TheTop.VC: Recent Episodes

Adam ODonnell

Tactics & strategies to oversubscribe your next round.

Convey, founded by Rohan Chopra, builds AI "teammates" that automate repetitive and inhuman business tasks, allowing employees to focus on higher-value, strategic work.
The company has enabled over 1.1 million hours of enterprise work to be handled by AI, serving a range of customers from mid-market to large enterprises, including operationally intensive businesses.
Convey's approach emphasizes giving AI agents distinct identities within organizations, enabling collaboration, auditability, and clear ownership of tasks, rather than just acting as personal assistants.
The company recently raised $38 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with continued support from Khosla Ventures and Pear VC, bringing total funding to $42.5 million.
Rohan attributes Convey's success to a relentless focus on solving real customer problems, prioritizing durable revenue, and maintaining strong alignment with investors who share their long-term vision.

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.FOUNDER PROFILE:Hugo Santos, Founder of Namespacehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomgsantos/- Namespace, founded by Hugo Santos (ex-Google), began by building an internal application platform to solve infrastructure pain points, eventually pivoting to offer a high-performance, low-friction infrastructure product for other companies.- The company’s early growth relied heavily on leveraging Hugo’s professional network to build trust and secure initial customers, emphasizing the importance of relationships and reputation in infrastructure adoption.- Achieving product-market fit was marked by customer loyalty—even during a major outage, Namespace did not lose a single customer, highlighting the strength of their customer relationships and support.- Hugo shared key fundraising lessons: raising their seed round was easier due to strong networks and a clear vision, but Series A required a more structured, process-driven approach to control the narrative and manage investor perceptions.- Namespace has raised $23 million in Seed and Series A funding, led by NEA with participation from Susa Ventures and other investors.

In this special Founder Initiative pitch episode, four cybersecurity founders pitch their startups live to Robert Lowry, CSO of Tonic AI and former security leader at organizations including NASDAQ and the Federal Reserve Bank.Robert Lowry- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowryrobert/ The conversation covers some of the biggest emerging enterprise security challenges around AI agents, shadow AI, runtime protection, memory systems, cybersecurity data infrastructure, and modern SOC operations.Featuring: IceGuard — next-generation AI-native cybersecurity data infrastructure - Anders Holden, https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersbholden/ * Optimus Labs — agent defense and AI runtime governance - Nipun Gupta - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guptanipun/ KeyCaliber — AI usage visibility and cybersecurity asset intelligence - Roselle Safran - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosellesafran/* Dyng/Pilot AI — AI memory and contextual learning systems - Ricardo La Rosa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-larosa/Instead of polished demos and sales decks, this episode captures real buyer reactions, live feedback, objections, and the kinds of questions enterprise security leaders actually ask before considering a product.If you're building for CISOs, enterprise security teams, or AI infrastructure buyers, this episode gives a rare inside look at how technical buyers evaluate early-stage startups in real time.

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.FOUNDER PROFILE:Wiley Jones, Founder of DOSShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wileycwjones/

TrueFoundry, founded by Nikunj Bajaj, is an AI infrastructure company building an "AI Gateway" that helps enterprises build, ship, and govern agentic AI applications, focusing on observability and governance for AI agents.- The company has raised over $22 million, with pre-seed investment from Sequoia and India Capital, and Series A led by Intel Capital; notable angel investors include Naval Ravikant, Anthony Goldblum, Gokul Rajaram, Sian Banister, and Lenny Rachitsky.- The founding team leveraged their experience at Meta and WorldQuant to identify a gap in the market: the need for a vertically integrated stack for machine learning and AI, similar to what large tech companies use internally.- TrueFoundry’s go-to-market strategy focused on serving large enterprises from the start, building robust infrastructure before launching, and validating their approach through extensive primary market research and early customer conversations.- The company’s north star metric is the proportion of an organization’s compute running on TrueFoundry, and their key advice for founders is to balance short-term market needs with a clear long-term vision, maintaining transparency and adaptability within the team.Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.FOUNDER PROFILE:Nikunj Bajaj, Founder of TrueFoundryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunj-bajaj-10476824

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startupsMike Choi, Founder of Koah Labshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejschoi/- Koah Labs, founded by Mike Choi, is an AI-native ad network that helps AI applications monetize through sponsored experiences, focusing on tasteful ad integration for end users.- The company was initially bootstrapped, pivoted to the AI ads idea after strong market pull, and quickly built and launched its first product in early 2025.- Koah Labs has raised approximately $22–$25.5 million, with a seed round led by Forerunner and a Series A led by Theory Ventures; other investors include South Park Commons and AppLovin co-founder Andrew Karam.- The company operates with a squad model, prioritizing end user experience as its North Star, while balancing the needs of publishers and advertisers.- Mike Choi emphasizes the importance of founder well-being, rapid learning, and building trust with investors, which contributed to their successful fundraising and company culture.

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Samar Abbas, Founder of temporal.io

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samar-abbas-381997/

Samar Abbas, co-founder of Temporal.io, shares the journey of building an open-source platform that ensures durable execution of code, allowing developers to focus on business logic instead of handling failures and reliability.
Temporal.io originated from years of experience at companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Uber, where Samar and his co-founder iterated on workflow and state management systems, eventually creating a new category called "durable execution."
The company’s open-source approach led to rapid community adoption, with major companies like Snap using Temporal for mission-critical workloads, validating the product’s value and scalability.
Temporal.io monetizes by offering a fully managed cloud service with a consumption-based pricing model, aligning customer costs with the value delivered.
The company has raised significant funding, including a $300M Series D led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sapphire Ventures, reaching a $5B valuation.

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Jeff Gibson, Founder of Kintsugi https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgibsonsf/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Kintsugi, founded by Jeff Gibson, provides an AI-driven platform that automates global indirect tax compliance (VAT, GST, sales tax, etc.) for internet businesses, handling tax calculation, collection, and remittance.
The company targets SMBs and mid-market companies selling online, offering a simple, automated solution to a complex, high-risk compliance problem, resulting in high customer retention and low churn.
Kintsugi’s founding insight came from the realization that businesses were paying more for tax compliance than for billing solutions, and that the market was underserved, especially for SMBs and mid-market companies.
The company raised a $2M pre-seed round in September 2023 from angels, followed by an $18M Series A led by Vertex.
Jeff emphasizes the importance of founder conviction, qualifying investors for deep understanding of the problem, and building trust with customers in a “boring but essential” fintech space.

Lava, founded by Mitchell Jones, makes it easy for businesses to adopt AI-driven, measurement-based pricing, helping companies track usage and convert it into flexible pricing plans.
Mitchell emphasizes constant iteration on the elevator pitch and product, using customer feedback and discovery calls to refine both messaging and features.
The company’s core insight is that traditional seat-based SaaS pricing breaks down in the AI era, where usage—not seats—drives value and cost, requiring new pricing models.
Mitchell shares lessons on founder discipline: focus on real customer pain, avoid feature creep by staying true to your ideal customer profile, and trust micro-signals and iteration to reach product-market fit.

Thank you Auth0 for Startups, a sponsor of TFI

Checkout their → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Saurav Bubber, Founder of FuseAI

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sauravbubber/

Rocketlane, founded by Srikrishnan Ganesan, spent its first year deeply researching the professional services automation (PSA) space, interviewing over 170 prospects and building conviction around unmet needs for customer-facing project management.
The team identified a key pain point: companies struggled with the gap between contracted and live ARR, making effective onboarding and project delivery a board-level priority, especially for mid-market and upmarket tech companies.
Rocketlane differentiated itself by building an all-in-one PSA platform tailored for services teams, integrating project management, customer collaboration, project accounting, and new AI-powered features like Nitro to automate and execute services work.
Early traction came from targeting Series B+ tech companies and leveraging community-building, with their first paying customer coming via a VC referral and subsequent growth fueled by a successful Product Hunt launch.
Rocketlane has raised a total of $105 million from investors including Insight Partners, 8VC, Matrix Partners India, and Nexus Venture Partners, with the latest $60M Series C led by Insight Partners.

