Whenever Eric Bahn (co-founder of Hustle Fund) does a virtual event or has a Zoom meeting, he gets a ton of comments on his background.

It's his garage.

It's full of kids toys, survival gear, and trash cans.

Frankly, Eric has become kinda famous for the scene behind him.

But what people don't usually get to see is what's in front of him. And that is his insane workspace setup.

Eric spends a lot of his workday in meetings, so he's invested around $2,200 on a world-class setup.

Janel (head of biz-dev at Hustle Fund), also spends a lot of time in meetings. But she only spent $300 on her workstation.

In the latest episode of Uncapped Notes, Eric and Janel compare their setups, share the price of each item at their desks, and talk about what elements they think are most important for founders to have during investor meetings.

Let's dive in.

(Reminder: Uncapped Notes is our video series to demystify venture capital for first-time founders. Below is a summary of the episode. If you prefer to watch, you can see the episode here. It’s 7 minutes long.)

What's in Eric's $2,200 space?

• a great condenser mic: $150
• shock mount: $30
• microphone boom arm: $100
• camera: $300
• height-adjustable monitor: $800
• external speaker: $26
• Mac Mini: $700
• LED lamp: $38
• giant clock: $47

Total: $2,191

What's in Janel's $300 space?

Here's what Janel bought for one seventh of the cost:

• a great condenser mic: $150
• microphone boom arm: $100
• ring light: $18
• computer stand: $59

Total: $327

Which space is better?

If you ask me, Janel's setup is just as good as Eric's.

And she saved a ton of money by working off her laptop instead of a Mac Mini, and by using a standard monitor instead of a fancy one.

But both Janel and Eric agree that there are a couple of things that provide the biggest bang for their buck when they're in important meetings.

The Important Stuff

Important item #1: a good mic

Eric and Janel agree the most important part of your workspace is a good microphone.

Why? Because having crystal-clear audio creates a sense of intimacy between you and the investor you're talking to.

A good condenser mic will make the person on the other end feel like you're in the same room as them, which helps build a stronger connection.

Important item #2: good lighting

Whether you're using an LED lamp like Eric, a ring light like Janel, or natural light like me, it's critical to have good lighting on your face during an important meeting.

Some founders make the mistake of sitting with their back to a window.

This makes it impossible to see your face.

And if the person on the other end can't see you, they will have trouble connecting to you emotionally.

Important item #3: the camera angle

Eric and Janel both have a system to ensure their cameras are at eye level.

Eric uses a height-adjustable monitor that he can position just so. Janel uses a computer stand.

Me? I have a stack of books underneath my laptop.

Whatever system you decide on, make sure you're looking the camera in the eye during your most important meetings.

This makes the investor on the other end feel like they're in the same room as you, which creates a connection that's impossible to get if your camera is too low.

Important thing #5: use your natural background

This isn't something that we priced out. But it might be the most important thing you can do with your workspace.

Giving an investor a glimpse into where you are shows the investor who you are.

If you have kids' toys everywhere behind you, they know you are hustling on your biz while raising a family.

If you have your snowboard mounted behind you, they know you're outdoorsy.

Whatever is behind you when you work is an indicator of who you are outside of your startup. It shows you as a human. And that humanness is what investors will connect with more than anything else in your pitch.