Why Founders Must Be Chief Storytellers

Ask any successful founder what their real job is, and eventually, you’ll hear the truth: it's telling the story. Again and again. To investors. To early hires. To clinicians. To journalists. To custumers. And if you're doing it right, to people you've never met, because someone else just told them your story.

That kind of storytelling? It doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with intentional content.

Why good content matters more than ever for your healthcare startup

In healthcare especially, your story isn’t just your differentiator, it’s your entry ticket. Whether you’re building a new platform for decentralized trials or reimagining maternal care, your ability to distill the "why" behind your startup can unlock adoption, funding, media coverage, and trust.

Content is how you start to shape that story. It’s the blog post explaining your mission in plain language. The founder video that gives your science a soul. The LinkedIn post that lands in a clinicians inbox and makes them say, "We need this."

Content that spreads is content that serves

Here’s the trick: you’re not just telling your story. You’re making it easy for others to tell it too.

That’s how ideas spread. That’s how things go viral. That’s how one hospital champion becomes ten. If your story is clear, memorable, and aligned with both patient needs and clinician realities, people will repeat it. They’ll advocate for you when you’re not in the room.

Great content creates those moments of clarity. It becomes the foundation for effective press outreach, because journalists need that same clarity to pitch their editors. When your content is doing its job, it opens doors to bigger platforms and broader awareness.

Start small: A DIY content plan for founders

If you're just getting started, here are five steps to build your content muscle:

Clarify your core message: Start with your "why." What problem are you solving and who benefits most? Use frameworks like Simon Sinek's Golden Circle or Donald Miller's StoryBrand to shape your message.
Create a founder's memo: Write a one-page overview of your mission, the problem, your solution, and the impact. This becomes the source material for future content.
Choose your first format: A short blog post? A LinkedIn thread? A video snippet? Pick the format you're most comfortable with and start there.
Stick to a rhythm: Aim to publish something every 2–4 weeks. It keeps your audience engaged and sharpens your narrative.
Test what resonates: Track what content gets the most reactions from HCPs, patients, or potential hires. Double down on what works.

Resources for building your content practice

Content vs. press: you need both (eventually)

If content is the spark, press is the amplifier. But neither one is plug-and-play.

Good content takes strategy, consistency, and emotional resonance. Press takes persistence, the right story angle, and relationships. If you’re a busy founder, you need to ask: Is this the right time to invest in both?

That’s where I come in.

I help visionary healthcare founders build a content and PR practice that reflects their values and accelerates their mission. Whether you're launching your first blog, prepping for Series A, or trying to reach frontline clinicians, I can help you tell your story in a way that lands.

Let's make your story worth repeating.