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Pankaj Patel, Founder of Nile https://www.linkedin.com/in/pankajpspatel/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Jonah Midanik, Managing Partner of Forum Ventures

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahmidanik/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Kris Rudeegraap, Founder of Sendoso

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → Founders, check out their upcoming $100k buyer pitch at Fort Mason in San Francisco: https://luma.com/beelieve

Helen Hastings, Founder of Quanta

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbhastings/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Harish Abbott, Founder of Augment

https://www.linkedin.com/in/habbott/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Ilya Levtov, Founder of Craft https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilya-levtov/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Roberto Salcedo, Founder of Baubap

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberto-salcedo-nieto/?originalSubdomain=mx

Danny Tomsett, Founder of UneeQ Digital Humans

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-tomsett/"

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startupsSunil Dhaliwal, General Partner of Amplify Partnershttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sunildhaliwal/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

Jake Stauch, Founder of Serval

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestauch/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups James Wall, Founder of Phases.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-m-wall/

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Scott Stevenson, Founder of Spellbook

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottas

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Gil Feig, Founder of Merge

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilfeig/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Rick Bente, Founder of Indomo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-bente/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Jeremy Burton, Founder of Platform Venture Studio https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremymburton

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE: Tom Firth, Founder of Cotera https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdfirth/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Krish Subramanian, Founder - Chargebee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishs/

Guy Marion, CMO - Chargebee- https://www.linkedin.com/in/guymarion

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Rebecca Hu, Founder of Glacier Robotics

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccabhu

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Dave Lambert, Founder of Right Side Capital Management https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlambert55/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Alexei Agratchev, Founder of RetailNext https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeiagratchev/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Nalin Senthamil, Founder of Storylane

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nalinpradeep

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Oliver Keh, Founder of Gleam

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-keh

COMPANY: https://joingleam.com/

Gleam automatically extracts data from any source, intelligently validates it against protocol, eliminates queries before they occur, and instantly populates your EDC—accelerating database lock and shortening trial timelines.

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Andrew Yates, Founder of Dropbox, Promoted.ai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-yates-0217a985

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

VC PROFILE:

Nate DaPore, Founder of Roo Capital

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natedapore/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE: Conor Brennan-Burke, Founder of Hyperspell (YC F25) https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbrennanburke

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

VC PROFILE:

Seema Amble, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-amble-b404126/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Family

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-tomkins-b122422/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.VC PROFILE:Ram Venkatesh, Founder of Sema4.aihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-venkatesh-34166/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip

Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER PROFILE:

Arvind Parthasarathi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindparthasarathi/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip

Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

VC PROFILE:

Micahel loffe, Founder of Arist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaioffe/

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip

Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

VC PROFILE:

Promod Haque

https://www.linkedin.com/in/promodhaque/

Get 1-year free of Auth0 (authentication and authorization platform)--> https://auth0.com/startups/vip

Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.

FOUNDER:

Joseph Krause

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfkrause/

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLEWhat does a real pitch in Silicon Valley look like? This might be as close as you can get without being here yourself!VC PROFILEMercedes Bent, ex Lightspeed Ventures, Partnerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedesbent/FOUNDER PROFILE:Sandra Bustos, Founder of Meshly.aihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabustos/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes.FOUNDER PROFILE:Robert Chandlerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhchandler/🎙️ 7 Most Interesting MomentsThe “sauna spark” in Warsaw that inspired the core idea for Wordware.How getting denied by YC initially led to killing their first agent and pivoting.Building the first prototype in just 3–4 days and knowing it felt different.The conviction to ignore mixed feedback and double down on the small group of passionate users.The chaotic YC interview process — failing twice before finally getting in on the third attempt.The viral “Twitter Roast” stunt that reached 8M people and fueled their fundraising momentum.Closing $30M in a single week, with Paul Graham advising them to speed-run the raise.

FOUNDER PROFILE:Ben Kim, Nitrode's Co-Founderhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yoonsung-kim/🎙️ 7 Most Interesting MomentsMichael Seibel’s brutally honest feedback in interviews—pushing them to scrap lines and “cut the crap.”Pivoting right before their YC interview and getting challenged on whether their new idea could ever reach a billion-dollar outcome.The week-long sprint to build a demo after Michael said, “I’ll see you Sunday.”YC’s insight that gaming and QA are their worst-performing sectors, and why the team was pushed to pivot.Paul Graham comparing their idea to the “YouTube of gaming.”The bold vision: building an AI-powered game engine that lets anyone create games with infinite endings and new player experiences🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

🔑 7 Most Interesting MomentsDavid shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth.The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat.Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters.A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” at minute 7 and convinced the partners.The origin story of 60: live website builds over Zoom that turned “bad leads” into high-value customers.The founding story of Endorsed: an AI recruiting agent designed to cut hiring times dramatically.FOUNDER PROFILE:David Headhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbhead/?utm_source=chatgpt.com🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form 🔑 7 Most Interesting MomentsDavid shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth.The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat.Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters.A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” at minute 7 and convinced the partners.The origin story of 60: live website builds over Zoom that turned “bad leads” into high-value customers.The founding story of Endorsed: an AI recruiting agent designed to cut hiring times dramatically.How they validated Endorsed—pre-selling mockups that made 100x more revenue than their previous live product.

What's it like to pitch an actual VC in Silicon Valley? We recorded a real one to show you :)This was not scripted and it was the first time the pitched this VC!Vignesh RavikumarPartner at Sierra Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vravikumar1/Ajay GulatiFounder of Kitecyberhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaygulaticloud/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

How to build a unicorn in under 2-years? Not exactly a step-by-step playbook, but you will learn something from a founder who actually did it! You will also hear a VC's perspective from Kevin Weber, Managing Director at Amex Ventures! Boom.Jesse ZhangFounder & CEO of Decagonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thejessezhang/Kevin WeberManaging Director at Amex Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-weber-b77b8028/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

Will, Founder of Phonely, shares his raw journey into Y Combinator—including sleeping in his car before a 3AM interview. He reveals how founders should interpret investor rejections, the real path to product-market fit, and top lessons a long the way. A must-listen for anyone navigating the early-stage PMF journey or getting funded!Will Bodeweshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewes/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLEWhat really matters when applying to YC?How to get your first $1top learnings from fundraisingFOUNDER PROFILE:Brooke Hopkinshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bnhop/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

How do you close $100M from VCs like a16z & Sequoia? Nic shared what he did and his most shocking learnings. FOUNDER PROFILE:Nic Kopphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-kopp/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

SUMMARYIn this episode, Gil shares the raw journey of building Metadata — from validating the idea through consulting, to nearly running out of cash, to eventually raising a $35M+ Series B. He explains how doubling prices unlocked product-market fit, why retention beats new logos, and how adopting AI transformed the company. This is a candid look at the highs, lows, and lessons every founder needs to hear.FOUNDER: Gil Allouchehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gilallouche/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 MAIN POINTS: Gil found product-market fit by doubling prices until customers pushed back.He shifted focus from chasing new logos to retaining high-NRR customers.Metadata survived by cutting 85–90% of workforce costs and replacing work with AI.He validated the idea through consulting first, proving ROI before building software.The company nearly died in 2019–2020 but survived through investor support and scrappy financing.Raising Series A took two years and 100+ pitches, but Series B was oversubscribed.His biggest lessons: pause to reassess, trust intuition, be transparent, and get a coach.

Teddy, founder of Fizz, shares how a side project at Stanford exploded into one of the fastest-growing Gen Z social platforms. From rejecting VC money at first to eventually raising $40M, Teddy explains how focusing on students’ needs fueled growth. This episode dives into product-market fit, the power of community launches, and building without chasing money.Founder profilehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-solomon-85a183188/🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 HIGHITESRaising $40M for a Gen Z social app Stanford launch took off instantly Building without chasing money Saying no to VC money at first The real launch: summer 2021 at Stanford From Stanford success to nationwide phenomenon

What's do VCs ask during a pitch conversation? Here's a real pitch in San Francisco with a $25B AUM VC. This is unscripted and it's the first time they met. NEA Partner: Andrew Schoenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewaschoen/YC Founder: Berni Hausleitnerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hausleitnerb/

Gaurav Mishra, Founder of Proshort, shares how a single conversation led to his first big customer win and set the foundation for a multi-million-dollar raise. In this candid conversation, he breaks down the biggest growth unlocks, the vision that inspired investors, and the hype cycle pitfalls that every founder faces. If you're on the journey to PMF, this is the episode for you.

Julie Lein, Managing Partner at Urban Innovation Fund, shares what it takes to get funded in today's market. From mastering your pitch to leveraging AI and regulatory tailwinds, Julie breaks down how to stand out to investors. We also dive into her cold email formula, first meeting strategy, and what makes a founder unforgettable.Top Moments05:31 Why it's never too early to pitch and how progress between meetings wins investors.11:42 Julie explains Urban Innovation Fund's AI-native and AI-accelerated investment approach.16:58 Regulatory tailwinds: the underrated driver of billion-dollar opportunities.24:17 Why evangelism and storytelling are now non-negotiable for founders.33:09 Julie’s cold email formula that gets founders meetings (and checks).38:45 Inside the first investor meeting: product demos, partner discussions, and market vision.

