Funded

Diversity hasn't always been a major part of the world of venture capital and startups.But founders of different ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds have started entering the market in a big way. As that's happened, it's been amazing to watch the ever-changing landscape of founders starting their own companies.In this special Funded episode, we look back and hear the stories of diverse founders we got to encounter the last two seasons: Erin Carpenter, Isharna Walsh, Nicole Emrani Green, and Kameale Terry.All of them had their own different challenges to overcome, but shared one thing in common: an uncommon drive to succeed. ---------- 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 

Introductions hold incredible power in the world of fundraising. Pulling a good network together and getting to know new people takes effort and time. But you know what? It's a hundred percent worth it. You'll find out why in this episode, where Jason breaks down the importance of introductions - both cold and warm, and how it basically forms the backbone of early-stage fundraising. ----------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

Rejections. Passes. Declined proposals. These things are inevitable in any fundraising story - so as early as possible, it's best to prepare yourself for what's to come. Because no matter how hard you prepare and how much effort you exert, there will still be people looking at you with doubt and criticism.   In this episode, Jason tells the story of one of the most famous ‘pass' stories ever, and how it affected the founder's game plan in continuing forward with his journey. ----------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

Everybody has their own timeline. Some succeed early on their journey, while others go on for so long that they feel that success is too far away. But the thing in entrepreneurship is - you never know what to expect. Things might go your way at a very, very unexpected time. In this episode, Jason shares one of the craziest, fastest fundraising rounds that happened right before his eyes - getting a signed term sheet within just 8 days. ----------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

Mastering your company's narrative is one of the most vital things that you should have when starting any business. It's what sets you apart from all the other competitors that are trying to solve the same problem as you do.   In the world of entrepreneurship, having strategies about what and how you tell your story is necessary so you can be sure that you will really reach your target audience in the best way possible.   In this episode, Jason talks about exactly that - what are these strategies, why do you need them, and how you are going to create them yourself.  ----------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

With all the social media platforms at our fingertips, everyone can stay updated about any and everything.   People consume content on social media on a daily basis - and as we know, individuals nowadays are heavily influenced by what they see online. And as founders/fundraisers, you should definitely take advantage of this.   In this episode, Jason talks about why you should post and share your wins on social media, how it benefits you, and how even small actions can create a huge impact in your fundraising journey.   ----------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

Ever heard of a good drug?And no, what I'm talking about is probably not what you're thinking… it's the fear of missing out.In the eyes of founders and fundraisers, FOMO is a feeling you want potential investors to sense deeply.Curious? Tune in to this episode and hear more about the benefits of using FOMO as a strategy in getting them on board with your company.----------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

No matter how much you prepare for something, there always comes a time when you stumble and fall. Truly, mistakes are inevitable in any circumstance in our lives, but that doesn't mean we can avoid some of them through learning from other people's experiences, right? In this episode, Jason goes into detail about one of the biggest mistakes that founders make in the process of searching for investors, and how you can avoid them. ----------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

Red flags are warnings that there's possible danger ahead - so when you see one, it's best to turn around and change your direction.   In fundraising, there are many red flags that investors look out for. We've already mentioned one of them in our past episodes: a company that is a solution looking for a problem. In this episode, Jason elaborates on a specific red flag he commonly sees in startups, and how you can avoid falling into that trap. ----------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

When should you start taking meetings with investors?If you think you should wait until you've already started raising money to reach out, then you've got it quite wrong.Ever heard of warm-up meetings? If not, then you're in for a treat!In this episode, Jason talks about the importance of getting introduced and talking to investors way before the start of your fundraising journey - and how your approach should look like.  ----------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

Adjusting to whichever investor you're talking to is necessary to get the most out of any conversation. Understanding where they are coming from will help you know exactly what approach to use.In the fundraising world, we all know that every single person is unique - people all have different mindsets, motivations, and end goals, all of which affect their decision-making process.In this episode, Jason expands on the connection between selling and fundraising. Knowing what type of investor you're talking to—and tailoring your approach accordingly—can help you succeed in your fundraising journey.----------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 

Selling. Fundraising. Selling. Fundraising.  Are they related? What's the connection? Is the knowledge of one a requirement for the other?In today's episode, Jason expounds on these two concepts, and how their dynamics work together in the world of fundraising. Look out for some helpful tips that you can apply to your own fundraising process.----------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

Have you ever wondered how essential it is to put in a lot of energy and effort into a process?We sometimes focus so much on our end goal that we tend to forget that the preparation required is equally as important, and sometimes even the highlight of the entire ride.In this episode, let's take a quick look at how important it is to focus on the entire process itself of fundraising, which, when done well, can be transformational for you as an entrepreneur.----------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 

When you're at the point of scheduling meetings with investors, that's when you're most likely to feel overwhelmed.Should you categorize your investors? Who should you talk to first? What if you mess up? How do you know you are doing the right thing?All these questions swamp your mind and all of a sudden, you now have tons of meetings to prepare for.But worry not! In this episode, Jason lays out a critical tip that every fundraiser should know by heart, especially new ones, when it comes to investor meetings.----------  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.

There's always a gray area when it comes to setting the valuation for a business during the fundraising process. The big question is always… WHO? Is it the fundraiser, the investor, or is it agreed between the two? What's the basis? How is it determined? In this episode, Jason shares his take on who should set the valuations and explains why he thinks that way.  ----------  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.

Mastering language has got to be one of the most important psychological tools anyone can utilize and benefit from - including and especially for fundraisers.Speaking and understanding the same language of people you work with can work wonders when it comes to making connections and raising funds.In this episode, Jason talks about the critical importance of learning your investors' language and how vital it is for your process, especially if you want to win at the game of fundraising.----------  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.

One of the most vital processes before facing investors is building the perfect pitch deck. There is a tough balance to find with decks.  You don't want to be too short and  lack the information an investor needs to get excited. You also don't want to be too long and overwhelm the reader with data.   In this episode, Jason talks about pitch decks - particularly, his favorite part of it, appendices - and why it's an important part of your pitch deck. ----------   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.

Are you a problem looking for a solution, or a solution looking for a problem?Pondering on this is vital for entrepreneurs, especially for first timers who are just establishing the core of their business. While it's easy to get lost in the world of entrepreneurship, it's also worth it to spend time thinking about the real “why” of whatever you're working on.In this episode, Jason talks about the difference between these two - a science project and a business.---------- 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.

Distinct insights, actionable steps, and juicy secrets behind the closed doors of fundraising - from an insider who has experienced both investing as a VC and raising money as a founder. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur searching for ways to get started, a first-time founder looking to speed things up, or an experienced fundraiser looking for an edge - The Backchannel's got your back.

We've got some exciting news to tell! Hear the latest updates revolving around our podcast - what's new and what's to come. Stay tuned for the upcoming weeks! 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

Fundraising for software that supports charitable giving started off as a challenge for Grapevine CEO Emily Rasmussen. After unlocking the fundraising story that would gain traction, she ran into another challenge. The year-end holidays disrupted her momentum and threatened to sabotage an exciting round. Emily shares how she weathered the storm and the important lessons she learned about the impact of calendar timing when raising.----------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

Adeel Malick, the co-founder and CEO of Humming Homes, had the perfect background to start a company and lead a fundraise.  Experience at startup studios, an MBA, and stints at top venture capital firms had him setup to knock the first fundraise for his startup out of the water.  When things didn't go as planned, Adeel had to reflect, regroup, and recommit to the process to get his company the seed funding it needed to scale. ----------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

Jack Alton was a startup vet before he was recruited to join Neuro-ID as its CEO in 2016. His requirements to join included headquartering the company in Montana and building a remote first culture. Back then those pursuits were not only rare but considered flaws. 5 years later, they would be come major reasons for Canapi Ventures to preempt Neuro-ID's Series B round. ---------- 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

In 2016, Guy Friedman was a successful startup founder with an exit.  Most would think that would make raising money for his next company SteadyMD a breeze. Instead, none of his prior investors decided to back him and he was on a familiar grind to getting funding. Fast forward to 2020 and Guy was steadily growing his core business when a wave hit in the form of acceleration towards telemedicine.  All of the sudden he was surfing and fundraising became a very very different experience.----------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

