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Fever Pitch: A Novel About Selling Your Vision, Raising Venture Capital, and Launching Your Startup
A Startup Story Where the Pitch Could Save—or End—It AllMark is a startup founder with a big idea and an even bigger He can’t pitch it to save his life. Literally.
In Fever Pitch, author and venture capitalist Ben Wiener delivers a sharp, witty, and unexpectedly high-stakes business fable about one entrepreneur’s race against time to fix his pitch presentation—or lose everything. Caught in a swirl of investor meetings, internal self-doubt, and increasingly bizarre events, Mark is sure of only one His startup pitch almost works. But almost won’t cut it when the clock is ticking, the money’s drying up, and his startup’s survival depends on a single word—yes.
As Mark stumbles through a gauntlet of unexpected allies, sharp-edged venture capitalists, and surreal revelations, he uncovers the one thing every founder must have to win venture H.E.A.R.T.
This story-driven business novel takes you inside the head of a founder under pressure, H.E.A.R.T. framework—the 5 essential elements of a pitch that mirrors how venture capitalists evaluate deals.Real startup struggles like entrepreneur stress, setbacks, how to overcome failure, and how to set up your startup for pitch success.The mindset shift founders must make to win investor trust.What actually happens when your pitch deck sounds smart—but not investable.A storytelling blueprint that mirrors how real investors think.Whether you’re a founder or a startup employee, or you’re just curious about what really makes or breaks a company’s big ask, Fever Pitch delivers the intensity of a thriller with the insight of a pitch coach.
Join the adventure and fund your startup by getting to the H.E.A.R.T. of your perfect pitch deck.
In Fever Pitch, author and venture capitalist Ben Wiener delivers a sharp, witty, and unexpectedly high-stakes business fable about one entrepreneur’s race against time to fix his pitch presentation—or lose everything. Caught in a swirl of investor meetings, internal self-doubt, and increasingly bizarre events, Mark is sure of only one His startup pitch almost works. But almost won’t cut it when the clock is ticking, the money’s drying up, and his startup’s survival depends on a single word—yes.
As Mark stumbles through a gauntlet of unexpected allies, sharp-edged venture capitalists, and surreal revelations, he uncovers the one thing every founder must have to win venture H.E.A.R.T.
This story-driven business novel takes you inside the head of a founder under pressure, H.E.A.R.T. framework—the 5 essential elements of a pitch that mirrors how venture capitalists evaluate deals.Real startup struggles like entrepreneur stress, setbacks, how to overcome failure, and how to set up your startup for pitch success.The mindset shift founders must make to win investor trust.What actually happens when your pitch deck sounds smart—but not investable.A storytelling blueprint that mirrors how real investors think.Whether you’re a founder or a startup employee, or you’re just curious about what really makes or breaks a company’s big ask, Fever Pitch delivers the intensity of a thriller with the insight of a pitch coach.
Join the adventure and fund your startup by getting to the H.E.A.R.T. of your perfect pitch deck.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2025
11 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Ben Wiener
2 books6 followersBen Wiener is a venture capitalist and managing partner at Jumpspeed Ventures, the first and only venture capital fund dedicated to investing in early-stage startups that originate within the resurgent Jerusalem startup ecosystem. He has invested in a few dozen startups since 2014, providing their very first capital in almost all cases, and believes in helping those who are driven by his same passion for entrepreneurship and making a difference.
Cofounding his first startup in 1999, Ben worked for a variety of both startups and large companies before finding his true calling in venture capital and founding Jumpspeed Ventures in 2014. With a ceaseless dedication to investing, he lectures on startup presentation and strategy at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, the Jerusalem College of Technology, Ariel University, and numerous startup accelerator programs. His professional philosophy is to absorb like a sponge from the smartest people in the business, apply rigorous analysis to investment opportunities, and be empathetic and helpful to those he interacts with. Author of mystery novel Murder at First Principles, as well as short stories and humor essays, Ben brings his investment expertise together with his desire to enlighten and entertain through his writing.
Ben graduated with honors from Columbia Law School and received a BA in economics from Yeshiva University. He clerked on Israel’s Supreme Court for Justice Yitzhak Zamir and practiced corporate law in New York City and Tel Aviv. Among his many notable investments, he was the first investor in BreezoMeter, acquired by Google in 2022.
