Investor Connect Podcast

The Role of AI and Data in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup fundraising begins with family and friends and then expands to the founders' network. In that part of the fundraising, founders will engage those they know well. Half the reason these investors join the round is to help the founder. After this group is exhausted, the founder draws the circle wider and starts to encounter investors they don't know. These investors will be more difficult to close because they don't have a relationship with the founder already. They will make an investment decision based solely on the merits of the business. For this stage, founders will need to use AI and data tools to identify the most viable investors for their deals. Founders will need to find those investors who fit their deals based on revenue, sector, and stage. AI and data analytics are key tools to use in this part of the fundraising. AI can search large amounts of data to identify the right investors to pursue. The funds flowing through the industry are moving every day.   It's important to have the latest data on who has dry powder and who may be looking to invest. Consider the use of AI and data analytics for your startup fundraising.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

On this episode of Investor Connect, we are joined by Ron from South Highland Ventures for an enlightening presentation on search funds, touted as the best-performing asset class in the world. Ron dives deep into the 40-year-old model initially developed by Stanford and Harvard, highlighting its relevance and success today in addressing the $10 trillion succession challenge faced by businesses globally. He emphasizes the robust returns and lower risks associated with search funds compared to traditional venture capital or private equity, detailing how they capitalize on small, stable companies with strong profit margins that lack succession planning but have immense growth potential. Ron also shares insights into the distinctive features of South Highland Ventures and its collaboration with Nova Stone Capital Advisors in building a streamlined deal flow machine, underscoring the firm's innovative and scalable approach to search fund investments. For more updates and information, connect with Ron through the contact details provided, and join us next time on Investor Connect.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of

Bring Three Stats for Your Startup Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it's important to showcase the key numbers behind your business. Here are three statistics for your startup fundraise: Revenue traction -- show what traction you have so far including the dollar amount and the growth rate. Customers need to know where you are on the revenue-generating path and how fast it's going.  A 50% annual growth rate is the minimum for a venture investment. Customer pain point -- show how much the problem you are solving is currently costing the customer or the economy. This number needs to be big and in most cases growing.   Customer ROI -- show what value in numbers your customer receives from your product. This could include both productivity improvements and cost reductions.   A good rule of thumb is you want this to be a 10X increase.  The key numbers reflect the problem, the solution, and the startup's effectiveness.  Show these three numbers in your startup fundraising.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Bring Three Stats for Your LP Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Raising funds from Limited Partners requires a track record, an investment thesis, and a competitive advantage. It's important to show you have a track record of successfully deploying capital. Investors want to know what you will be investing in, and is that space growing. Finally, they will look for your competitive advantage in finding and closing deals. In raising funds from Limited Partners, add these three statistics to your pitch: Track record -- have your IRR, MOIC, or TVPI numbers available to show. This is most often an IRR number or MOIC. If you haven't deployed funds and don't have a track record, it's best to build one before launching a fund. Target market growth rate -- show the growth rate in the market sector you are targeting. Investors invest in growth, so look for a growth sector in your target market. Competitive advantage -- investors want to know what you have that they don't in deploying capital. This could be a network of CEOs who bring you deals and help you diligence them. Call out the number of people in that network and something about them, such as their geographic location or their market sector. Use these three numbers to anchor your pitch.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Raising Funding in Downtimes Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising goes through the same cycles as the stock market, When the stock market is going up it's easier to raise funding. When it's going down it's harder. Raising funding in down times requires more creativity. Here are some ideas on how to raise funding in a down market: Use more grant funding to fill in the gaps. The grant funding from the government continues regardless of the market. Consider crowdfunding. For smaller amounts of funding, this can help. Use revenue-based funding for a portion of the raise. These funds must be paid back but are non-dilutive to the cap table. Consider low-end angel funding in which accredited investors write $25K checks. For the right valuation, angel investors will come into the deal. In addition to these funding options, consider customer funding. This requires building custom projects for specific customers but if done right can continue to build out the platform and pay the bills. On the strategic side, shift from a high burn rate to a low burn rate and grow organically for a while.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Show How Your Valuation Is Already Achieved Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Valuation is a key factor in a startup's fundraising. Most startups show an aspirational valuation and then spend the pitch trying to convince investors it's appropriate. Most use their forecasted revenues to justify their valuation. Forecasts hold little value to the investor and often leave them unconvinced about the proposed valuation. Instead of using revenue, articulate the values already in the business. Highlight the intellectual property and its value by showing comparables with other companies. Show recent exits in which the IP was a central part of the valuation. Show the other assets in the business, such as the team and their track record. Call out the customers that you have already won. Show the product and what has been built so far, and highlight the revenue generation underway. In raising funding, show that your valuation has already been achieved. Make the case by showing specific values already in the business that add up to the proposed valuation. Futures hold little value to the investor.  Focus on what's in the business today.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The Four Phases of a Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The successful startup pitch goes through four phases. Start by capturing their imagination. This could be a bold statement, such as we can solve cancer within ten years. This sets the context for the problem to be solved. Next, show your solution and how it will achieve the goal just set forth. Show how the solution works at a high level. Highlight the value proposition you have. Next, make the case that shows how your business will be successful. This includes the team and what they bring to the table. Highlight the current traction. This shows product and market validation -- the product works and customers will pay for it. Finally, give the investor a call to action. Instead of asking for the funding today, encourage them to learn more about the business. This is basically asking for the next meeting.  Invite them to join the conversation. There's a natural arc to good pitches that takes the investor through your story. Consider how to implement these four phases in your startup pitch.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, we sit down with Ram Kolluri, Founder and Chief Investment Strategist at Expo-Wealth based in Austin, Texas. Ram shares his insights on navigating today's wealth management landscape and how he's helping high-net-worth individuals access institutional-grade strategies. We talk about balancing traditional portfolio construction with exposure to private markets, and how families are increasingly looking for both performance and purpose. As Ram puts it, it's not just about doing well — it's about doing good while doing it. Ram dives into how Expo-Wealth approaches alternative investments like venture capital and private equity, especially in a world where clients demand real-time access, personalized dashboards, and responsiveness at the speed of a text message. He also discusses the evolution of investor education and how overcoming the fear of illiquidity is more about trust, communication, and introducing alternatives gradually. As the next generation steps up to manage family assets, Ram sees a growing appetite for impact, AI-driven opportunities, and proven sponsors with deep track records. The firm's role, he says, is part educator, part fiduciary, and sometimes even part psychologist. Looking ahead, we explore where the wealth management space is going — from the massive $50–60 trillion wealth transfer ahead to the increasing demand for transparency, digital integration, and high-touch relationships. Ram also hints at the next chapter for Expo-Wealth: blending high-caliber investment access with seamless technology and client empowerment. Visit Expo-Wealth at Reach out to at ,   , and on 6099154338   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Researching Investors for Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before launching your fundraiser campaign, make sure to research your investor prospects. Start with those who invest in your startup stage and sector. It's pointless to reach out to investors who have an investment thesis completely out of scope for your startup. Once you have the investors who invest in your sector and stage, drill down to those who invest in your type of business. Healthcare, for example, is a broad sector with many subsectors and applications. Look for those who fund your type of business. Next, check their geographical preference. Some investors only invest in their local region, while others invest nationally. Next, look for the right point of contact. Who is the one most likely to have an interest in your deal? VC funds often have multiple general partners. Look for the right partner who is the best point of contact. In the initial call, make it a two-way conversation. Ask questions about what the investor looks for in a startup, as well as answer their questions. This demonstrates you are working with them to make sure this is a good fit. Consider these points in researching and contacting investors for your fundraising.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Fundraising Tips Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most founders are raising funding for the first time. They often miss the nuances that come from experience. For the second go-around, founders are often much smarter about the process. Here are some fundraising tips from those who have done it: Start your outreach to investors six months in advance of actually raising funding. Put your investor network on alert that you will be raising funding in the near future. This makes it easier to set up pitches when the campaign kicks off. Practice your pitch with existing investors well before you approach the most important ones. Make sure you have practiced it and had enough questions from the initial investors to work out the kinks. Show investor validation of your fundraise. Make clear that other investors are reviewing the deal, and some have already come in. This signals there is competition for the round. Choose investors based on their fit to your business first, and valuation and terms second. The valuation and terms are short-term negotiating points. A good investor-founder fit will be a factor throughout the life of the company. Consider these tips in your upcoming fundraiser.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Conversion of a Convertible Note Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are three ways a Convertible Note converts to equity. The note matures and converts to equity on the maturity date. The startup raises a follow-on funding round in equity that counts as qualified funding. The startup sells the business. In each case, the note converts to equity. If the convertible note does not have a maturity date, then it can stay in debt for the life of the note. This may be a problem for the startup as the investor could demand their funds back. Most convertible notes have an interest rate, so that would be an additional amount on the demand. In signing a convertible note, check to see if all the conversion provisions are clearly laid out. If there's no maturity date, then ask to put one in. These are most often at year 3 or 5. Convertible notes make for a great way to start a fundraiser. Make sure you know the potential outcomes for the convertible note you are signing.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