Gravity - Discover prospects with time-based signals https://bit.ly/40ALy6G Check out Dub --> https://www.dubapp.com/Check out Steven Wang, Co-Founder of Dubhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenzwang/🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form Reach out on Linkedin if you have any questions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfodonnell/TIMELINE00:05:00 - Raised a seed round on a vision during a hot market (Robinhood/Coinbase IPO)00:13:19 - Immense conviction in the team despite market volatility00:13:43 - Unreasonable belief is often the differentiator for winning00:15:49 - Why it's better to raise before you have growth metrics00:25:43 - Hiring mistakes: went after logos instead of fit00:33:30 - Learning every aspect of growth and iterating on test ads00:33:45 - Strategy: organic content that works → amplify with paid

Check out Alex Gurevich, Managing Director of Javelin Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexg79/https://www.javelinvp.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form Reach out on Linkedin if you have any questions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfodonnell/DESCRIPTIONAlex, Managing Director at Javelin Venture Partners, shares hard-won lessons from backing billion-dollar companies like MasterClass. In this episode, he breaks down what makes a truly defensible AI product and how founders can avoid the most common early-stage traps.TIMELINE00:17:19 — "The 'sit-on-top' LLM wrapper actually can be the most defensible product if executed right."00:18:04 — "AI products, leveraging their own IP."00:18:07 — "As the AI gets better, their product gets better — that's the compounding advantage."00:20:18 — "They just sold our games business, but the insight was in how they packaged it."00:21:38 — "How they're interfacing with the companies as they scale — that’s where real value emerges."

Gravity - Discover prospects with time-based signals https://bit.ly/40ALy6G Learn about JoinBlok.co and their recent raise: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tcharman_im-excited-to-announce-were-coming-out-activity-7348767950427832321-RhBh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAKE4P0B3kRfnC9MVuMcDibUIwodKep97GACheck out Tom Charman, Co-Founder of Blokhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tcharman/🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form Reach out on Linkedin if you have any questions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfodonnell/TIMELINE01:32 - How Tom used social proof to convert top-tier angels04:17 - Tom’s insight on building with conviction vs. feedback06:45 - The mistake most early founders make when chasing PMF08:12 - His controversial take on product-led growth11:06 - How stealth mode is helping, not hurting, their go-to-market13:49 - Advice for founders who are scared to go all-in

Shaq, Partner at Lux Capital, talked to a top robotics founder about his business. What follows is a deep dive into platform strategy, defensibility, and value capture in general-purpose robotics. If you’re building a startup, this is a must-watch for understanding how top-tier VCs think.VCShaquille Vayda, Partner at Lux Capitalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shaquillevayda/https://www.luxcapital.com/FOUNDERHoa MaiFounder, Feather Roboticshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/whoishoa/HELP WITH YOUR PITCH?🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 TIMELINE00:07:20 - The go-to-market insight: focus on third-party developers, not full-stack solutions.00:12:50 - Shaq challenges the founder on value capture and defensibility of hardware.00:19:35 - Founder lays out why they’re not worried about competition – it’s a supply bottleneck.00:27:45 - Shaq’s breakdown: the 3 bullet points founders must convey in a pitch.00:31:00 - Why great founders obsess over history, competition, and the entire value chain.

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 FOUNDERDan Bladen, CEO, Kadence - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbladen/Kadence - https://kadence.co/DESCRIPTIONAfter building hardware, Dan Bladen's (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbladen/) startup faced a COVID‑driven collapse—and he made a bold pivot from wireless chargers to hybrid‑work SaaS, ultimately winning 600 customers. This episode breaks down the faith‑driven decisions, gut‑based validation, and lean product‑market approach that led to landing companies like Intel and Porsche. Great for founders seeking real‑world lessons on overcoming crisis and finding product‑market fit.TIMESTAMP01:15 – From theology to tech: embracing risk 02:05 – Spark in Delhi Starbucks → birth of idea 03:00 – Pastor’s “pedal-by-pedal” faith metaphor 04:30 – COVID crisis: choosing relationships over contracts 05:45 – Pivot moment: hybrid workplace SaaS opportunity 07:20 – First customer win: realizing product–market fit

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 OVERVIEWSarthak Goel, Founder of Invoid, shares how he turned 3 YC rejections into an eventual acceptance — and how traction, clarity, and calm confidence played a role. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any founder navigating product-market fit and pitching under pressure.TIMESTAMP03:30 - Crafting a clearer problem statement08:00 - Why being relaxed in the YC interview worked14:34 - From 0 to exponential growth — the inflection point

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form ===================GUEST INFOJoseph Johnson https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-johnson-/LedgerUp https://www.ledgerup.ai/TIMESTAMPS00:02:45 – Pitching the “AI bookkeeper” concept00:04:10 – Using Reddit for brutally honest feedback00:05:05 – YC’s top lesson: “Just launch”00:06:00 – Sharing a real YC application template00:06:30 – Key metrics and personas LedgerUp focused on00:07:15 – Failing a YC interview early on — and what changed00:09:00 – “No pedigree” but deep domain knowledge00:10:20 – Joseph’s background as a controller and pain-point insight00:12:15 – Fake it with a Loom video: building trust before tech00:13:30 – Running a demo with a hidden second screen00:15:00 – Realizing people care more about outcome than tech00:16:10 – The moment they felt validated00:17:00 – Breaking down the problem LedgerUp solves00:18:00 – Pain points with QuickBooks and AP00:19:00 – Advice for founders: validate with real users00:20:50 – Email feedback loops and async YC demo strategy00:22:00 – The power of Reddit threads and founder hustle00:24:00 – Building a no-code front to fake backend functionality00:26:00 – Early team decisions and technical founder dynamics00:28:00 – Tools used to simulate automation during YC00:30:00 – Managing high-stakes feedback during Demo Day00:32:00 – Lessons from metrics-driven growth00:34:00 – Long-term vision and post-YC roadmap00:36:00 – Final thoughts: don’t wait, just ship it

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form ===================GUEST INFOMatthew Watts https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattswolf/Lendflow https://www.lendflow.com/TIMESTAMPS03:00 – Why “CTO” isn’t a real title early on→ A candid take on what technical leadership really means pre–product-market fit.04:00 – The real YC mantra: Make things people want→ Not just a slogan—how they actually applied it and found user pull.06:00 – How they chose the right market→ A framework for evaluating whether a problem is worth solving.09:00 – Identifying the right signals for product-market fit→ What traction looked like for them, and how they knew it was working.11:00 – Why storytelling beats numbers in early pitches→ A masterclass in how to raise when you don’t have metrics yet.

Check out SmartLing: https://www.smartling.com & their CEO Bryan Murphy https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/Side note to Founders --> 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form 😌 1 (of many) Top Insights From The Episode:🔑 “Tie your product-market fit journey to measurable outcomes.” - A vague vision isn’t enough. Your product roadmap must link directly to clear, trackable KPIs that matter to your customer.🔑 1. “Obsess over the customer’s job to be done.”Don’t build what’s interesting to you—build what solves a real problem for the customer.“We literally brought mechanics into our office, gave them coffee and donuts, showed them wireframes, and just listened.”🔑 “Cheaper isn’t always better—especially when your buyer has a budget to spend.”Brian pitched AI translation as "same quality, half the cost."But users pushed back:“I don’t want to lose half my budget—I just want to get more done with it.”So they changed the message from "cut costs" to "translate 10x more with the same budget."🧠 Insight: Understand your customer's incentives, not just their needs. Sometimes saving money isn’t the win—they want to justify the budget they already have.OVERVIEW: 02:00 - AutoZone rejects WHI idea: “No one will buy auto parts online” 05:20 - How they validated the idea with mechanics 09:35 - Building WHI’s MVP and early testing 12:50 - Key product insights from eBay 17:30 - Messaging mistake: Users didn’t want to save money 21:50 - How to define a real North Star and tie it to KPIs 26:15 - Making tough product decisions with limited data 30:45 - Final advice: Focus on the job to be done, make it a step change, and be first-ish 32:30 - Closing and how to connect with Brian and Adam

VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form GUEST:Mark Terbeek https://www.linkedin.com/in/markterbeek/ TOPICS DISCUSSED1. Founder-Market Fit Is EverythingMark emphasized the importance of a founder’s unique insight and experience into the problem they’re solving. The most compelling cold emails show why this founder is one of one — uniquely suited for this mission.2. Timing + Thematic Fit = Fast VC ResponseGreycroft often researches themes (like AI or automation) before founders reach out. When a startup pitches within an active theme — even unknowingly — and pairs it with founder-market fit, they’re more likely to get a fast response.3. "Intelligent RPA" Is a Hot AreaOne current theme Mark is excited about is Intelligent RPA (Robotic Process Automation) — AI-powered software that replaces outsourced business processes (e.g., call centers, payment processing) with scalable, intelligent agents.4. Warm Intros Trump Cold EmailsGreycroft rarely invests from cold outreach. Most deals come via:Founders they’ve already backedThematic outbound sourcingPersonal or trusted referralsFounders should invest in their network to access firms like Greycroft.5. What Greycroft Looks for in FoundersStrong founding teams typically have:Deep technical talent (especially in infrastructure and AI)A track record of shipping productThe ability to recruit top-tier talentA relentless, iterative approach to execution6. Stage Fit MattersMark personally focuses on seed to Series A, though Greycroft invests from pre-seed to pre-IPO. If you only have an idea and no traction, it's better to wait or get a warm intro.7. VCs Sell Themselves TooOnce Greycroft sees an exceptional founder, they flip into “selling mode” — trying to prove why they are the best long-term partner. Mark wishes he could bottle up founder references because those stories say more about the firm than any pitch.

