The last five years of free money created a generation of CEOs who think storytelling is enough. It’s not. Investors are waking up, and if your pitch isn’t sharp, you’re dead in the water.
The venture capital world is full of noise, distractions, and hype. Every week, there’s another “next big thing,” another tech darling promising to disrupt an entire industry. But here’s a fundamental truth: capital will always chase certainty and/or conviction. And in uncertain times, capital seeks hard assets.
Peter Schiff has spent decades being mocked as a gold-obsessed doomsayer. But with gold at record highs, his critics are suddenly very quiet. That’s the thing about conviction—when the macro tides shift, the loudest voices in the room suddenly sound like prophets. I recently sat down with Peter Schiff on the Pinnacle Digest podcast.
While my core audience at Maximus Strategic isn’t made up of gold investors, the insights from that conversation are directly applicable to anyone navigating today’s capital markets—especially those raising money, running growth-stage public companies, or trying to build something enduring in a volatile economy.
What Founders and CEOs Can Learn from Gold’s Rise
Schiff made one thing abundantly clear: inflation is here to stay, and fiscal irresponsibility is the norm, not the exception. The U.S. dollar is being printed at an unprecedented rate, central banks are diversifying into gold, and global economic imbalances are growing. What does this mean for the CEOs of public companies looking to raise capital and build value?
It means you need a strategy that accounts for the macro backdrop. Investors—whether retail or institutional—are becoming more discerning… more risk averse. We haven’t seen this type of sheepishness from investors in roughly 15 years. Gone are the days when you could slap together a pitch deck with some hockey stick growth projections and expect to raise capital and launch a brand. Today’s investors want to know:
1. How are you protecting their capital? (Think disciplined capital allocation, real value creation, and strategic cost management.)
2. What’s your moat? (Differentiation matters. Market positioning is critical.)
3. Why now? (The macro backdrop affects funding, valuations, and investor sentiment.)
The Marketing Side of Venture Capital: Crafting a Narrative Investors Can’t Ignore
Marketing isn’t just about getting attention—it’s about reinforcing belief in your potential. Schiff, love his ideas or hate them, is a master of conviction. He’s been relentlessly pushing the same core message for decades, and now, as gold surges, his brand is more relevant than ever.
The best CEOs do the same thing. They own a message, repeat it with unwavering conviction, and educate their audience. If you’re raising money in this environment, your investor communications strategy needs to be the same. Investors want to see:
1. Define Your Narrative: Why is your company necessary in today’s economy? What shift is taking place that makes your business model essential?
2. Own Your Market Position: Are you the best at what you do, or are you just another player? Investors back category leaders.
3. Back It Up with Data: Schiff doesn’t just rant about inflation—he brings the receipts. You should do the same with your market data, financials, and projections.
4. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: If you think you’re saying something too much, you’re probably saying it just enough. The market needs to hear your message over and over before it sinks in.
Capital Raising in a Post-Dollar-Dominance World
A successful entrepreneur I know runs three early-stage, unprofitable companies. He’s Canadian, but when he raises capital, he doesn’t bother with North America anymore—he flies to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East to pitch investors. 10 years ago he never had to leave North America…
This highlights a larger, structural issue.
One of the most interesting parts of my conversation with Schiff was about the future of the U.S. dollar. While it remains the global reserve currency (for now), shifts are happening. Capital is mobile, diverse, and spread out. Central banks are diversifying, foreign governments are de-dollarizing, and inflation is eroding purchasing power.
For companies looking to raise capital, this means a few things:
1. Expect more selective investors. The days of easy money are gone. Investors are scrutinizing opportunities more than ever.
2. Alternative assets are in play. Some investors are reallocating from speculative tech into hard assets and cash-flowing businesses.
3. Geopolitical risk matters. Depending on your sector, the shifting global economic order could impact your business in unexpected ways and, as important, how and who you raise capital from.
4. If you think North America is still the epicentre of venture capital, you’re already behind. Asia and the Middle East have seen an emergence of risk-tolerant early stage investors.
Final Takeaways: The New Reality for Founders, CEOs, and Investors
If you’re running a company—especially a public one—your ability to tell a compelling story, navigate macroeconomic shifts, and position your company as a must-own asset has never been more critical.
Schiff’s bet on gold is a bet on economic reality. What’s your bet? If you’re raising money or looking to scale your company in today’s market, your brand, message, and investor strategy need to be sharper than ever.
At Maximus Strategic, we specialize in positioning companies to win in challenging market conditions. Whether refining investor messaging, amplifying market presence, or navigating capital markets, we help CEOs cut through the noise and capture real investor attention.
You have 10 seconds to make an investor care. What’s your opening line? If it’s weak, your company won’t get funded.