How a VC Fund May Shut Down Early Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles. There are some conditions in which the VC fund may shut down early. Here's a list of reasons: Key persons -- the Limited Partners invested in a fund that has a certain number of key persons.  If the number falls off, then the fund may suspend activities until a replacement is found. The fund managers are found to be liable for fraud or gross negligence. In this case, the fund may shut down and return the funds to the Limited Partners. In other cases, the fund may replace the managers and continue on. Limited Partners want to shut down the fund -- the market may have changed, or the investment thesis may no longer be viable. In this case, the Limited Partners could demand their funds returned. Alternatively, the Limited Partners could vote to fund a new investment thesis. The VC fund managers may be found to have a conflict of interest. The Limited Partners could demand the return of their uninvested capital. Consider these points in running or investing in a VC fund.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Lifecycle of the VC Fund Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles. At a high level, the VC fund takes in capital from the Limited Partners and deploys the first half of the funds in years 1 to 3. The follow-on rounds are deployed in years 4 to 5.  The fund collects returns in years 6 to 10. There may be early failures, in which case the allocated funds for the follow-on round are still available. The funds not yet deployed or allocated are called ‘dry powder'. This is the amount of funds available to deploy for new companies. Investments made during the latter half of the fund are made in later-stage companies, which can achieve an exit faster. Some portfolio companies fail to exit during the ten-year window. The team must decide whether to delay the exit to gain a larger return or sell the company to remove it from the books. During the latter half of the life cycle, the VC team helps the companies grow and then achieve an exit. This is where the VC's network comes in. A good fit for a VC is a company in which they can help find additional team members as well as follow-on funding. Consider the life cycle of the VC fund and how it impacts the time spent by the VC team.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

, and to explore funding opportunities with 10 Capital, visit .   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .   

How To Answer “What's Your Timeline?” Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors often ask startups raising funding, “What's your timeline?” They want to know if the process is so far along that it's too late for them to join. They have limited resources and can't afford to chase a deal that will close before they can complete it. Investors are also looking for an indication of interest from other investors. The founder's answer to the question must address these concerns. Here's an example response: We have meetings lined up for the next three weeks. We're seeing investors go into diligence. We have more investors showing interest.  So we hope to wrap up in the next six to eight weeks. This shows the prospective investor that there's interest in the deal. The team has a process for finding investors, pitching them, and closing the investment. Six to eight weeks is an ideal time for closing, as it gives the investor enough time to run diligence. More than eight weeks means the investor can procrastinate. Less than six weeks, and the investor may not have enough time to run their own process. Show prospective investors that others are interested in the deal and there's still time to get in.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

How To Optimize for Efficiency Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup fundraising, capital efficiency is a key criteria for investors. They look to see how efficiently the startup uses capital. This most often shows up in revenue per employee, cash burn rates, and use of funds. To achieve higher capital efficiency, focus on setting up systems within the business. Systems always achieve a higher productivity rate. Design the work to create a flow process. Some startups design the work to be resource-efficient.   In this case, each resource, such as a team member, is at full capacity. The better process is to design the system to provide flow efficiency. That means the system is optimized for the flow of work rather than the use of each team member. Determine the core work that must be done and design the team to work in an efficient flow. Consider the flow of operations in your startup and set up the system so the work gets done in the most efficient manner.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Choosing an AI Model for Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is becoming a standard part of every startup's business. It can be used to improve the startup's operations. And it can also be used to enhance the startup's product line. The startup must choose an AI model that fits their needs. There are large AI models and there are small AI models. Large models are provided by deep-pocketed companies with a considerable investment of resources into it. Large models work well for those who don't want to build their own. This avoids having to hire a team of people to build out the model. Small models are developed in-house and work well for those who want to build their own. Small models give the startup more control over their data and can be tuned to their requirements. Those in vertical niches find small models ideal for their application. For business operations, most startups adopt a large model as they look primarily for operational efficiency. For product lines, some will choose the small model as it fits better their product and customer application.  Consider how you will use small and large AI models in your startup.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The Burn Multiple Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The burn rate is a key metric for high-growth startups. This is the amount of cash being spent over and above the cash revenue taken in. The Burn Multiple is the amount of cash being burned divided by the net revenue. This metric indicates how fast the money is being spent compared to the growth rate. For startups that are in high-growth mode, this metric ranges from 1 to 5X. The lower the multiple, the more efficient the business. In diligencing a startup, calculate the Burn Multiple to check the capital efficiency. Most healthy startups run in the 1x to 2x range. Anything below 1x is outstanding. Anything above 2x is in the questionable zone. Anything above 3x is in the danger zone. The Burn Multiple by itself doesn't give the full story. But it does indicate the capital efficiency of the business or the lack thereof. Calculate the Burn Multiple for your business.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The Benefit of Investing in Tranches Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tranching the investment means breaking it down into tranches or rounds.  Tranche comes from the French word meaning slice. Investors find it advantageous to break their investment into rounds. In the angel world, many investors break their allocation to a startup into two rounds.   