They raised millions for their startups... but how?

How do entrepreneurs convince people to give them money? We profile founders who've gone through the fundraising gauntlet in order to get their venture off the ground.

They raised millions for their startups... but how?

How do entrepreneurs convince people to give them money? We profile founders who've gone through the fundraising gauntlet in order to get their venture off the ground.

They raised millions for their startups... but how?

How do entrepreneurs convince people to give them money? We profile founders who've gone through the fundraising gauntlet in order to get their venture off the ground.

HOSTED BY JASON YEH

They raised millions for their startups... but how?

How do entrepreneurs convince people to give them money? We profile founders who've gone through the fundraising gauntlet in order to get their venture off the ground.

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The Backchannel
April 25, 2024
4
mins

TBC: Addressing Competition With Investors

In this episode of the Back Channel, we explore the importance of addressing competition during investor meetings.

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.

Funded
April 23, 2024
65
mins

The Story Behind SGNL Raising $22M in 2 Years (Scott Kriz / SGNL)

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!

Follow Us

Scott Kriz
SGNL
Funded
Jason Yeh (host)
Sponsors
Contact Us / Misc
  • Reach out to us on social or email me directly at jason@fundedpod.com if you have any questions or would like to share your story with us!
  • 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  

The Backchannel
April 18, 2024
6
mins

TBC: Understanding VC Firms to Send the Right Signals

<p>This is a fantastic episode covering one of the most important insights around fundraising</p><p>‍</p>

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.

The Backchannel
April 11, 2024
8
mins

TBC: Dilution 101 For Founders

<p>This is a fantastic episode covering one of the most important insights around fundraising</p><p>‍</p>
Funded
April 9, 2024
58
mins

The Story Behind Purple Metrics Closing Their $1.2M Pre-Seed Round (Guta Tolmasquim / Purple Metrics)

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.

Follow Us

Guta Tolmasquim
Purple Metrics
Funded
Jason Yeh (host)
Sponsors
Contact Us / Misc
  • Reach out to us on social or email me directly at jason@fundedpod.com if you have any questions or would like to share your story with us!
  • 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  

The Backchannel
April 4, 2024
7
mins

TBC: Why the Pre-Seed Round Was Created... and How It's Changed

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!

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!

The Backchannel
March 28, 2024
5
mins

TBC: Taking Advice From Charlie Munger

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!

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!

Funded
March 26, 2024
65
mins

The Story Behind Atlys Raising $16.3M in Venture Capital (Mohak Nahta - Atlys)

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!

Follow Us

Mohak Nahta
Atlys
Funded
Jason Yeh (host)
Sponsors
Contact Us / Misc
  • Reach out to us on social or email me directly at jason@fundedpod.com if you have any questions or would like to share your story with us!
  • 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  

The Backchannel
March 21, 2024
7
mins

TBC: Should You Announce Your Fundraise? Pros vs Cons.

Hello & welcome back to The Backchannel! Today, we're diving into a topic that's often overshadowed in the frenzy of fundraising: whether or not to announce your round.Drawing from the hosts own experiences and observations, he'll guide you through some of the complexities involved in making this decision. Join us as we dissect the strategic implications and weigh the pros and cons, offering practical insights for founders charting their course in the startup landscape.See you next week!

Hello & welcome back to The Backchannel!

Today, we're diving into a topic that's often overshadowed in the frenzy of fundraising: whether or not to announce your round.

Drawing from the hosts own experiences and observations, he'll guide you through some of the complexities involved in making this decision.

Join us as we dissect the strategic implications and weigh the pros and cons, offering practical insights for founders charting their course in the startup landscape.

See you next week!


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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

The Backchannel
March 14, 2024
9
mins

TBC: The 7 Forms of Support You Need to Fundraise

The truth is - most first-time fundraisers underestimate all that goes into fundraising and the support you need to make it through.In this episode, Jason touches on 7 different emotional and tactical forms of support every founder should be aware of before jumping into a fundraise.Make sure to watch the full episode so you don't miss any!See you next week on The Backchannel.

The truth is - most first-time fundraisers underestimate all that goes into fundraising and the support you need to make it through.

In this episode, Jason touches on 7 different emotional and tactical forms of support every founder should be aware of before jumping into a fundraise.

Make sure to watch the full episode so you don't miss any!

See you next week on The Backchannel.


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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