Ajay Prakash, Co-Founder & CEO of Rinse shares his story getting raising $70M and how they launched to hit product-market fit!03:06 – Ajay explains how he wasted three months pitching Series A firms for a seed round.05:03 – Don’t try to predict who will write a check — talk to everyone qualified, but do it in a tight time frame to keep momentum and focus.06:03 – Their first capital came from a rolling friends & family round — with no set close — raising ~$500–600K before institutional funding.07:04 – Ajay’s co-founder saw declining traffic at his parents’ dry cleaning store — they tested an idea within two weeks and got paying customers.09:02 – Rinse didn’t solve one big issue — it solved many small ones. That made the case for building a better, end-to-end dry cleaning experience.12:14 – Unlike Uber’s urgent need, laundry is a chronic pain. Rinse focused on reliability and consistency, not instant gratification.15:22 – They focused their launch in three SF zip codes to manage operational complexity and ensure quality service before scaling.16:04 – Ajay and James only began paying themselves once the $2.5M seed round closed in December 2014.20:07 – He spent Spring 2014 chasing Series A investors with no success — a misalignment that wasted valuable time and delayed their seed raise.29:06 – Don’t let VCs drag things out with vague interest. You need clarity to survive as an early-stage startup.Rinse is creating a seamless dry cleaning & laundry experience for our customers through a combination of technology, incredible customer service, and strong back-end partnerships.www.rinse.com

What if you could get into Y Combinator without a full product? In this episode, Varsha Ramesh Walsh, Founder of Offstream (useoffstream.com), shares exactly how she did just that — with a little traction, screenshots, and relentless customer focus. She breaks down the precise steps she took to validate her idea, iterate fast, and win early customers, even before building a functional platform.Whether you're applying to YC or searching for product-market fit, this conversation is packed with tactical advice — from how to pitch without a product to embedding customer feedback into your culture.Perfect for early-stage founders navigating the messy zero-to-one phase.

🎧 Episode SummaryIn this episode, Gotham Rao—serial founder and now Co-Founder of Neubird (https://neubird.ai/)—shares how he built and sold companies to Pure Storage, Dell, and Citrix before co-founding Neubird. With $40M+ in VC backing, Neubird is reimagining how enterprises troubleshoot production issues using a telemetry access layer powered by AI.We dive deep into Gotham’s founder mindset, the role of gut instinct, why design partners matter more than early traction, and how LLMs can surgically pinpoint relevant data in noisy enterprise systems. This episode is packed with insights for both early-stage founders and seasoned builders.💡 Top 5 TakeawaysTrust your gut: Gotham only builds what he feels viscerally aligned with—if it doesn’t feel right inside, he walks away.Work backward from the outcome: Once he commits to a goal, he doesn’t let go, no matter how non-linear the path.Design partners > customers: Early users should be allies, not critics. Founders need customers who will work with them through the chaos.Neubird’s edge: By focusing on surgical data extraction from noisy telemetry systems, Neubird makes LLMs useful in high-stakes enterprise environments.The future of AI: Agent-to-agent collaboration and diverse model specializations (A2A) will redefine how enterprises operate over the next decade.

Peter shares how they confirmed PMF, got funded (after nearly shutting down) and eventually nailed their beachhead. (00:07:52) Decision to start(00:13:05) VC Rejection(00:16:50) Surviving Financial Struggles in Startup Journey(00:30:14) All in moment - focus shift(00:34:16) Break through(00:41:40) Resilience

🎙️ Top 5 Unique Learnings from This Podcast1️⃣ The “What If It All Goes Right” TestFounders must paint a bold vision for their startup. The VC’s key question:👉 What happens if everything goes right?Don’t just pitch a product. Sell the future where your solution changes the world.2️⃣ Pre-Selling = Proof, Not Just HypePre-selling (getting LOIs, early orders, deposits) is a game-changer, especially for hardware. It shows there’s real demand—and real cash—before you even build. Pre-selling can unlock VC confidence, overcome market biases, and de-risk the business.3️⃣ VCs Care About Sales Hustle as Much as ProductIn today’s world, building a great product is becoming a commodity. Sales and distribution are the true differentiators. Founders who can sell—not just build—will win.4️⃣ Hardware is a Bias—Not a DealbreakerMost VCs have been burned by hardware, so it’s your job to:✅ Acknowledge their fears (supply chain risk, dilution, long cycles)✅ Show how you’re de-risking the business✅ Present a hybrid strategy (hardware + software + services)✅ Prove you’ve done the research5️⃣ VC Incentives Aren’t Fully Aligned with FoundersMany VCs chase paper markups (TVPI, IRR) and push founders to raise faster than necessary—sometimes for the VC’s benefit, not the company’s. Understand this dynamic so you can stay in control of your company’s trajectory.TIMESTAMPS(00:00:20) Revolutionizing Robotics with Integrated Hardware and Software(00:03:43) Synergy in Robotics: Hardware-Software Collaboration(00:08:30) Leveraging Manufacturing Integrators to Penetrate Markets(00:10:34) Market Interest Generation for Startup Success(00:12:57) Household Robotics: Integrating Robots into Daily Life(00:15:57) Monetizing Robotics Services Through Unique API Tasks(00:27:53) Emotional Connection Driving Founders' Missions(00:30:59) Balancing Feedback and Confidence in Startup Founders(00:33:54) Instant $150,000 Investment: Hustle Fund Pitch

🔑 Unique LearningsFundraising reflects operational discipline—how you fundraise is a preview of how you’ll run your company.Vulnerability is only powerful when it’s paired with credibility.Cold outreach is almost useless without signal. Warm intros from LPs or founders are disproportionately effective.Running a tight, time-boxed process is a hidden superpower.Investment memos are underutilized but highly effective—especially when articulating risks and vision in written form.TIME STAMP(00:00:00) Crafting a Strategic Fundraising Framework Approach(00:09:09) Strategic Tool for Investor Engagement and Transparency(00:13:28) Utilizing Social Proof for Investor Trust(00:18:06) "Capturing VC Attention Through Strategic Initiatives"(00:22:22) Structured Time Constraints for Successful FundraisingLink to get his full book: https://www.amazon.com/Funding-Framework-Secure-Startup-Confidence/dp/1637353391/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N9JSSNOTOOXK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Yv6vPx3vVNf0CUCsO0F0vHTRxWnD-rkSjA0-BiOWsWYAVSoAeTeRiUnvNmJvhgHyRBJsJPhw133WjUaAyboQ2nMWpp7zNtmFVyAEtawlZJRWr4FC-ETeZkVq2508xYmwcYTD1n1NnxPn_Uup_ir4UC2VCWlc997ySjXKyUJjev9R2vQ8P6XxFPi3gyPbDovm2IHbDXlCYFr128vSVTuIbTP_El5TmxdBAdJZlElqd04.Gev8_Jh70L5g2V6y3QYk0V5eIRDTwSFzQfMdqMnlFSM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+funding+framework&qid=1747935761&sprefix=the+funding+framework%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1Vijay on Linkedin!https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayarajendran/

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Want to raise from VCs? Watch this before reaching out. It will give you an edge to close your round. REAL VC PITCH --> - Kevin Hartz, Founder of Eventbrite, now VC A, and Peter Fitzpatrick, founder of FawnLEARNINGS1. How to pitch a VC2. What are they thinking about you but not sayingA - https://www.a-star.co/Fawn - https://www.fawnfriends.com/

Listen to a real VC pitch in Silicon Valley and then go behind the scenes to hear what the VC actually thought...Sid Trivedi is a Partner at Foundation Capital https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddhanttrivedi/, a $6B VC fund in Silicon Valley!Josiah Spartz is the Founder of Cofactory.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjcs/, an agentic customer acquisition platform!FORMAT 1. PERFECT PITCH - Sid - shares what the perfect pitch would look like for a company in this sector 2. PITCH DISCUSSION - Joey & Sid have a pitch discussion! 3. VC CLOSED DOOR REVIEW - Sid shares more details about what he thought about the pitch and other things founders should consider!