The first round goes in at the beginning of the investor engagement. If all goes well, then the investor puts in the second round. If things don't go well, then most likely they skip the second round of investment. This reduces the investor's risk in the deal. It can also optimize the investor's return. The startup goes through ups and downs. During the down cycles, investors with dry powder can find more favorable terms. It's a good idea to save some of the allocation for an opportunity that provides better terms for the investor. As an investor, consider how to tranche your investment into the startup to balance risk and reward.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Lance Tkach, Co-Founder of Printed Technologies. Located in Dallas, Texas, Printed Technologies is leading the charge to revolutionize the home construction industry through the integration of automation, AI, and large-scale 3D printing. With the U.S. facing a shortage of over 7 million affordable homes and traditional construction lagging behind in innovation, Printed Technologies is tackling this crisis by bringing precision manufacturing techniques to the job site—cutting costs, reducing build times, and improving sustainability. Printed isn't just building homes; they're designing and manufacturing the machines that will enable builders across the country to adopt 3D-printed construction at scale. Their homes are fire-, mold-, termite-, and storm-resistant, and their vertical integration with All Metals Fabricating gives them a significant edge in cost control and production capacity. With a pipeline of $2.5 million in early sales activity and proprietary patents secured, Printed Technologies is not just solving a market problem—it's transforming an industry. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to make home ownership more accessible while creating a scalable, high-growth business built for the future.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In flying an aircraft, there's a saying regarding priorities: “Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.” First, fly the plane.   Second, navigate to where you want to go. Third, communicate with others. This prioritizes the pilot's activities. This applies to founders. In the startup world, the founder must Operate, Direct, Communicate. The founder must first and foremost keep the startup running. Then the founder must maintain the direction to go in. Finally, the founder must communicate with others. Fundraising is an important activity, but it rests on the foundation of the startup running well. Before launching a fundraiser campaign, make sure the operations are in place and can run without the founder for the most part. Also, make sure the business is on track for the direction in which to go. This will free up the founder to run the fundraising campaign, which includes communication with others.  Operate, Direct, Communicate   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Sell Your Business Instead of Shutting It Down Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many startups fail to achieve product-market fit or breakout growth. Founders who decide to move on most often shut down the business. Instead of shutting it down, consider selling your startup. If you have a functioning team, then look to competitors who may want an acquihire. The team itself can be sold to another company as a working business unit with its own technology base already in place. This provides ongoing employment for the team members. Review the customer list to see which other businesses may be interested in taking over the customer base. Look at other data elements to determine potential value. It's possible another company will buy out the startup for its data generation value. Consider the industry the startup is in. There may be companies that want to enter that industry and are looking for a way in. Most of these options will not bring an outsized return to the founders and their investors. However, it does give the founders a win.   In their next startup, they can say they launched a business and sold it for a gain. This puts the startup into the win column.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

State the Purpose Behind the Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching, start with the Why of the business. Why does this business exist? It's important to state up front the purpose. This is different from the problem to be solved. The purpose is similar to the problem but different. It goes to the heart of why the business exists. It shows the overall purpose of the business and what role it takes. To find the purpose of the business, look at the problem to be solved and find the process that's driving it. For example, a company that makes an app that crowdsources funds for small businesses is solving the problem of growing businesses through funding. The process behind the app is that fundraising takes time and can be difficult. The purpose is to accelerate small business growth by speeding up the funding process. The pitch should start with the purpose, then explain the specific problem to be solved. Follow up with the solution the company offers. The purpose connects the startup to a greater cause. Businesses with a why are stronger and last longer than those that are just making money. Start the pitch with its purpose.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The Downside of SAFE Notes Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. SAFE Notes were designed to simplify the investment process. By removing many of the terms found in equity agreements, SAFE Notes reduce the complexity of startup fundraising. SAFE notes are similar to a warrant as they give the holder the right to buy shares in the future. There are drawbacks to SAFE Notes as follows: There's no debt component that can be used for payback. SAFE notes require the holder to have a C-Corporation. The SAFE note is listed on the Cap table like an option. There's no maturity date on SAFE Notes, so there's no trigger to convert equity. There's no interest rate.  Over time, this can add additional value to the investor. Many SAFE notes don't have a valuation cap, which can reduce the value to the holder. The presence of additional SAFE notes can reduce the return through dilution. For early-stage funding, SAFE notes are simple to use, but they don't always convert to equity the way investors thought they would. Be sure to understand the SAFE note structure before using it for an investment.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

