Episoder
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Welcome back to The Backchannel! In this episode, we're trying out a new format where we dive into your burning questions about how founders should navigate investor passes. Join Jason as he addresses the following questions:
- Should you send a follow-up email after a pass? How soon is too soon to follow up after an informal meeting?
- Is it appropriate to ask for feedback on why an investor passed?
- How soon do I follow up with an investor who seemed interested?
If you enjoy this format, let us know what other topics you'd like us to cover!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
When life throws you tough times, you only have two options: to give up or find a solution.
Today's guest felt slightly differently when they ran into some truly unexpected situations... they decided there was actually only one option: find a solution and move forward.
Our guest for this episode is André Ferraz, co-founder and CEO of Incognia, a fast growing leader in the online fraud prevention space.Over the past decade, Incognia has had its fair share of ups, downs and even pivots - ultimately leading them to find the PMF that landed them $45M in venture funding in under 3 years.
André's story is wild and super inspiring, and we can't wait for you guys to hear it!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Manglende episoder?
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In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason pushes back at the common practice of founders sending out monthly investor newsletter updates.
Although it may work for some founders, monthly newsletters aren't for everyone.
In this episode Jason shares a few other ways to use investor lists like targeted updates, requests for help, specific achievements and so on.
Make sure to listen to the full episode to hear his full thoughts!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Back Channel! Today, we're mixing things up.
My producer Paige read an article from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and wanted my take.
They claim tech workers are flocking back to SF, with major companies still headquartered there, and a big chunk of AI investment dollars staying local.
Although there's truth to that, I think the pandemic has opened doors for other cities.
San Francisco is still important due to its history and other specific reasons, but there are other places on the rise.
Listen to the full episode to hear my take on the article!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode, we dive into the unpredictable world of startups, where the only constant is change. Joining us is Jennifer Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Lex, a pioneering social app for the LGBTQ community. Jennifer shares her rollercoaster journey through the venture-backed startup landscape, a path filled with highs and lows, trials, and significant growth.
Despite the notion that startups should be smooth sailing, Jennifer's experience tells a different story—one of persistence and resilience. She recounts the daunting challenges she faced while raising capital, which paradoxically energized her and her team to secure a substantial $5.6 million seed round. This episode reveals how coming close to failure can unveil a newfound strength and determination.
We also take a personal look at Jennifer's background, tracing her unlikely path from her early years to becoming a leader in tech innovation. Her story is a testament to the unexpected turns life can take and the transformative power of embracing them.
Tune in to gain insights into the gritty realities of startup life and the pivotal moments that can define a company's success.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore everything you should consider when figuring out how much you need to raise.
Jason delves into the common questions founders face regarding fundraising amounts, the importance of being goal-oriented, and the two key goals for raising funds.
Jason also stresses the importance of calculating the necessary funds to hit these milestones, rather than opting for smaller, seemingly easier amounts that could lead to a "bridge to nowhere."
Drawing from his mentor, Alan Patricof, the host underscores that investors seek meaningful progress, not just minimal survival.
The episode provides a clear framework to help founders determine how much they need to raise for their companies.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode of The Backchannel, the host launches a new series called "How I Work," exploring strategies for productivity.
Jason delves into the challenges faced by founders, such as digital distractions, and shares his personal approach to combatting them.
By disconnecting from the internet during certain periods and utilizing a digital notepad like the remarkable device, he emphasizes the importance of carving out distraction-free time to boost productivity.
Join him as he shares insights and invites feedback on navigating the demands of entrepreneurship.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
What makes someone a successful founder?
Is it how much revenue they're able to generate? How well they lead their company and their employees? How many investors they're able to land?
Those all play a role ... but the real answer is probably more nuanced and certainly harder to pinpoint.
When we look at any successful founder throughout history, it's natural to wonder how they got there. To wonder what made them different from the thousands of others who tried to walk the same path and failed.
Today I get to talk to Ian Swanson, 3x venture-backed founder and current CEO of Protect AI.
Ian has raised over $82M in venture capital throughout his career with two successful exits . In today's interview, we touch on all three of Ian's companies, sharing the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens of running a venture-backed company.
Tune in to uncover the untold stories behind Ian's path to success and discover what sets him apart in the world of entrepreneurship.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode of The Backchannel, the host emphasizes the critical role of third-party feedback in the fundraising process for entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on a recent interaction with a founder, the host describes how an initially chaotic business pitch was clarified and refined through his outsider's perspective.
This episode underscores the unique advantage of third-party insights, which strip away emotional biases and unnecessary details to highlight the core message that resonates.
The takeaway is clear: seeking external opinions on fundraising materials isn't just helpful; it's essential for success.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode, the host shares the power of personal newsletters for VC's, shedding light on investor psychology and fundraising strategies.
Drawing from anecdotes from his personal life and interactions with VC's, he highlights the importance of staying top of mind in the competitive landscape of deal flow.
By sharing stories of missed opportunities and the dynamics of VC interactions, he underscores the significance of personal branding through newsletters.
Ultimately, the episode offers a pro tip for VC's to leverage personal newsletters as a means to enhance deal flow and foster lasting connections while simultaneously teaching founders about investor psychology.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Join us on a journey through the winding roads of entrepreneurship with our guest, Nancy Xu, the Founder & CEO of Moonhub.