Our most  popular Funded interview from Season 1 was an incredible 2-part episode where Sam Corcos, the CEO of levels talked about his scientific approach to fundraising.  As more people ask about Sam and our episode, we decided to remix the 2 episodes into a single episode and add a fun  new debrief to the update you all on how the episode content holds up nearly a year later.  Read on...Much like the "secret master plan" for his company Levels, Sam Corcos openly talks about what he was able to decipher when it comes to the science of fundraising. This is exciting because fundraising approaches have traditionally been shared with tribal knowledge, feel-based language. In this conversation, Sam talks about how how he decided to follow his training as a scientist rather than rely on fundraising folklore. The result was a data driven process that has left even the most experienced investors speechless.  In addition, Sam shares details around a large key to his success - his very large cap table. Afterwards, we discussed specifics around his approach to attracting a $12MM seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz and how newcomers to the sport of fundraising might fare employing similar tactics. We wrap the episode as we always do with a debrief, but this time also include a special guest who had a front row seat to all the action. Thanks to our sponsors DocSend  and Vanta for supporting this!----------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

Parker Treacy created his first successful company in the United States without raising ventures capital. For his second company, he would need to learn two completely foreign languages to be successful as he set out to launch a company in Brazil and fundraise. Eventually, Parker became fluent in both Portuguese and the language of venture capital as he built his business Cobli and raised over $40MM dollars.----------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

Erin Carpenter grew up focused on becoming an entertainer with classical training as a ballerina. Along the way, an embarrassing uniform mishap as a young dancer and continued frustrations throughout her career drove her to embrace an entrepreneurial fire that led to starting Nude Barre.  For this professional dancer, learning the fundraising dance was a struggle. After 10 years of bootstrapping and failing to raise money, she finally figured out the steps and eventually raised Seed capital from the likes of Serena Williams, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Jason Calacanis, and Freestyle Capital.  Listen to learn what helped her find the way and launch the next phase of growth in her business.----------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

Nicole Emrani Green's journey from the rambunctious daughter of Persian immigrants to venture-backed CEO has had many twists and turns. Surprisingly, her first career in psychotherapy gave her some of the tools to help advance herself as a leader and successfully close a $4MM Seed round for her company Givingli. Listen to the story as she describes the way she's learned the startup ropes as an outsider and the feeling of a past funding rejection she's now grown to be proud of.----------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

Matt Pohlson, co-founder and CEO of Omaze, has had one of the most death defying startup journeys ever. Time and time again, his company has been on the brink of death, only to be saved by Matt's persistence and never-quit attitude. While most involved nearly running out of funds, one experience involved his own near death experience as he flatlined on an ER bed with his family surrounding him. Persistence brought him back from the brink and eventually back to Omaze where he used an even stronger belief in their mission to lead a Series B fundraise in March of 2020 just as COVID began impacting the world.-----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

Zach Bruhnke, co-founder and CEO of HMBradley, had a shot at startup glory with his first fintech company Spout. After investor skepticism caused him to throw in the towel, he vowed not to have his own convictions be swayed in future companies. Zach shares how a crazy commitment to the vision with HMBradley as well as a natural approach to building relationships led to both company and fundraising success.-----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

For the three years between her graduation from Y-Combinator to her splashy $50MM Series A raise from Sequoia, Christina Cacioppo and her company Vanta kept a low profile. Back in 2018, they had been working in a space few people were talking about around Silicon Valley. SOC2 compliance for startups hardly got people excited. Then, almost out of nowhere, came the announcement that Vanta had raised $50MM from Sequoia Capital.  Christina shares how she got to this point and how much impact YC had on the process.-----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

Kameale Terry never wanted to be an entrepreneur, but eventually a problem she saw first hand in the electric vehicle industry drew her into starting ChargerHelp! From the beginning, she was less concerned with the hype cycle of startup trends and more focused on what she describes as “good business.” This allowed her to weather the storm of confusing and sometimes conflicting startup advice and the struggle to find a lead to eventually find herself in a super oversubscribed seed round.-----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

Funded Season 2 launches on July 27, 2021. Listen for a sneak preview into what to expect in this exciting new season.

