Pitching, vulnerability & momentum

Pitching, vulnerability & momentum

Thursday was an exciting — and nerve-stretching — evening as I (Danielle McKinnon, Founder of Eat Sleep Ride) pitched at Barclays Eagle Lab – Scale Eagles, putting forward Herd Dynamics, our leadership service delivered by an incredible team of national and international coaches.

The ask was £20k to help kick-start the business side of Herd Dynamics. Not profit for profit’s sake, but to build long-term sustainability for the charity work we deliver through Eat Sleep Ride.

Pitching is never easy for me. I’m at my best outdoors — with horses, movement, space, and connection. Standing still indoors, without joggers or a herd nearby, is very much outside my comfort zone. ADHD makes that contrast even louder.

But I’ve been here before. Many moons ago, I pitched to get Eat Sleep Ride off the ground. This time, I stepped into the room with more experience, deeper learning, a few scars — and a much stronger team behind me.

I didn’t win — but I did make it into the final 10 from over 100 entries. More importantly, five people came up afterwards asking for my details and wanting to continue the conversation.

That matters.

Huge thanks to The Pitch team, Barclays Eagle Lab, and everyone who supported, encouraged, listened, drove, and believed. The environment was genuinely welcoming, and it’s given me real hope — and a growing network of people interested in what we’re building with Herd Dynamics.

Onwards and upwards.
Have a great weekend, everyone.