From her early days training for the U.S. math and physics team to her academic journey at Stanford and her stint as a software engineer at Facebook, Nancy seemed destined for academia.
However, her passion for impactful ideas steered her towards entrepreneurship, leading her to start Moonhub, the pioneering AI-powered recruiter.
With over $10 million raised in just two years, we explore how Nancy's background in AI research and building crucial relationships laid the foundation for Moonhub's success.
Join us as we unravel the fascinating story of Nancy Xu raising millions from big named venture capitalists like Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode, our host covers the importance of having a technical co-founder for non-technical founders and how to go about finding one.
Venture capitalists seek teams with diverse skill sets, understanding that successful companies require both technical and non-technical expertise.
For non-technical founders, making progress and creating value without a technical product is key to attracting top talent.
By understanding the "why" and "how" of finding a technical co-founder, you'll be better equipped to build a strong co-founding team and drive towards success.
Join us as we explore the steps ahead in this journey!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode of the Back Channel, we explore the importance of addressing competition during investor meetings.
Drawing on an analogy from the hosts undergrad economics class, he emphasizes the significance of positioning oneself confidently alongside competitors and calmly articulating one's unique value proposition.
Rather than avoiding the conversation, address the competition with calm confidence, focusing on your strengths and differentiation. It's all about owning your narrative and demonstrating why your direction is superior.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
There's a quote from Abraham Lincoln that always really speaks to me: "Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first 4 sharpening my axe."
It's become a mantra of sorts for me, especially when it comes to fundraising. I share it with all of the founders I work with because it encapsulates a fundamental truth: the preparation before the task is key.In my experience, the ease of a fundraising journey is directly proportional to the groundwork laid beforehand. Those lightning-fast fundraises? They're not just luck; they're the culmination of years, even decades, of relationship-building and experience.
Take today's guest, Scott Kriz. As the co-founder and CEO of SGNL, he raised over $22M in less than 2 years, drawing on a decade of industry know-how. But this success wasn't overnight. Scott had already navigated the fundraising landscape with his previous venture, Bitium, where he secured $15M in VC funding before its acquisition by Google in 2017.
Scott's journey underscores the importance of early struggles in paving the way for future triumphs. This episode is filled with knowledge, so make sure to listen till the very end!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
In this episode of The Backchannel, host Jason Yeh delves into the world of junior VCs and their path to becoming venture capitalists.
Drawing from his own experience at Greycroft and the hiring processes, he emphasizes the significance of technical backgrounds, industry connections, and experience in fields like consulting or banking.
Venture capital firms prioritize hiring from networks with access to potential deals and founders, highlighting the importance of networking in this industry.
Ultimately, understanding these hiring practices provides valuable insights for aspiring venture capitalists.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Dilution is one of those things that a lot of founders seem to 'lightly' understand.
That's why in today's episode, Jason breaks down a step-by-step example of how dilution actually works.
Discover the significance of understanding dilution and its impact on ownership over your company.
See you next week on The Backchannel!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Bootstrapping and raising venture capital are two different beasts. Bootstrapping gives you control, but growth is slower. Venture capital speeds things up, but you have to give up some control.
There is, however, one thing they both have in common: each requires a leap of faith.Today's guest is pretty unique. She's someone who's gotten to experience building both types of companies - one bootstrapped, one venture backed.
That guest is Guta Tolmasquim, founder and CEO of Purple Metrics, which recently closed their first institutional round of capital, a $1.2M pre-seed led by Astella, one of the top venture firms in Brazil! But before Purple Metrics, Guta founded Brand Gym, a company she bootstrapped and built all by herself.
As you can imagine, the transition to building a venture backed company was... interesting
In this episode, we get to learn about how Guta ended up closing her $1.2M pre-seed round and just how powerful building your network really is.
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
A lot of people tend to forget that the pre-seed round in venture capital is still relatively new.
In today's episode, we talk about how the pre-seed round came about, and how it's changed since moving farther away from the bull markets back in 2020 and 2021.
One of those changes being the need for investors to see traction earlier and earlier before investing.Make sure to watch the full episode to hear all the insights around pre-seed rounds!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Have you ever heard of the quote "The safest way to get what you want is to deserve what you want"?
It was said by the legendary investor Charlie Munger, and in todays episode we're going to talk about how you can apply that same understanding to fundraising as a startup founder.
Get ready to listen along and ask yourself to answer hard truths about yourself and your company.
See you next week on The Backchannel!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com -
Most of us have heard the saying "good things don't come easy", and I'd be willing to argue that the majority of people agree with that statement on some level.
But sometimes, good things do come easy and THEN they get harder. And it's in those pivotal moments where you really get to see what you're capable of.
That was the case for today's guest Mohak Nahta - founder and CEO of Atlys - a company he started as a side project to solve his own problem of getting his visa on time when traveling.
In today's episode, we get to hear the story behind not only Mohaks most recent $12M Series A but also his experience raising his $4M Seed round. Grab your notebook, because this guest is dropping all the fundraising knowledge!
--If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com - Vis mere