Before starting Yac, Justin Mitchell had zero network in venture capital, didn’t know the insider terms, and was based out of small town Florida. None of this would point to someday raising a Series A round of funding from a top venture capital firm, but that’s what he did.  The key he tells us was focusing on meeting the right people, building great product, and leaning on his thespian roots.Remember to grab the insights pack on this episode at fundedpod.com/yac

Laura Del Beccaro, the Founder of Sora, looks like the most VC-backable, first time founder ever. She went to a top university, was a software engineer at a scaled startup, and even did a stint at a top VC firm. But after pulling together an all-star pre-seed round fairly quickly, Laura found out how difficult fundraising can be when you’re no longer a “hot deal” as she tried to raise her subsequent round. Laura had to dig deep to find the confidence to unlock VC dollars even while her company’s numbers were less than confidence inspiring. Remember to grab the insights pack on this episode at fundedpod.com/sora

This is Funded's first ever Friends & Family Round! With so many listeners asking questions about things they hear in episodes or about the fundraising market in general, we decided to launch this sister show to give more insights with a little help from our friends.In this episode, Russ Heddleston the CEO of DocSend gives us a very unique view into 2020  trends via his company's recently released Startup Index Report. Russ describes how their report leverages aggregated and anonymized data of pitch deck activity to show things like how many investors need to be pitched before successfully raising.  So much of 2020 was a crazy rollercoaster in fundraising and hearing how the data describe it was illuminating.

From the start of our conversation with Sam Corcos from Levels, it was obvious there was too much sauce for just one episode. In this second half of our 2-part series, Sam begins by sharing details around a large key to his success - his very large cap table. After, we discuss specifics around his approach to attracting a $12MM seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz and how newcomers to the sport of fundraising might fare employing similar tactics. We wrap this episode as we always do with a debrief, but this time include a special guest who had a front row seat to all the action. Live Q&A on Clubhouse!! In response to the flurry of questions sent in by curious listeners wanting to know more about Sam (fundraising and otherwise), we've decided to host a live Q&A after show on Clubhouse. We'll be announcing the timing on Twitter so stay tuned!

Much like the "secret master plan" for his company Levels, Sam Corcos openly talks about what he was able to decipher when it comes to the science of fundraising. This is exciting because fundraising approaches have traditionally been shared with tribal knowledge, feel-based language. In this conversation, Sam talks about how how he decided to follow his training as a scientist rather than rely on fundraising folklore.  The result was a data driven process that has left even the most experienced investors speechless.  Part 1 of this 2-part series focuses on how he built the base for his approach and features inspiration for 2021 goal setting.

Have you ever heard the advice “dress for the job you want not the one you have”? For Topper Luciani, that was tough advice to follow because it meant wearing an old t-shirt from Goodwill even while asking fancy venture capitalists for millions of dollars.  In this episode, we hear how Topper learned the importance of being your authentic self while raising money and how he somehow managed to save his company after one of the most devastating curveballs in fundraising - a pulled term sheet.

Lindsay McCormick, founder of Bite Toothpaste Bits, wants you to know there are alternatives to taking venture capital. She created a multimillion dollar business and funded its growth almost entirely through customer purchases. This show is an honest discussion about the alternatives to venture capital. You’ll learn why even though Lindsay’s email inbox is full of investment offers, up till now she's turned them all away. 

Anthemos Georgiades, founder of Zumper, perfected his pitch the way most founders do: through trial and error. This show is about storytelling and all the elements that go into telling the perfect fundraising story. Anthemos deals with a difficult start to his tale having to manage “signaling risk” as well missteps with his deck and an overall lack of focus on the way to raising over $140 million dollars.

Investors like patterns. They’re either explicitly or subconsciously motivated to back businesses that look, sound, or feel familiar and comfortable. That’s why Isharna Walsh, founder of sexual wellness app Coral, had such a daunting task. For her, raising venture capital meant guiding investors through the uncomfortable task of talking about their sex lives and convincing them to back an unfamiliar profile, a minority woman with no ivy league degrees.

In this trailer, hear the background for what will be an amazing season of conversations that show what it takes to get a startup funded.Intriguing quotes from the founders of Zumper, Fama, TRNDS, and more tease some of the topics that will be covered.