In this episode of The Backchannel, the host emphasizes the critical role of third-party feedback in the fundraising process for entrepreneurs.Reflecting on a recent interaction with a founder, the host describes how an initially chaotic business pitch was clarified and refined through his outsider's perspective. This episode underscores the unique advantage of third-party insights, which strip away emotional biases and unnecessary details to highlight the core message that resonates. The takeaway is clear: seeking external opinions on fundraising materials isn't just helpful; it's essential for success.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

In this episode, the host shares the power of personal newsletters for VC's, shedding light on investor psychology and fundraising strategies. Drawing from anecdotes from his personal life and interactions with VC's, he highlights the importance of staying top of mind in the competitive landscape of deal flow.By sharing stories of missed opportunities and the dynamics of VC interactions, he underscores the significance of personal branding through newsletters. Ultimately, the episode offers a pro tip for VC's to leverage personal newsletters as a means to enhance deal flow and foster lasting connections while simultaneously teaching founders about investor psychology.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

Join us on a journey through the winding roads of entrepreneurship with our guest, Nancy Xu, the Founder & CEO of Moonhub.

From her early days training for the U.S. math and physics team to her academic journey at Stanford and her stint as a software engineer at Facebook, Nancy seemed destined for academia. 

However, her passion for impactful ideas steered her towards entrepreneurship, leading her to start Moonhub, the pioneering AI-powered recruiter.

With over $10 million raised in just two years, we explore how Nancy's background in AI research and building crucial relationships laid the foundation for Moonhub's success.

Join us as we unravel the fascinating story of Nancy Xu raising millions from big named venture capitalists like Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

In this episode, our host covers the importance of having a technical co-founder for non-technical founders and how to go about finding one. Venture capitalists seek teams with diverse skill sets, understanding that successful companies require both technical and non-technical expertise. For non-technical founders, making progress and creating value without a technical product is key to attracting top talent. By understanding the "why" and "how" of finding a technical co-founder, you'll be better equipped to build a strong co-founding team and drive towards success. Join us as we explore the steps ahead in this journey!

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

In this episode of the Back Channel, we explore the importance of addressing competition during investor meetings. Drawing on an analogy from the hosts undergrad economics class, he emphasizes the significance of positioning oneself confidently alongside competitors and calmly articulating one's unique value proposition. Rather than avoiding the conversation, address the competition with calm confidence, focusing on your strengths and differentiation. It's all about owning your narrative and demonstrating why your direction is superior.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

There's a quote from Abraham Lincoln that always really speaks to me: "Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first 4 sharpening my axe." It's become a mantra of sorts for me, especially when it comes to fundraising. I share it with all of the founders I work with because it encapsulates a fundamental truth: the preparation before the task is key.

In my experience, the ease of a fundraising journey is directly proportional to the groundwork laid beforehand. Those lightning-fast fundraises? They're not just luck; they're the culmination of years, even decades, of relationship-building and experience.

Take today's guest, Scott Kriz. As the co-founder and CEO of SGNL, he raised over $22M in less than 2 years, drawing on a decade of industry know-how. But this success wasn't overnight. Scott had already navigated the fundraising landscape with his previous venture, Bitium, where he secured $15M in VC funding before its acquisition by Google in 2017.

Scott's journey underscores the importance of early struggles in paving the way for future triumphs. This episode is filled with knowledge, so make sure to listen till the very end!

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

In this episode of The Backchannel, host Jason Yeh delves into the world of junior VCs and their path to becoming venture capitalists. Drawing from his own experience at Greycroft and the hiring processes, he emphasizes the significance of technical backgrounds, industry connections, and experience in fields like consulting or banking. Venture capital firms prioritize hiring from networks with access to potential deals and founders, highlighting the importance of networking in this industry. Ultimately, understanding these hiring practices provides valuable insights for aspiring venture capitalists.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

Dilution is one of those things that a lot of founders seem to 'lightly' understand.

That's why in today's episode, Jason breaks down a step-by-step example of how dilution actually works.

Discover the significance of understanding dilution and its impact on ownership over your company.

See you next week on The Backchannel!

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

Bootstrapping and raising venture capital are two different beasts. Bootstrapping gives you control, but growth is slower. Venture capital speeds things up, but you have to give up some control. There is, however, one thing they both have in common: each requires a leap of faith.

Today's guest is pretty unique. She's someone who's gotten to experience building both types of companies - one bootstrapped, one venture backed.

That guest is Guta Tolmasquim, founder and CEO of Purple Metrics, which recently closed their first institutional round of capital, a $1.2M pre-seed led by Astella, one of the top venture firms in Brazil! But before Purple Metrics, Guta founded Brand Gym, a company she bootstrapped and built all by herself.

As you can imagine, the transition to building a venture backed company was... interestingIn this episode, we get to learn about how Guta ended up closing her $1.2M pre-seed round and just how powerful building your network really is.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter

A lot of people tend to forget that the pre-seed round in venture capital is still relatively new.

In today's episode, we talk about how the pre-seed round came about, and how it's changed since moving farther away from the bull markets back in 2020 and 2021. One of those changes being the need for investors to see traction earlier and earlier before investing.

Make sure to watch the full episode to hear all the insights around pre-seed rounds!

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter