TBC: Fundraising in the Age of AI
In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason breaks down what it really means to fundraise in an AI-dominated world. If you’re not building core AI infrastructure, how should you position your startup? He explains why every founder needs an AI story—one rooted in how the tech impacts your product, operations, and long-term defensibility.
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TBC: Side Letter Warning
Side letters are not only more complicated than they seem but dangerous to your fundraise if not properly managed.
Side letters, often accompanying standard agreements like safes, may seem harmless at first but can include onerous clauses like pro-rata rights.
In this episode Jason emphasizes the importance of early negotiation and proactive communication to safeguard founder interests.
Tune in to protect yourself from this common challenge in the fundraising world.
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TBC: Putting Project Management First
Project management - an often overlooked and unsexy aspect of fundraising.
Contrary to the dramatic portrayals in movies, fundraising is essentially a series of repetitive and detailed tasks. While not brain surgery, these small actions demand attention and diligence.
While it might seem like project management is 'taking away' from more glamorous business pursuits it's actually the underpinnings that form the foundation for success.
Success in fundraising lies in effectively managing oneself and others throughout the process.
In this episode Jason discusses the importance of creating processes that set you up for success. If you tend to avoid project management, this ones for you.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: What Comes First - Calm Confidence or Investor Interest?
One of the most common dilemmas faced by founders in the fundraising world is the chicken and egg dynamic.
Much like the age-old question, founders often grapple with the challenge of needing investor interest to gain confidence and at the same time, requiring confidence to attract investor interest.
Truth is in order for an investor to be confident in you, you first have to be confident in yourself.
In this episode, Jason will be exploring how to implement a process in order to break free from this cycle of uncertainty and instead - create confidence from within.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Post Money Cap Safes have Anti-Dilution!
We’re back on post-money cap SAFEs talk!In the previous episode, we explained what it is and how it works within the fundraising process.
For this episode, Jason goes deeper as he illuminates a more specific topic: the anti-dilution provision within post-money cap SAFEs.
With the evolution of the fundraising and startup worlds, many things have changed, and the rounds raised by founders are tremendously affected.
This affects everyone in the process - both founders and investors.
Tune in with us as we examine the entirety of this process and how it affects your fundraising!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Post Money Caps vs. Pre-money Caps (an explainer)
Founders are often intimidated by some of the more complex fundraising concepts.
One of these is the concept of post-money cap SAFE.
Post-money cap SAFEs can get tricky for some founders, especially for first-timers.
In this episode, Jason dives a little deep into the dynamics of this concept, along with SAFEs in general, valuations, and how it all relates to the post-money cap SAFE.
Get your pens and prepare for this episode as we talk about specific examples and scenarios, concepts involved, and steps to take so you can better navigate your fundraising journey.
Oh, and this is only part 1. Make sure to tune in next week for the 2nd part on this topic!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Vulnerability in Fundraising
We all have stories we like to keep to ourselves for many reasons.
It’s uncomfortable to tell these stories because they may be a sign of weakness, a reminder of a terrible mistake, or that nobody would understand.
This is why many founders tend to adopt the “fake it til they make it” attitude.
This won’t work forever, though.
In this episode, Jason tells a couple of stories where a founder’s vulnerability was precisely what they needed to get their investors to understand them fully.
Tune in as we talk about what really goes into an investor’s mind when they hear about your problems, struggles, and mistakes.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: The Rollercoaster of Fundraising
Entering the fundraising world is one heck of a journey - a big rollercoaster ride, to be exact.
You'll face endless ups and downs, and there will be times when you don’t know what to think or feel anymore.
In this episode, Jason dives into the rollercoaster that founders experience throughout their rounds.
Hear about the everyday things founders encounter when raising money, how they should deal with the never-ending change of emotions, and how you can stay above things.
If you need a push for confidence and validation right now, then this episode is for you. Tune in!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Deck-Building: Note Cards
Building decks is one of the most significant steps of preparing to fundraise.
Knowing what to include and how to deliver it is key to a successful deck.
Over time, people have used various tools to help them build their decks - but for Jason nothing beats this simple trick: note cards.
In this episode, Jason Yeh talks about how note cards aid in the complicated deck-building process and how founders can take advantage of this tool.
Find out how note cards can greatly improve your deck and how your concepts can come together through their use. Stay tuned!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Chase or Be Chased?
Talking to investors can be gut-wrenching for founders, especially for first-timers.
The anxiety of going up to someone, asking for money, and promising returns can shake founders up and cause them to lose focus.
But it’s all about mindset.
Are you chasing, or are you the one being chased?
In this episode, Jason Yeh explains why embracing the concept of being chased is vital for founders when approaching investors.
Join us as we uncover the truth behind the chase mentality in fundraising and how you can communicate with your investors more effectively.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
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