How To Raise a First-Time VC Fund Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Raising a first-time venture capital fund is hard work. Here are some key steps in raising a VC fund for the first time. Build a track record of successful investing by joining an angel network and making small but profitable investments. Share the deal flow with prospective Limited Partners so they learn your investment thesis. Show the deal flow on a regular basis so they understand the consistency of your network. Share your due diligence with those investors so they see the quality of work you do. Perform market research on an area of interest and share the results with the prospective Limited Partners. Build an investment thesis for how to invest in the area of interest. Showcase the investment thesis in your investing so the Limited Partners understand your methodology. Present a few successful investments to the Limited Partners. By showing them your market research, investment thesis, and track record, the Limited Partners can better understand the value of your work. Ask for an initial investment from the Limited Partners to continue the process already underway. Consider these steps for raising a first-time VC fund.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, we engage with Nathan Monty, co-founder and CEO of Enamel Pure, a company pioneering advancements in dental hygiene through novel laser technology. Nathan walks us through the development of their innovative product, 'Loon,' which uses a laser for non-contact teeth cleaning, hardening, and whitening, paired with advanced imaging to produce an annual oral health report. He emphasizes the inefficiencies and pain points in traditional dental cleaning methods and explains how Enamel Pure's technology not only improves the patient experience but also significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy with AI-driven analysis from a rich dataset of dental images.  The episode covers the company's business model, partnerships with major distributors like Henry Schein and Benko, and their robust intellectual property portfolio. Nathan also discusses their go-to-market strategy and plans for future AI integrations, aiming to create the most comprehensive dental health database. Finally, he shares insights into their successful FDA clearance and ongoing fundraising efforts to expand production and distribution, providing a comprehensive look at Enamel Pure's promising future in modernizing dental care.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. ________________________________________________________________________   For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Fundraising Hones the Founder's Skills Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising brings not only capital to the startup, but it also hones the founder's skills. Here are the skills the founder will improve: Relationship building -- the founder learns how to build a relationship. Networking -- the founder learns how to grow a network and use it to connect with others. Public speaking -- the founder learns how to read the room, adjust the presentation on the fly, and pitch to an audience. Financing -- the founder learns how to read financial statements, financial contracts called terms sheets, as well as cap tables. Board management -- the founder learns how to manage a board and report to those who oversee the business. Evaluate people - the founder learns how to evaluate people to determine what they bring to the company.  This is most often done with investors. Delegation -- the founder learns how to delegate, which comes down to what to outsource and what must be done by the founder. Look at how you can build your skills during the fundraising process.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Negotiating the Valuation Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Negotiating the valuation is a key step in the fundraising process.  Here are some helpful strategies to consider in negotiating the valuation: Understand the comparable valuations in your space.  These are called comps and give you a starting point for negotiating.  The founder should have a proposed valuation to show investors. This could be renegotiated later, but it gives a starting point to the discussion. The key to a successful negotiation is to articulate all the values in the business. VCs will often throw out a lowball offer. This, for the most part, is a negotiation tactic. The VC is testing to see how much the founder believes in their own valuation. Keep the terms on a pre-money valuation basis. If you state the valuation in post-money terms, then any additional funding raised will eat into the founders' ownership stake. Consider the options pool in the negotiation process and how that will be paid for by both the founder and the VC, rather than the founder alone. Finally, don't rush the process or be rushed by the VC. Take your time and consider all the terms.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Put the Why Before the How Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching, it's important to start with the why before diving into the how. The founder often dives straight into how things are going to work. In a biotech startup, the founder will jump to how their therapeutic interacts on a molecular level.  This often puzzles the investor who is not familiar with the science behind the project. To solve this problem, first start with the why.  Why is this important? State up front the meaning of it. For example, start with a challenge such as, “the common cold can't be defended against because it mutates too fast.” State why the therapy can be effective, such as “our therapy prevents the common cold from mutating.” Then dive into the details about how the therapy works. Founders who go straight into the details without stating the challenge to be solved and what benefit the solution brings fail to communicate their value proposition. State the challenge and solution at a high level in layman's terms so everyone will understand it.  Consider these steps in your pitch presentation.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

How To Build a Relationship With a VC Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it's important to make contact and build a relationship with a venture capitalist. Here are some key steps in building that relationship before you need to raise funding: Make contact with the VC. Offer help to the VC in the form of introductions to key people who can help them. Make referrals to other investors, in particular limited partner candidates. Share market research and point out areas where value will accrue. This works particularly well for VCs who want to enter a new market space. Share what other investors are doing based on your research and experience. Invite the VC to join panels and other networking activities as they want to build their brand and get their name out there. Refer quality startups to the VC that actually meet their investment criteria. Avoid wasting the VCs time as it's limited and precious. Make every interaction meaningful. Follow through on your commitments. Consider these steps in building a relationship with a VC. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Use Angels for the Initial Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the earliest stages of the fundraise, angels are often a better fit than venture capitalists. VCs come into the round when there's strong traction and the business is well-formed. Angels are go-to-market investors and like to come in early when the valuations are relatively low. The terms sheet is typically a convertible note or SAFE note, where the valuation is not set. Most angel investors are follow-on investors and are not going to take the time to set the terms and valuation of the deal. They just want to be in the deal and will write a $25K or $50K check to do so. They'll let a lead investor set the valuation in a later round. In the early stages, it can be hard to set the valuation since there are still many unknowns. Valuation is more easily set when the revenue traction is clearly defined. Start your fundraisers with family and friends. As you draw the circle wider, go to angel investors. Bring a solid growth story with some revenue. Revenue demonstrates product and market validation. The product works, and people will pay for it.  Delay pursuing VCs till there is more traction.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Ken from Synaptically, who introduces a groundbreaking personalized therapy for Alzheimer's disease. He discusses their innovative use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) paired with Electroencephalograms (EEG) to achieve unprecedented results in slowing down disease progression. With two successful phase two clinical trials and strong validation from scientific experts, the therapy shows significant improvements in cognition, function, and behavior in patients. Ken explains how their technology targets neuroplasticity, creating new brain connections and preserving brain microstructure and gray matter volume, with minimal side effects. The discussion also touches on Synaptically's strong financials, market strategy, and future prospects, including potential FDA approval and investment opportunities for interested parties.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Key Series A Metrics Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Series A fundraises focus on growth. The goal of the fundraising pitch is not to show that you can sell the product to someone, but rather that you can grow the business. Here are some key metrics to evaluate the startups' growth story: Revenue -- this can be done on a month-over-month, quarter-over-quarter, or year-over-year basis. Focus on net revenue. Revenue model -- this could be subscription, transaction fees, fees for service, or more. Focus on how much of the revenue is recurring or repeating. Customer concentration -- this measures how much revenue comes from a handful of customers. Compare the revenue from the top 3, 5, 10, and 20 customers to see if there's too much concentration. Gross margin -- measures the difference between the net revenue and the cost of goods sold. The healthier the margins, the more resilient the business. CAC:LTV -- this ratio compares the cost of customer acquisition to the lifetime value of the customer. For a Series A company, this should be 1:5 or 1:7. Focus on these key metrics in evaluating a Series A company.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Uncapped SAFE Notes Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. SAFE notes are commonly used in startup fundraises. They most often come with a valuation cap. This means the valuation will not rise above that cap no matter what the priced round that follows. For an investor, an uncapped SAFE note can reduce the return on the investment tremendously. Some founders offer a discount only on the SAFE note to provide a return. The investor gets the discount amount as their return based on the next valuation round. While this may sound attractive, it takes the potential unlimited upside off the table for the investor. It's best for the founder to set a valuation cap for the SAFE note and provide the full return potential to the investor. In setting the valuation cap, use the pre-money valuation one would expect if it were a priced round. While the valuation cap does not have to be exact, it will give some comfort to the investor. Some founders spend a great deal of time trying to sell investors on uncapped SAFE notes. Their time is better spent closing prospective investors and finding new investors.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Fundraising Requires a Process Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising is a complex problem that requires ongoing focus and effort over a period of time. It is not just one check or milestone but rather many. Fundraising requires a process Here are some key steps in setting up a fundraiser: Set up a sales-like funnel for tracking the investors and the process steps. Consider the steps for each part of the fundraising process, including researching the investor, gaining an introduction, and engaging the investor. Prepare your investor documents before launching. This includes the pitch deck, the terms sheet, and the data room. Build a list of connectors and networkers to engage in the process. Spend time researching the investors, including talking with their portfolio companies. Evaluate each investor for their propensity to invest. Update the investors systematically and consistently. Always be looking for new investors to bring through the funnel. Run your fundraisers as a campaign. This requires a message, an audience, and the engagement of the two. Dedicate full time to it. Consider these steps in setting up your fundraising process.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Investor Introductions – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investor introductions can be helpful in connecting with new investors. Here is an example of a good introduction: I notice this investor funded a company with the same business model, sector, and metrics as mine.  I'm coming to your area next week. Can you make an introduction? This shows there's a match between the startup and the investor. Here is an example of a bad introduction: I'm in the area this week.  Who do you know that I can meet? This shows there's no match between the startup and the investor.  Here is an example of an ugly introduction: Can you introduce me to a brand-name VC? This shows no match between the startup and the investor, and it demonstrates vanity on the part of the founder.  In making an introduction, include the reason why there's a match, the purpose of the meeting, and how best to make an introduction. Offer content for the introduction. Finally, offer to return the favor.