LEARN --> how they got started & how to impress them in a pitch1. How does Forum Ventures define its focus? #accelerator #startup2. Which investment strategies resonate with you at Forum Ventures? #accelerator #growthstrategy3. In your experience, why is Founder-Market Fit crucial for startup success? #startup #venturecapital4. What founder considerations have personally impacted you according to Michael Cardamone? #B2B #SaaS

GEN AI summary! #LetsGo

Larsen Jensen, a former Olympic swimmer turned investment guru, has an impressive background that spans from the swimming pool to the Navy SEAL teams, and finally to the world of venture capital. His perspective on investment focus on dual-use technologies, which are applicable in both commercial and government sectors, is shaped by his unique experiences and his belief in their transformative potential. Jensen, who now heads Harpoon Ventures, sees these technologies as having significant geopolitical implications in today's world. He invests in next-generation technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and deep tech, with the vision of these innovations transforming businesses and enhancing national security and defense capabilities. His investment approach reflects his conviction in the United States maintaining its technological edge to continue being a global symbol of hope and democracy.

(00:07:07) Challenges in understanding and managing SaaS applications

(00:15:24) Building Meaningful Connections for Startup Success

(00:18:13) Data-driven MVP development process

(00:23:27) The Power of Community Support in Startups

Quitting job, paying the bills and creating MVP2. Landing first customers3. Closing a Seed round in 2-months

(00:03:44) "The hardest thing for any founder to do is actually do it...it's really easy to convince yourself that it's stupid and that it's wrong and that your idea makes no sense and that you can do it somewhere else. And almost none of the metrics, if you were to draw a column of pros and cons, you're probably never going to have more pros and cons to start a business. And that, I think, is the biggest challenge, is you have to go against everything you're taught, everything you know, and take this massive risk that may not pay off at all, and just see what happens." - Matt Gialich(00:20:00) "Just go do. Just go do the work." - Matt Gialich(00:01:23) "When you do something like that for about three years, I mean, I was literally in a 20 x 20 office surrounded by whiteboards, and it was a ton of fun, but I didn't see the outside world a lot. And you also saw a lot of your ideas that worked on just not go anywhere. Right. They would just die for various different reasons. And so I really wanted to go see if we could figure out, or if I could figure out how you take something from idea to reality." - Matt Gialich(00:03:44) "The hardest thing for any founder to do is actually do it...it's really easy to convince yourself that it's stupid and that it's wrong and that your idea makes no sense and that you can do it somewhere else. And almost none of the metrics, if you were to draw a column of pros and cons, you're probably never going to have more pros and cons to start a business. And that, I think, is the biggest challenge, is you have to go against everything you're taught, everything you know, and take this massive risk that may not pay off at all, and just see what happens." - Matt Gialich(00:11:26) "Venture kind of sucks from the standpoint that you're going to get told no a lot, you're going to get rejected a lot, and you have to convince people that your idea is going to not only make them exorbitantly wealthy, but also change the world and also within the bounds of reality." - Matt Gialich

LEARN1. Do I need to send my deck to a VC before a meeting?2. What questions can I answer, "I don't know" to during a pitch3. How can I get connected with the right investors?Check out Emil Capital here --> https://emilcapital.com/about-us/Check out Marcel Bens here --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-a-bens-91825b/

Please check out CommandBar --> https://www.commandbar.com/ and James Evans --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-evans-7086b3126/

GPT-Powered Summary

Igor Ryabenkiy, a successful investor who has backed eight unicorns, recently shared his approach to venture capital investment in startups on the Top VC podcast. In this episode, Igor emphasizes the importance of founders having a clear understanding of their goals, plans, and target market. He also highlights key factors such as scalability, market size, industry landscape, business model, and customer approach that impact his investment decisions.

One of the key traits Igor looks for in founders is their ability to clearly articulate their vision and strategy. He believes that when founders can effectively explain what they are going to do, why they are going to do it, how they are going to do it, and what their target is, there is a good chance they will be able to bring their startup to market successfully. This clear vision and focus on the start are crucial for building a strong leadership team and attracting customers.

However, having a clear vision is not the only factor that determines a startup's success. Igor acknowledges that even if all the necessary factors, such as a scalable idea, a large market, a solid business model, and early traction, are in place, there is still a business risk involved. External factors, competition, mismanagement, and other challenges can lead to a startup's failure. Igor shares an example of a company he invested in that wanted to do Instagram-style video, but was overshadowed by Instagram's release of the same feature on the same day. This highlights the importance of considering potential risks and challenges when making investment decisions.

The speed at which Igor makes investment decisions varies depending on the founder's ability to communicate their vision and build trust. In some cases, he has made a decision within the first five minutes of meeting a founder, while in other cases, it has taken several months. Igor emphasizes the importance of personal connections and trust-building in the investment process. He shares an example of a founder who approached him after a startup contest and asked for advice, which eventually led to a strong relationship and investment opportunity.

In conclusion, Igor's approach to venture capital investment in startups is based on founders having a clear understanding of their goals, plans, and target market. While factors such as scalability, market size, industry landscape, business model, and customer approach are important, there is always a business risk involved. Founders who can effectively articulate their vision, navigate challenges, and build trust have a higher chance of securing investments. Igor's emphasis on personal connections and trust-building highlights the importance of building strong relationships in the startup ecosystem.

Closing a $1M+ round without customers or a productThe key was in their analysis of the opportunity.

(00:01:31) Crafting a Compelling Story for Lumber

(00:07:08) Drive and Determination in Founders

(00:10:19) Founder's Assessment: Market Size, Competition, and Capabilities

(00:14:46) The Significance of Grit in Fundraising

(00:23:03) Understanding Customer Insights for Successful Fundraising

============

Entrepreneurial Grit, Customer Focus, and Fundraising in Construction Tech Startups

In a recent episode of the Top VC podcast titled "Pitching Lumber In," entrepreneur Shreesha Ramdas shares his insights and experiences in the world of construction tech startups. Ramdas, who has successfully sold two companies in the past, is now working on Lumber, a workforce management platform for the construction industry. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial grit, customer focus, and fundraising in the success of startups in this space.

Ramdas challenges the notion of founder market fit, stating that it is often overvalued compared to the determination and hustle of the founder. He believes that the idea and the industry are secondary to the qualities of the entrepreneur. According to Ramdas, he invests in founders based on their grittiness and desire to succeed, rather than the specific idea they are pursuing.

One of the key tradeoffs that Ramdas discusses is the decision between taking on market risk or execution risk when starting a company. He believes that founders must choose one or the other, and in the case of Lumber, he decided to take on market risk by entering the construction industry, which is known for its slow adoption of new technologies. Ramdas explains that he is drawn to tougher challenges and harder problems, and saw an opportunity to make a significant impact in an industry that is often overlooked.

Fundraising is another crucial aspect of startup success, and Ramdas shares his experience of raising $5.5 million in seed funding for Lumber. He highlights the importance of understanding the customer better than the venture capitalist (VC) when pitching to investors. Ramdas believes that founders should focus on the customer and their pain points, rather than trying to solve for the VC. By conducting over 300 interviews with construction workers, Ramdas was able to gather valuable insights and demonstrate his understanding of the industry's challenges. He advises founders to ask open-ended questions, be good listeners, and record all the insights gathered during customer interviews. These recordings can then be used to address the actual pain points when pitching to investors.

Ramdas also emphasizes the significance of crafting a compelling story when pitching to VCs. He suggests that founders should cover both short-term and long-term visions in their pitch, showcasing the immediate value of their product or service, as well as the long-term potential. By incorporating the insights gathered from customer interviews, founders can demonstrate the market need and the unique value proposition of their startup.

Overall, the episode provides valuable insights for founders and investors in the construction tech space. It highlights the importance of entrepreneurial grit, customer focus, and fundraising in the success of startups. Ramdas challenges conventional thinking and encourages founders to prioritize determination and hustle over founder market fit. He also emphasizes the need to understand the customer better than the VC when raising funds, and shares practical advice on conducting customer interviews and crafting a compelling pitch.

In conclusion, the world of construction tech startups requires founders to possess entrepreneurial grit, maintain a strong customer focus, and navigate the challenges of fundraising. By balancing these factors and making informed decisions, founders can increase their chances of success in this industry.

Zamir Shukho is a seasoned founder and venture capitalist with a wealth of experience in the startup ecosystem, having established 42 accelerators and worked with over 1500 companies...

HIGHLIGHTS (00:00:28) Investing in Strong Teams and Tangible Progress (00:02:54) Uncovering Customer Problems and Emotions Effectively (00:05:40) Seed stage Venture Fund specializing in B2B SaaS startups (00:08:18) Navigating Conflict and Geopolitical Challenges as a Founder/VC

Check out Rex and Cambrian! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CambrianHQ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury/

(00:00:22) Speed of Execution (00:01:22) Fintech Investing (00:03:40) Building a Community (00:05:20) Time Commitment in Venture Capital (00:14:00) Benefits of running a solo GP firm (00:19:30) Size of Opportunity in Fintech

00:00:22 - Speed of Execution Speed of execution is a crucial factor in building a successful startup, as highlighted by Rex Salisbury, the founder and GP at Cambrian. He believes that founders who can quickly navigate the idea maze and improve their ideas are the ones to watch. Rex looks for founders who actively seek feedback and iterate on their concepts, building a more precise version of their idea within a short period of time. These founders are not afraid to sell their product before it's even built, showcasing their ability to move swiftly and efficiently. By building a strong team, scoping the product, and securing design partners, these founders demonstrate their commitment and ability to execute at a rapid pace. In summary, speed of execution is a key quality that Rex Salisbury values in founders, as it allows them to validate their ideas, attract investors, and save time and resources in the process.

