You raised capital, now what?
So you closed the round. The money is in the bank. Now what? Many founders think fundraising is the hard part, but what happens after you raise is what really […]
Raising at the wrong valuation can kill your startup
Valuation isn’t just a number, it’s a make-or-break decision for your fundraising success. Get it wrong, and you could set your startup up for failure before you even begin. Let’s […]
Equity isn’t free, use it wisely
I see founders make this mistake all the time. Early-stage founders handing out equity too easily, to advisors, early employees, or even small investors, without realizing how much it costs […]
Raising money from VCs shouldn’t be your goal
Instead, focus on building a scalable business. You see… For many founders, raising venture capital feels like the ultimate milestone. Funding rounds get headlines. Investors’ backing seems like validation. Startups […]
DON’T “Raise as much as you can.”
“Raise as much as you can.” may sound like good advice. More money means more runway, more hires, more growth. But in reality, raising too much too soon can hurt […]
More pitches or the right pitches?
“Fundraising is a numbers game, just pitch more” You’ve probably heard this advice before The idea that if you just send your deck to more investors, one of them has […]
The real fundraising timeline
Most founders underestimate how long fundraising takes. They hear stories of startups closing rounds in just a few weeks, assume investors will decide quickly, and expect that a few meetings […]
What goes through investors’ minds when you pitch?
Hint: it’s not about the idea. Most founders think investors evaluate startups based on the idea. They don’t. Investors don’t care if your idea is groundbreaking, clever, or even unique. […]
How does Y Combinator investment work?
Let’s say you open a lemonade stand and you need money to buy lemons, sugar, and cups. A nice investor (let’s call them YC) offers to give you $500 to […]
How I assess a pitch deck
When a founder sends me their pitch deck, my job is simple: Analyze it and see if it’s ready for investors. To do that, I go through a checklist: ✔ […]
Where to raise money for your startup?
Thinking about raising funds for your startup? There are many paths to securing capital, each with its own set of pros and cons. Here’s a breakdown of key funding options […]
Pitching to investors comes down to 1 thing
Pitching to investors is about only 1 thing: ↓ Proving you can execute. At pre-seed and seed, investors aren’t expecting a perfect business. They know: – Things will change – […]