Alex Salazar on Taking Arcade from Zero to a $12M Round (Alex Salazar / Arcade - Ep 56)
Alex Salazar didn’t need to prove he could build a company. He’d already done that and sold it, then spent time as a VC, and had the kind of background that usually makes raising money the easy part. But when he started Arcade, he decided to do things differently. In this episode, we talk about what it means to go back to zero even when you don’t have to. Alex shares why he and his co-founder stayed in stealth, how they tested product ideas without writing a single line of code, and what it took to get real traction in a category moving as fast as AI. We get into opportunity selection, investor conviction, and what it actually looks like when someone gets preempted before they’re even out fundraising. Arcade eventually closed a $12M round... but the process behind that raise had very little to do with pattern-matching or momentum. It was all about building something that hit a nerve.
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Check out our latest chats with awesome founders.
TBC: Unpacking Uncapped SAFEs
In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore the ins and outs of valuation caps and uncapped SAFEs. Many founders toss around terms like valuation caps without fully understanding their impact, and we’re here to break it down.
TBC: Valuations, SAFEs & Convertible Notes Explained
In this episode of The Back Channel, Jason tackles the often misunderstood concept of valuation caps in fundraising. He walks through what a valuation cap is, how it works, and its role in SAFE agreements and convertible notes.
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How Michael Diesu Closed a $2.5M Seed Round for Revenue Roll (Michael Diesu / Revenue Roll)
Entrepreneurship is unpredictable—just when you think you’ve got it all mapped out, you're hit with a tough choice between two very different paths. One feels safe and familiar, while the other is full of potential, uncertainty, and risk. Every founder faces that pivotal moment: Do you play it safe, or take the leap? Today’s guest, Michael Diesu, co-founder and CEO of Revenue Roll, knows this dilemma all too well. From diving headfirst into the startup world against conventional advice to navigating a cooling fundraising market, he's made those tough calls more than once. Revenue Roll recently raised a $2.5M seed round led by Innovating Capital in late 2023—an impressive feat in one of the toughest fundraising climates in years. In this episode, we dive into Michael's journey, unpack his big wins, hard-learned lessons, and get an inside look at how he closed that seed round. But first, we rewind to the early days—because those initial decisions? They set the stage for everything that follows.
TBC: Revisiting Post-Money vs Pre-Money Cap SAFEs
In this episode of The Backchannel, we revisit a fundamental topic that every founder should understand: post-money cap SAFEs and their implications.
TBC: Investor Lists & Launching a Fundraise (HOW TO)
In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason dives into one of the most overlooked yet essential tasks in fundraising: building your target investor list.
How Christal Wang Closed a $2.2M Seed Round for Shimmer (Christal Wang / Shimmer)
Fundraising can be both the most aggravating and comforting part of a founder’s journey. It only takes one “yes” to change everything, but getting there often means facing a mountain of “no’s.” Not every founder has the resilience to push through the rejection, but those who do often find success right when they’re ready to give up. In today’s episode, I chat with Christal Wang, co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, the top ADHD coaching platform for adults. Christal shares her journey from YC to closing a successful pre-seed round, and how she navigated the challenges of raising a $2.2M seed round after a major pivot. We dive into the emotional toll of fundraising, the importance of perseverance, and how a single “yes” can make every rejection worthwhile.
TBC: What Do Pre-Seed & Seed Rounds Look Like in This Market?
In this episode of The Backchannel, we dive into a topic that’s been on a lot of founders’ minds: the difference between pre-seed and seed rounds in today’s shifting market.
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How Orri Bogdan Raised a $2M Seed Round for VAE Labs (Orri Bogdan / VAE Labs)
In this episode, we explore the realities of fundraising with Orri Bogdan, Founder and CEO of VAE Labs. Like many founders before him, Orri’s journey to raising a $2M seed round was fraught with challenges. From losing co-founders to product failures and numerous rejections from VCs, Orri faced it all. Yet, he persevered by immersing himself in founder communities, forging connections, and eventually securing funding from Draper Associates. Orri’s story is a testament to the grit and determination required to succeed in the startup world. Before we hear Orri’s inspiring story of resilience and success, we’ll explore what led him to become the determined founder he is today.
TBC: Why You Need Deadlines for Your Raise
In this episode of The Backchannel, the focus is on the critical role deadlines play in successful fundraising efforts.
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