00:01:22 - Fintech Investing Fintech Investing is a captivating and rapidly growing field that combines technology and finance to revolutionize the way we handle money. Rex Salisbury, the founder and GP at Cambrian, shares his valuable insights on the topic. One interesting perspective he highlights is the importance of speed of execution for founders looking to raise money. He emphasizes the value of founders who can quickly navigate the idea maze, find co-founders, and secure design partners, even before building a product. Overall, Fintech Investing presents a massive opportunity for both investors and founders, with a broad range of sectors to explore, such as InsureTech, PropTech, and HR technology. With the abundance of high-caliber talent and the continuous development of better tools, the fintech ecosystem is poised for further growth and innovation.

00:03:40 - Building a Community Building a community is not just about bringing people together, but also about creating a space where ideas can flourish and connections can be made. Rex Salisbury, the founder and GP at Cambrian, shares his experience of building a fintech community and how it ultimately shaped his career path. He started by organizing monthly events and summits, which grew into a thriving community that fueled his passion. Rex emphasizes the importance of speed of execution when it comes to building something new, highlighting the value of navigating the idea maze and improving upon initial concepts. His favorite kind of founders are those who move quickly, finding co-founders, signing deals with design partners, and running a tight process before even building a product or raising money. In summary, building a community can lead to unexpected opportunities and career shifts, as Rex's journey demonstrates the power of bringing people together in a shared space of innovation and growth.

00:05:20 - Time Commitment in Venture Capital Venture capital is a field that demands a significant time commitment, as highlighted by Rex Salisbury in the transcript. Unlike starting an operating company, venture capitalists make an even longer time commitment to their work. Fund one alone can last up to 14 years, with the possibility of raising multiple funds in the future. This commitment is necessary to build trust with investors and establish a track record. However, it can also be a source of stress for venture capitalists, as they navigate the uncertainties of finding great companies and ensuring their success. Despite the challenges, Rex expresses his enthusiasm for the job and the satisfaction he derives from it.

00:14:00 - Benefits of running a solo GP firm Running a solo GP firm offers numerous benefits, as highlighted by the speaker in the transcript. One interesting perspective shared by the speaker is the advantage of having diversity on the cap table, which allows for building relationships with a wide range of investors without the signaling issues that often arise in larger firms. Additionally, solo GP firms excel in helping entrepreneurs find follow-on capital, which is crucial for the growth of their businesses. These independent firms possess highly specialized knowledge and networks within specific ecosystems, making them valuable partners in terms of providing access to the networks that matter most. In summary, running a solo GP firm allows for greater control over investment decisions, the opportunity to leverage personal networks, and the potential for greater upside compared to being part of a larger venture firm.

00:19:30 - Size of Opportunity in Fintech The size of opportunity in Fintech is immense, with startups currently capturing only about 2% of the total revenue in financial services. This indicates a significant potential for growth and innovation within the industry. Speaker A highlights the abundance of talented individuals now working in Fintech, with a tenfold increase in the number of people employed by Fintech companies over the past decade. Additionally, Fintech extends beyond traditional banking and finance, with opportunities at the intersection of healthcare, human resources, and capital markets. Furthermore, the availability of better tools and infrastructure has made it easier for entrepreneurs to launch and build Fintech products, allowing for the development of multiple products within a shorter timeframe. In summary, the Fintech industry offers a large market, a pool of talented individuals, and improved resources, making it an attractive space for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Mike Peregudov shared his experience of overcoming fundraising challenges and offered valuable insights on the importance of a structured process, tailored pitches, and incorporating the company's vision and mission. We'll delve into Mike's journey, practical advice, and data-driven insights to help founders navigate the fundraising landscape.(00:06:35) But this current seed round extension we raised mostly from early stage funds and angel investors and they are not that mission and vision is not that important for them.

QUOTE (00:12:49) Our monthly updates, we build them like beautiful PDFs and a lot of news inside, quite honest, being honest there being sharing a lot of details. And these monthly updates converted few investors for sure, maybe even more than few. Like, I don't know, 30% of our investors came after getting three to four monthly updates from us.

In this podcast episode, Matt Martin, founder of Clockwise, shares his journey of securing over $75 million in funding and the tactics he used to break through the attention barrier of investors. Adam O'Donnell joins the conversation to discuss the importance of focusing on the inputs they can control and to introduce through email, reach out to VCs on LinkedIn and Mastodon. Whether you're just starting the process or need to refresh your strategy, this podcast provides helpful information and insight into the world of VC funding.

entrepreneurship #funding #blackfounders #VC #doubt #belief #raisefunds #podcast #TheEntrepreneursJournal #motivation

[00:00:00] Early-stage investing and integrity prioritization

[00:03:07] Founder-Focused Accelerator Program Expansion

[00:06:17] Integrity in Founders and Venture Capital

[00:09:25] Investing in Founders with Integrity

[00:12:27] The Value of Due Diligence in Early-Stage Investing

[00:15:28] Building a Supportive Podcast Community

Finding Investment Success with Clear Ventures' Rajeev Madhavan

Clear Ventures' founder and general partner, Rajeev Madhavan, knows what it takes to succeed in early stage investment. During a recent episode of TheTop.VC podcast with host Adam O'Donnell, Madhavan shared his insights on what he looks for when considering an investment opportunity.

Madhavan emphasized the importance of having a strong background in technology. However, pedigree and expertise are only part of the equation. The next key factor is trust. Startups require resilience and the ability to handle the uphill battles that come with building a company from the ground up. Madhavan stressed that successful founders are those who persevere through adversity and come out the other side.

Here are three tips for founders looking to secure investment from Clear Ventures:

Build a strong foundation in technology.
Showcase your ability to weather challenges.
Be passionate about your company and its purpose.

Madhavan's passion for startups, and belief in their potential to create change in the world, is contagious. Investors and founders alike should tune in to TheTop.VC podcast to learn more from this successful venture capitalist.

Join Adam O'Donnell on TheTop.VC podcast as he talks to Dave Fink, founder of Postie, about his experience in raising a reasonable seed round, building disruptive technology, and finding a revenue model to offset costs. Dave shares his insights on how to approach VCs during the fundraising process and emphasizes the importance of having thick skin and a belief in the product. He also discusses the need to focus on the value a business provides and not get bogged down by the noise and risks that come with fundraising. Tune in to learn how Postie is helping founders who are considering raising and how they are disrupting the offline marketing space. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation between Adam and Dave - listen to TheTop.VC now!- Thank you GPT via Podflow for the summary!

Doppler's CEO, Brian Vallelunga shares how they got Sequoia to invest in their seed round! He shares his experience with Sequoia and emphasizes the importance of understanding that fundraising is a game that requires a strong story, with no pitch deck required. He also discusses Doppler's mission to help developers manage API keys and how every company is becoming a software company, making secrets management essential. With engaging narratives and real-life anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for any startup founder looking to build enduring businesses and succeed in the software-driven world.

Introducing TheTop.VC podcast, where host Adam O'Donnell has an exciting chat with Itamar Novick, founder of Recursive Ventures. They discuss how Itamar invests in early-stage startups that revolutionize industries like financial services, insurance, and real estate by leveraging data and machine learning. He also talks extensively about his investment experiences with promising companies like Tomato AI, Clarity AI, and Claire AI. The discussion covers Itamar's successful approach in evaluating startups, go-to-market strategies, and the critical issue of fake content, along with market discovery for deep fake solutions. Listening to this episode will give valuable insights into the world of venture capital and startup investments - perfect for the entrepreneur looking for strategic investment opportunities or anyone interested in business development. Don't miss out on this exciting conversation between Adam O'Donnell and Itamar Novick, both legends in the investment and startup industry!

Article 1: The Importance of Dialogue and Communication in Presentations

In this episode of TheTop.VC podcast, Adam O'Donnell interviews Nuno G. Pedro, the managing partner at Chameleon, an early-stage VC firm in San Francisco. Nuno speaks about the art of communication and presentation, and how important it is to incite dialogue with an audience.

Many founders often focus too much on presenting slides to their audience, forgetting to create opportunities for engagement and feedback. This is a common mistake, according to Nuno, as the objective of slides is to initiate dialogue and change within an audience.

If you want to make your presentations more effective, it's important to follow Nuno's advice and focus your efforts on creating opportunities for dialogue. Here are three tips to get you started:

Engage your audience early in the presentation by asking questions and soliciting feedback.
Use stories, examples, and anecdotes to make your content more relatable and memorable.
Be open to feedback and opportunities for discussion, and be ready to adapt your approach based on your audience's interests and needs.