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Showing Traction at the Seed Level Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. At the seed stage, the product is just going into the market. The customer engagement is beginning. Here are some steps to show traction at the seed level: Show signs of repeatability. This can come in several forms as follows: Customers are using the product repeatedly. Show daily, weekly, and monthly active uses. Customers are buying the product repeatedly. Show the number of customers making repeat purchases. Show a repeatable process for acquiring new customers. This could be a sales funnel with a repeatable process for acquiring and closing. Show partners providing leads repeatedly. Show qualified leads coming from the sales funnel repeatedly. Also, virality is a good measure at the seed level. Show how many customers are referrals from existing customers. This demonstrates that customers are happy with the product and tell others about it. In short, the startup has business processes in place for acquiring and retaining customers, and it's working.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin welcomes Brian to discuss emerging opportunities in deep tech spaces. Brian emphasizes life sciences and healthcare technologies, highlighting investments needed to innovate and control costs. He points out the inefficiencies in the current healthcare system and the potential for AI-driven remote patient monitoring to shift care from hospitals to homes. Additionally, Brian identifies robotics, automation, and energy management technologies as other promising areas for deep tech advancements. The conversation also touches upon the commercialization of university innovations and proprietary IP management, shedding light on how startups can navigate these aspects effectively. The discussion wraps up with Brian's views on the future of alternative energy, particularly the significant role nuclear technology might play amidst growing global energy demands. In the second part, we transition to Chris, who presents on ATE Technology, a FinTech company focused on collections and recovery software. Chris delves into the company's journey, market strategy, and future plans, emphasizing their growth and innovative solutions. ATE Technology has demonstrated strong revenue growth and proven products that address the needs of banks and credit unions. Chris explains how their SaaS-based solutions provide compliance and efficiency in managing disputes and collections, touching on the company's impressive client base and strategic partnerships. The presentation also highlights the management team's extensive experience in the FinTech industry and outlines their plans for leveraging AI to further enhance their offerings. An engaging Q&A session follows, providing deeper insights into ATE Technology's business model, investment opportunities, and potential exits. The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to reach out for further discussions and explore potential collaborations.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The MicroVC Pitchdeck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. MicroVCs need to raise funding to invest in startups, just as startups need to raise funding for their own business. For MicroVCs raising funding, consider these points in building the pitch deck: Call out two to three trends in the market. Highlight the insights to be gleaned from those trends. State the investment thesis to show the criteria for investing in a startup. Show the strength of the team and their ability to execute on the investment thesis. Show the community the team has and how it helps them source deals. Call out the resources the team has for vetting deals. Demonstrate the competitive advantage the team has in winning the best startups. Finally, show the track record from past investments by the team. It helps to show a portfolio company as an example.   Include how the team found the deal and why the fund invested. Call out why the startup chose to take funding from the MicroVC. End with the value the team provided to the startup. Investors care little about the general record of similar funds. Each fund is unique, so the investor wants to know how this fund will be successful. Include these elements in your MicroVC pitch deck.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Investor Access to Customers Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the diligence process, investors may want to talk with the startups' customers. Their goal is to determine how well the product works and how committed they are to the startup's solution. This can be a sensitive topic for founders as their customer relationships are highly confidential and often kept close to the chest. It's best to have a few customers who will talk with investors and give them a positive review of the product and the company. This can be accomplished by providing great service and, in some cases, an additional discount. This can be a negotiated point between the founder and the customer. The customer often asks for a discount, so the founder counters with an additional ask, such as taking interviews from prospective investors. Keep the more sensitive customers off the list. Also, make the customer interviews the last step in the diligence process. The founder should continue the negotiations with the investor by indicating that if the customer passes the investor's test, then the investor commits to funding. This prevents too many investors from contacting the same customers with only a potential investment on the table. Consider these steps in handling the investor interaction with the startups' customers.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

The CEO Leads the Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a fundraiser, the CEO should lead it by setting the strategy and engaging investors. This doesn't mean the CEO must do everything by themselves. It does mean that the CEO does the pitching and investor follow-up. CTOs and CFOs can be helpful, but not by pitching the investor. The investor wants to hear from the CEO as they want to know more about them. Can they communicate well? Do they have a clear vision? Do they know their business well enough to cite the growth numbers? What is their story? Do they have all the key elements lined up to be successful, such as a great team, a solid product, and a large target market? Others can help in building the pitch deck, researching the investors, and lining up investor pitches. Advisors and investors can help by making warm introductions to other investors. They can coach on fundraising strategies. They can also help make decisions around oversubscribing fundraising rounds and other key points. Make sure the CEO is signed up to lead the fundraising round, but line up additional support throughout the process.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Non-Dilutive Funding Options Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup funding comes in two forms: dilutive and non-dilutive. Equity funding is dilutive in that the fundraising reduces the ownership of the founders. Debt is non-dilutive in that the fundraise doesn't change the founders' ownership. Here's a list of non-dilutive funding options. Loans -- these tend to be short-term loans from a bank.  Grants -- these are most often acquired from government agencies that make grants to startups to foster innovation. Rewards/prepay crowdfunding -- this generates funding for startups in the form of prepayment for a product to be delivered later. Licensing -- funding comes in the form of licensing the technology to other companies who use the technology in their product. Tax credits -- funding comes in the form of tax breaks, such as an angel tax credit offered by many states. Factoring -- funding comes in the form of short-term loans for manufacturing the product. Venture debt -- a form of loan that uses the startups' raised capital as collateral. Subscription-based financing -- loans to startups with recurring revenue that use the subscription revenue as collateral.  Consider these non-dilutive funding options for your startup.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

