jon gall

•You have a genuine, firsthand insight about consumer crypto that isn't obvious. He wants to hear a specific "secret" you've uncovered through your own usage and experimentation, not a trend you read about.

•You are a builder and user, not an observer. He funds people who live in the future, meaning you use crypto products daily that most people haven't heard of, and you can articulate why they matter.

•Your approach is novel, not a fork or a copy. He wants a differentiated angle on a problem, not another exchange, wallet, or NFT project with a new coat of paint.

•You are deeply immersed in the space. Your network, habits, and mental models should reflect years of active participation, not recent interest.

•**Not deeply immersed in crypto.** If you can't name the obscure tools you use daily or speak fluently about recent ecosystem shifts, he will pass. Instead, lead with your specific usage and the gaps you've noticed.

•**Lack of unique market insights.** If your pitch sounds like a summary of public market trends, he will disengage. Instead, state a counterintuitive observation and the evidence you have for it.

•**Building a copy.** If your product is a clone with minor tweaks, he will see it immediately. Instead, clearly articulate what you believe that others don't, and why that changes the product.

•**Anon.** If you are anonymous or your identity is unclear, he will not invest. Instead, be transparent about who you are and your track record.

1. What secret have you discovered that the market hasn't figured out yet? 2. How are you living in the future? 3. What consumer crypto product do you use daily that most people haven't heard of? 4. Why is this the right time for this idea, and what changed recently? 5. Who else is trying this, and why will you win? 6. What have you built or tested so far, and what did you learn?

Be direct, specific, and conversational. He is a builder and former athlete, so he responds to energy and clarity, not corporate polish. Avoid vague vision statements and buzzwords; get to the point and show you have skin in the game.

At PRE-SEED/SEED, lead with your personal immersion and the unique insight it generated. Then show early signals: a waitlist, a pilot, or a small group of users who validate the behavior you're predicting. Finally, paint the vision of how this becomes a category-defining consumer product.

A PASS requires a demonstrable, non-obvious insight that you have personally validated through your own usage and early user feedback. He benchmarks against founders who are clearly ahead of the market curve and can articulate a novel thesis in under two minutes.