Ben grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and now lives with his family in Jerusalem, Israel. He enjoys distance running and is a 10-time marathoner. A voracious reader, Ben believes his dedication to reading as many as 100 books a year has made him a better investor, writer, and person.
For more information on Ben’s work, visit https://www.benwiener.net.
Cofounding his first startup in 1999, Ben worked for a variety of both startups and large companies before finding his true calling in venture capital and founding Jumpspeed Ventures in 2014. With a ceaseless dedication to investing, he lectures on startup presentation and strategy at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, the Jerusalem College of Technology, Ariel University, and numerous startup accelerator programs. His professional philosophy is to absorb like a sponge from the smartest people in the business, apply rigorous analysis to investment opportunities, and be empathetic and helpful to those he interacts with. Author of mystery novel Murder at First Principles, as well as short stories and humor essays, Ben brings his investment expertise together with his desire to enlighten and entertain through his writing.
Ben graduated with honors from Columbia Law School and received a BA in economics from Yeshiva University. He clerked on Israel’s Supreme Court for Justice Yitzhak Zamir and practiced corporate law in New York City and Tel Aviv. Among his many notable investments, he was the first investor in BreezoMeter, acquired by Google in 2022.
Ben grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and now lives with his family in Jerusalem, Israel. He enjoys distance running and is a 10-time marathoner. A voracious reader, Ben believes his dedication to reading as many as 100 books a year has made him a better investor, writer, and person.
For more information on Ben’s work, visit https://www.benwiener.net.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2025
After so many years in the tech industry, I wasn’t sure it’d hold my interest — I felt like I’d seen and heard it all. Completely wrong! It was super engaging, and I learned a lot too. Highly recommended for anyone interested in tech/startups.
May 28, 2025
I've read a ton of business books over the years, and most are pretty dry and difficult to get through. This one's completely different.
The author really brought his pitch framework and advice to life through engaging character development—and that's exactly what makes it work. Mark's journey feels authentic, and his struggles with pitching resonate if you've ever had to sell an idea under pressure. All of this could have been published in a textbook to collect dust on the shelves, but that obviously wasn't the goal here.
The author's "H.E.A.R.T. framework" for crafting a startup pitch weaves seamlessly into the story, and the VC perspective adds real credibility to the insights too.
Ben's goal was clearly to get these ideas out into the world in a way people would actually absorb, and he succeeded. It was genuinely a delight to read.
I'm already looking forward to sharing this with startup founders for years to come. It's rare to find something that's both genuinely useful and genuinely enjoyable.
The author really brought his pitch framework and advice to life through engaging character development—and that's exactly what makes it work. Mark's journey feels authentic, and his struggles with pitching resonate if you've ever had to sell an idea under pressure. All of this could have been published in a textbook to collect dust on the shelves, but that obviously wasn't the goal here.
The author's "H.E.A.R.T. framework" for crafting a startup pitch weaves seamlessly into the story, and the VC perspective adds real credibility to the insights too.
Ben's goal was clearly to get these ideas out into the world in a way people would actually absorb, and he succeeded. It was genuinely a delight to read.
I'm already looking forward to sharing this with startup founders for years to come. It's rare to find something that's both genuinely useful and genuinely enjoyable.
May 28, 2025
Within the first chapter Ben does an amazing job at painting the picture on why many early-stage startups struggle. I've advised hundreds of founders over the years. Each week I speak with 2-3 struggling to gain investor or customer interest. Some of these reasons are well illustrated in the book. The business case/UX matters most, not the 'game changing tech.' Relationships matter. Successful founders tell a compelling story. And it's failing your way to success. And yes, these are the same causes that come up in my conversations over and over and over again.
I'd highly recommend this book to all first-time founders. Understanding this blueprint in what to focus on and what to avoid is priceless. Especially from an author and investor who's seen in countless times. The book delivers a100x ROI on the lessons learned to its cost.
I look forward to Ben's next book.
I'd highly recommend this book to all first-time founders. Understanding this blueprint in what to focus on and what to avoid is priceless. Especially from an author and investor who's seen in countless times. The book delivers a100x ROI on the lessons learned to its cost.
I look forward to Ben's next book.
October 5, 2025
Mysteries and venture capitalists make for another good read from Ben Weiner
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews