doors. It's to show up, build visibility, and create relationships that open doors your product never could. After helping 100+ deeptech and healthtech founders, I've identified exactly where most lose momentum:

The LinkedIn Funnel Framework

Think of your LinkedIn presence as a complete sales funnel:

→ Posts = Top of funnel (awareness) Your content attracts the right people to your world. Every post is a chance to demonstrate thought leadership and attract your ideal audience.

→ Profile = Middle of funnel (trust) When someone clicks your name, they're evaluating: Do I trust this person? Are they the real deal? Should I reach out?

→ CTA = Bottom of funnel (conversion) A clear next step that captures their email address and moves relationships forward.

Most founders obsess over the perfect post but their profile has no CTA. Or worse — they don't post at all.

The result? Invisible to the exact people who could change their company's trajectory.

The 3-Post Framework That Drives Real Engagement

Inside Capital Catalyst, I teach founders a simple framework that consistently drives DMs, follows, and signups:

1. Lessons over announcements

Nobody cares that you went to an event. They care what you learned there. Shift from "I did this" to "Here's what this taught me about [relevant insight]."

Example:

❌ "Great panel at TechCrunch Disrupt today!"

✅ "A VC told me today: 'Your deck doesn't get you funded. Your ability to answer hard questions does.' Here are the 3 questions I wasn't ready for..."

2. Story over aesthetics

LinkedIn isn't Instagram. You don't need a color-coordinated grid. You need a consistent message that shows who you are, what you're building, and why it matters.

Your cohesion comes from your voice and perspective, not your visual brand.

3. Consistency over perfection

3 authentic posts per week will always outperform 1 perfect post per month. Momentum beats polish. Showing up builds trust.

The Part Nobody Tells You About LinkedIn Algorithms

The algorithm doesn't reward you for posting photos of yourself.

Your audience does.

People connect with people. Your face. Your story. Your insights. Your wins AND your setbacks.

That's what drives DMs. That's what drives follows. That's what drives investors reaching out.

I've seen founders 10x their profile views simply by showing up consistently with their authentic voice and face.

If You're Sitting On Insights Right Now

Someone in your network needs to hear them.

The lesson you learned this week about product-market fit. The hard conversation you had with a co-founder. The metric that finally clicked for your business.

Post it. Even if it feels uncomfortable. Even if it's not "polished."

Your authenticity is your unfair advantage.

Because while your competitors are waiting for the "right time," you're building relationships that will compound for years.

"But I Don't Have Time to Post 3x/Week..."

I get it. You're building a company, not running a media empire.

Here's the truth: You don't need 3 polished posts. You need 3 moments of visibility.

• A lesson from a customer call = 1 post (5-15 minutes to write)

• A screenshot of a metric + context = 1 post (3-5 minutes)

• Resharing someone else's content with your take = 1 post (3-5 minutes)

That's 10-30 minutes total. Less time than your average investor coffee chat.

"What If I Post and No One Engages?"

Then you're in good company. Most posts get 10-50 views when you start.

But here's what matters: Those 10-50 people are seeing you show up consistently. That builds trust over time.

And honestly? You only need ONE person to see your post for it to change your company's trajectory. One investor. One strategic partner. One customer.

I've seen founders get partnerships from posts with 14 likes.

Engagement is a vanity metric. Conversations are what count.

Your visibility isn't vanity. It's a growth strategy.

Until next time,
Vivian

P.S. This framework is exactly what I teach inside Capital Catalyst — my signature program for deeptech/healthtech founders who want to align their exit with their mission and communicate this clearly to attract capital.

The next cohort launches Q1 2026. Want first access and early-bird pricing? Join the waitlist here.

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P.S.S.S. Are we connected on LinkedIn? I’m here.

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