If you're looking to improve your presentation skills and become a better communicator, this episode of TheTop.VC is a must-listen. Tune in to learn from Nuno's experience and expertise, and take your presentation skills to the next level.

Article 2: The Superpower Test and Due Diligence in VC Investing

In this episode of TheTop.VC podcast, Adam O'Donnell interviews Nuno G. Pedro, a managing partner at Chameleon, an early-stage VC firm in San Francisco. During the podcast, Nuno shared some insights into his firm's due diligence process, including the "superpower test."

The superpower test is a simple yet effective way to identify your biggest blind spot, which can often be your superpower. This is something that Nuno has seen time and time again with companies run by product people who make a significant mistake in the product line under the CEO's call.

If you want to avoid making similar mistakes, here are three tips to consider:

Identify your biggest blind spots and work to mitigate them over time.
Use feedback and input from others to identify and address weaknesses in your approach.
Be willing to adapt and change your approach as needed, even if it means making significant changes to your strategy or product.

If you're interested in learning more about due diligence and the superpower test, then be sure to check out this episode of TheTop.VC. Nuno's expertise and experience in the field of VC investing can help you become a better investor and make better decisions about your investments.

Founder Market Fit- Familiarity with the ecosystem - What is your experience? - Early stage investing is those two things (Vision + Team )- Investors will do DD on your past. They will talk to people that worked for your in the past

Young founder, no product, or real working experience...

First 2-years were just trying to get capital

What broke through?

- qualifying investors

- going in person

- working on the problem in a personal capacity for 5 years, as a teenager

The founders have a thesis
The product is the way to get there
Are they keeping their ear to the ground?
Are they continuously iterating?
Are they applying what they're learning?

Asking yourself, "if I knew what I know now, would I still pursue this business?" If the answer is no, you've saved yourself a lot of time! If it's yes, proceed with full force!

[Seed Investor in Paypal & Co-Founder of Eventbrite] Kevin Hartz, GP at A* Capital; what does he look for in a founding team?

Biggest learnings -->

- Show investors that you have grit & intellect - how? It should be obvious from your background.

Tesla for Motorcycles? - Oben's Founder, Madhumita Agrawal; funding a hardware startup in a recession

Keep fundraising until the money is in the bank!
Referrals, referrals, referrals
Fundraising is for founders

What's it like to win Techcrunch Disrupt? Minerva Lithium's founder shares what they did, how she felt, and what their building!

How to nail your first meeting with a VC-->

Solve for getting a second meeting
Nail your story/narrative
Don't explain every part of your business!

Ashley Aydin is a Principal at VamosVentures. They invest in early-stage tech-enabled companies led by Latinx and diverse founders!

Who will get funded now?

Capital efficient, but don't suck too much capital
Velocity
Consistency - great investor updates

The most impactful strategy you used to close your round?

- Wrote a white paper...there are a lot of companies out there. They wrote a white paper about the future of work

- Wrote it on Notion, put it behind a wall, 15-20 min read...filtered out those that are interested...

Angular Ventures's, David Peterson: 3 things VCs look for what YOU might not have in your deck?

Secret insight & how did you find it?
Is there a movement that you could be the center of?
Can you attract the right talent?

Nail these 4 things if you want a chance of raising in this environment

- Who was your warm intro? How well do they know the space?

- Founder conviction is super important. What brought you to this point? How did you come across this problem? Why dedicate the next 10 years to solving it?

- Real advisor relationship in your slide deck?

- Can you withstand industry expert scrutiny?

- How organized is your data room? Send it fast and make it detailed.

How do you show a VC that your company could return their fund?

--> Strategic Sequencing...

[$12M Seed Greylock invested] Rishabh Jain, Co-Founder of Fermat Commerce; raising in a downturn

thesis alignment is more important during a downturn
what is your mega trend?

You have something in your business that is scary to a VC...make sure you share it the right way

What's it like to raise a round right now? Learn what Hersh did to close a $12M Series A. Companyon Ventures, Atlassian Ventures, and CreativeCo join returning investors to fuel accelerated go-to-market investment

sharing your GTM tests and strategies in your deck
getting creative with your GTM and how to share that with investors

How to respond to --> "Why is Microsoft not going to do this?"
How to do VC updates, and common red flags during due diligence
Investment breakdown

Nail your story - you have heard this before, BUT it is the most important thing you can do Go deep with the problem in a verbal pitch Work with VCs that know your space

Don't raise, unless you have to
Get ready for 2x as many follow up questions
Get ready for 2x as many representatives from the VC on the call
IRL still matters

Timing matters Investing is best...when you have time to watch them operate False sense of urgency Customer calls Don’t downplay

Eric Youngstrom shares how they closed $42M. He dives into how he thinks about valuations and where he spent his time during the raise. #SimilarToEnterpriseSales

Learn how Gated raised millions by prioritizing branding, manifestos, and investor newsletters.

Here exactly what he did!

LEARN - How a VC evaluate a company that they actually invested in - The top thing to consider in your pitch

Learn: 1. Top three trends Rajeev is investing in now 2. How to improve your pitch 3. What VCs are saying about you after the pitch

Andrew raised $5M from YC and others without a deck... Biggest learning --> He shares how they structured their YC application

See a deck that Alon used to close $5M from top VCs in a difficult macro environment.

Acknowledge the fear but move from pitching to evaluating They were funded by consulting projects before burning the boats and raising money You know more VCs than you think, leverage the mutual connection

Who are the best angel investors for your cap table?
How he considers definability as you solve a big and hard problem

Live in the shoes of a VC for one day, and it will change how you fundraise as a founder.

Building relationships within the startup and VC community is key to raising a successful round in the future. Relationships aren't supposed to be transactional, they are built over time mutually.

Listen to hear what they look for in a pitch and what to avoid. Hint - brevity is your friend ;)

Investor updates can help you build relationships with VCs who aren't investors, yet.

Being vulnerable and staying true to yourself will help you find the investors that really want you.

Showing a VC how they may need your startup's services can be the most convincing way to convey that there is a need for your product.

When you're just starting, all you have is your team. VCs emphasize team experience the most when reviewing decks.

Calling to set up a meeting can be the most efficient way of outreach.

Incrementally send your decks to VCs so you can constantly improve it, rather than sending it to every VC all at once.

Being genuine when sharing your risks with investors builds real trust rather than creating false trust with hype.

Sharing all your data from the start will save you time and help you filter the VCs that are genuinely interested.

Make sure your company's vision aligns with the VC's ultimate goals to ensure an effective and lasting partnership.

Letting your customer base invest will help expand your network and increase customer enthusiasm.

Using a VC's social media presence can help give you an idea if their general views align with yours.

Using crowdfunding and syndicates to expedite the fundraising process.

You'll know after a pitch who really wants to invest, and playing games with them won't help.

Making your pitch easy to digest, with all needed information on it, will help VCs think when they're reflecting on your pitch.

Don't sell yourself short. Aim for an addressable market over $10 billion.

Using 'committed' clients as traction can be sufficient for firms to know that there is a market for your product.

With small checks comes big networks and expertise. Expanding your cap table to include passionate investors of all sizes can help you grow your network, strengthen your relationship with your customer base, and have a long list of real people to fall back on.

Using NFTs to build an involved and active community around your growth.

Building relationships for future rounds can help to build trust - the most crucial element needed for a VC.

Warm introductions from a portfolio can make your company instantly credible and much more heard.

Using the group of people who built and supported your startup - your customers - to raise a round through equity crowdfunding.

Schedule all pitches far in advance so you can put them within a few days of each other. This creates a "blitz" effect that builds noise and makes you more competitive with each firm.

Sending sophisticated quarterly updates to VCs who are not yet ready to invest may get them to rethink their decision, or even just help with introductions and small favors down the road.

Growth is everything. You should broadcast any signal you have of growth to as many VCs as possible.

You don't need to accept the first offer you're given. Saying no can show your conviction and help you hyper-target the best fit firm.

Having the person with the vision (the CEO,) and the person in charge of the execution (COO or CTO,) will be the most effective pitch duo.

Personalize messages for cold outreach when an introduction isn't possible.

"Create" warm introductions when you don't have direct ones.

Using your deck to "tell your story"

Respecting VC's time can lead to more success than trying to over converse with them.

Giving investors what they want is better than trying to be radically different.

Using your university's resources and your inexperience as leverage to stand out.

Schedule all key meetings on Monday and Tuesday of the same week to siphon as much excitement as possible.

Networking tips to get more pitches.

If you're in a market that is less known, make sure to benchmark your TAM to something your investor understands.

Check out Rachel and Red Bike Capital! https://redbikecapital.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ten-brink-a08151/"

How entrepreneurs can gain leverage in the fundraising process when they start to receive term sheets.

Taking advantage of customer networks to better your product and find niches.

Writing 3 different decks, each of different lengths, will capture the right attention at each stage of contact while reaching out.

Rejection isn't precedent. Just because a few top-tier firms are ignoring you at first, others may try and get on board.

Prioritizing tasks based on impact from real data like unit metrics can lead to greater returns for your company than sorting tasks without any quantitative inputs.

Growth Table Template: https://airtable.com/tblAiUMTUAYX8UXuS/viwBKLpolAV1SWgow?blocks=hide

Creating lasting relationships with VCs no matter what stage you're at.

Choosing the correct market segment and customers is vital to optimizing your revenue for the long run!

Learn more about Sierra Ventures --> https://www.sierraventures.com/

Sierra Ventures - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sierra-ventures - Twitter - @Sierra_Ventures https://twitter.com/Sierra_Ventures

Vignesh Ravikumar - LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/vignesh-ravikumar/28/6a8/b26/ - Twitter - @vravikumar627 https://twitter.com/vravikumar627

Evaluating a VC's "superpowers" and commitments (besides money) before closing a deal can lead to a more successful relationship down the road.

Playing hard to get will never give you an advantage. Being genuine and transparent will.

Focus on an authentic relationship and let the money take care of itself.

Valuing others higher and creating a mutually beneficial connection can help you stand out during outreach.

Hyper-Targeting investors and increasing authenticity in outreach.

How unconventional startups can succeed with limited access to traditional resources.

3 things you need for raising money & getting media coverage: 1. super start team 2. story that makes you go wow 3. true market traction

How top startups are using a 'building-in-public' strategy to increase adoption.

$13T = the cost of racial bias to the US economy according to Citi's recent study

We must move from doing things "for" to "with"...

SolidSeedStageTraction - $400k - $750k ARR minimum

Focus on the #fundementals Increasing #valuations Wise with #capital

Over the past 10 years, there has been a rise in operations as a B2B tech buyer

General Partner of Asymmetry Ventures, Rob Ness: the biggest contributors to success at the seed stage--> 'The 2% Rule' - obsess and improve the basics like #CX...

Nate Williams, ex CRO of August Home, Inc., former EIR at Kleiner Perkins, and current Founder & Managing Partner at UNION Labs Ventures shares a trend of sales, BD, & HR hires happening sooner.

Clearscope + Conversion.ai = Turbocharged SEO

Ian and his team average 250k site view/mo...not bad for a B2B company

G., Founder & CEO of @lemist ‎explains how he received & turned down an offer of $30M in funding at a $100M valuation

ex Intel Capital Managing Director & Standford MBA, Hassan Miah discusses his event growth strategy for his neo bank Wicket...

Check out his full episode here:

Facebook acquired 1 of his 3 startups, he has done 100 angel investments and raised millions...

My friend, David E. Weekly, CEO of Medcorder shares incredible advice on raising money.

"Super SEs" = highly technical sales engineers --> are replacing traditional sales positions #customerempathy

Thought Leadership 2.0 --> 'Not a message, but an experience'

You wouldn't pitch your Doctor, you would first share symptoms and have a relaxed conversation
Don't be tied to the structure of your deck

How COVID has made it easier for startups to sign big deals with fortune 500 companies! #boom

FreelanceForLaw.com is a platform that helps connect Attorneys and Law Firms with freelance legal professionals.

Matik, Inc.'s CEO Nikola Mijic, shares how their thought leadership series on "How Matik Uses Matik" drove huge inbound traffic!

TREND --> Where did all the college dropout founders go?

Advice to 25-year old founder --> Go for it. Fail 1, 2, or 3x. Learn and that experience will differentiate you when you are raising money.

"Fire your bad-fit customers...remember you're actually subsidizing them if you are an early-stage startup."

Two ways they help their startups: 1. Enterprise Client Intros - founders can partner with our Account Executives to get introduced to a large client 2. Internal Coaching - our employees love helping startups

'Voice automation is about to be as big as apps in 2011'

Entrepreneurs add these two things to your deck:

Site your sources
Loom videos...' if they want to go down the rabbit hole'

'App store optimization is one of the most underutilized growth channels since most SaaS companies are still ignoring it...'

If you are having trouble getting the attention of a hard-to-reach prospect, try the Trident. Thanks, Gordon, CEO of Syne.

$0 to $4M ARR in 2-years using this strategy... "SaaC" = speakers-as-a-channel

Healthcare System Evolution = Sick Care > Behavior Influence > Aspirational Health

Thank you Kevin Lutz, Founder & Managing Partner at Resolute Partners Group, for sharing your perspective on SPACs.

@Founders, do you talk to your co-founders more than your spouse/partner? (I know I did!)

"CCAI" --> chatbot-conversations-as-insights

"When a user has a discussion with a chatbot on your site, don't let those insights go to waste..."

Sanjoy Roy, Co-Founder of AskSid.ai a Techstars company

Shoutout From Sanjoy To:

"Bradford Cross, we love you because you planted the vertical AI concept in our mind..."

Here are a few lessons for other corporate accelerators from Lisa Burton O'Toole, VP of HearstLab

Focus on startups you can IMPACT rather than tying it to a strategic goal
Connect YOUR expert employees with startups for 30-min mentor sessions to drive sales, marketing, etc.
Use YOUR employees to evaluate prospective startups before investing

Shoutout From Lisa To: "Madhuri Yechuri is the Founder & CEO of Elotl...she is a brilliant engineer and former VMware...we are very excited to be part of their journey!"

Three ways to overcome the siloed nature of WFH: - Meal delivery --> order sushi for everyone and have it delivered at the same time - Drink delivery --> use Drizly to send drinks to everyone on the team at the same time - Virtual Petting Zoo --> Visit a virtual petting zoo with Goat-2-Meeting

Techstars, SVP Ecosystem Development, Chris Heivly - 'in 3-10 years, there will be 2x more venture capital outside of the Valley than inside...'

Shoutout From Chris Heivly: "David Shaner, Founder of Offline is one of my favorite CEOs..."

Average PMs = tell their teams what to build Great PMs = share the WHY behind the feature

Check out Ryan and his team at SPZ Legal. They are one of the best boutique law firms in Silicon Valley.

'the traditional venture model is broken for pre-Series A investing...but we cracked the code'

SOLUTION: "We have a simple clause in our LPA that allows us to invest fund capital, not just in writing a check to help the company, but in paying people to help them in exchange for additional equity at a minimum of a 50% discount on that equity."

Separate your anxiety-driven emotions that seek short-term gain
Play the long game...

This is why we will likely be back in the office by mid-late summer...

"Most companies will not be able to prove that productivity has increased by having everyone work from home"

After selling companies to SAP & Medallia, Shreesha Ramdas is now a successful angel investor.

"Bet on the team" - Have the founders been working together for a long time? - Did they go to school together? - What type of chemistry do they share? - Do they have complementary skills?

What is one of the most important roles of a startup founder?

Maintaining a big vision from day one
Projecting your vision consistently
Keeping that vision your north star despite the ups and downs of startup life

Comradery > NDAs

Daniel Hallawi, Managing Director of H1 Family Investments, one of the largest family offices in Australia, is seeing more comradery, connectivity, and willingness to help among startup founders than ever before...

We are all in this together.

CEO of Foundersuite.com, Nathan Beckord has seen this trend recently...

Build a target list of investors & make initial connections
Tell them when you plan on raising your round
Send monthly company updates
Investors begin to trust you and see your progress
Complete your raise before you were going to "officially" start

Here is what, Alan Brody, CEO of Startupalooza found after decades of research. Make sure to check out his book The Formula!

(YOUR IDEA + POSSIBLE OUTCOME) _______________________________ (YOUR LIKELIHOOD TO EXECUTE)

What is the top skill for a CEO? --> the ability to zoom in and out

2021 trend: corporate <> startup partnerships & M&A will continue to increase

How to quickly make a decision when your stakeholders disagree:

Create a shared deck and let each stakeholder argue their point in that same document! #simplesolutions #arethebest

Entrepreneurs --> give investors a snapshot of what it would be like to work with you...before they write the check.

This accelerator charges sales commissions to portfolio companies...!?

Do you know your customer's internal trigger?

'Anyone who thinks they are going to work-from-home forever is probably kidding themselves...'

Two changes that must happen in a product-led-growth world: 1. SDR --> Product Specialist 2. SQL --> PQL View video --> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamfodonnell_emergence-capital-growth-partner-doug-landis-activity-6758144822952923136-hW7X

Why is Amit Garg, Managing Partner at Tau Ventures bullish on healthcare AI? 'A lot of treatments were POSSIBLE before AI, but not PLAUSIBLE...'

View video --> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamfodonnell_why-is-amit-garg-managing-partner-at-tau-activity-6757329005181067265-VZLH

"Growth is about being creative... it's not polished initially."

View video --> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamfodonnell_ex-sequoia-capital-partner-uber-growth-activity-6755163255855026176-6QoU