When To Consider Venture Debt Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup funding, there is venture capital and venture debt. Venture capital takes an equity stake in a startup in return for funding. Venture debt makes a loan to the startup for that funding. Both have their place in the startup ecosystem. Venture capital comes in at the early stage of the business as the startup needs funding but has no revenue to pay it back. Venture debt comes in at the later stage of the startup because the business has revenue with which to repay the funding. Venture capital launches the business, but venture debt continues the growth. As the startup grows from the early stage to the later stage, equity becomes worth a great deal more. At the later stages, the founders calculate the value of their equity and compare that to the cost of a loan.  Dilution in the form of equity funding becomes expensive to the founders. Founders turn to venture debt when the dilution from the funding costs more than the loan repayment. Consider the use of venture debt in replacement of equity funding from venture capital for your fundraising.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin, CEO of 10 Capital, introduces co-host Kat DeLillo and special guest Brian Wood of Wave Ventures. Brian delves into the innovative approach of Wave Ventures in partnering with universities to commercialize intellectual property. He shares the backstory of Wave Ventures' collaboration with Baylor University and how this partnership successfully accelerated the university's research status to R1 in record time. Brian outlines their unique model which allows Wave Ventures to hold over 80% equity in their startups, and how they strategically place business experts to guide these deep tech innovations from conception to market. The discussion covers various successful projects, including advances in digital display technology, novel ventilator systems, and significant improvements in propeller design for drones and aircraft, all sourced from university partnerships. Brian also shares personal anecdotes about his unexpected journey into the venture capital space, highlighting his background in medicine and previous success in the entrepreneurial world. This episode provides a comprehensive view of how Wave Ventures is not only financing the next generation of deep tech startups but also de-risking these investments to secure substantial returns. For more information on Wave Ventures' projects and their innovative investment strategies, stay tuned to Investor Connect. To engage with Wave Ventures and learn more about their upcoming initiatives, please visit their website and explore their wide range of high-potential startups transforming deep tech landscapes.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. ________________________________________________________________________   For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

How To Stand Out From the Crowd Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it helps to stand out from the crowd of other startups pitching. Most founders will give the standard pitch, often with slides in the same order. Here are some key pointers to make your startup stand out. Show your business model in unit economic terms. Show your growth story with a chart that goes up and to the right at a 45-degree angle. This demonstrates there's a growth story happening in your business. Point out the recurring and repeating revenue streams you already have. Show the skill set in its entirety that your team brings to the table. List the team's exits and other performance wins. Show your business with numbers that the investor can digest. Choose three compelling metrics and show them in the presentation. The investor will have a hard time remembering more than three, so choose the best. Show the customer engagement with your product in terms of daily, weekly, and monthly active users. Show how you have figured out customer acquisition and its repeatability. Show your ideal customer profile.  Make it clear you know who you want. Consider adding these points to your presentation.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Show the Business Model Unit Economics Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Early-stage companies pitching investors often have little revenue traction. In place of traction, show how the business model performs on the unit economic level. Calculate the cost of acquiring a customer and the expected lifetime value of that customer. Show the ratio between the two and make a note of it. Show how your business model is profitable at the unit economic level. This will resonate with investors who seek working business models. Discuss the variability of the costs and how the costs will scale with the business. Make a note of the gross margins and the profit margins at the early stage. Some investors judge the business based on the margins and the variability of costs. This allows the startup to ride the economic waves of good times as well as bad times. Show how the business is close to breakeven already. Note how few customers it will take to reach break-even. Show how the business is profitable at the very early stages. Show the business model in unit economic terms when pitching to an investor.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Raising Funding in a Down Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The best time to start a new business is during a down market. Labor is plentiful. The competition is on their heels. Yet, customers are still looking for a solution to their problem. In a down market, it can be even more difficult to raise funding than in an up market. The outlook is gloomy, and uncertainty about the future hangs in the air. Here are the key steps to raise funding in a down market: Bring your A-game to the table. Show all the values in the business, including a strong team and a large target market. Also, show your key insights into the customer problem and your unique solution. Show initial interest and traction with customers. Highlight the robust margins in the business. Talk about the short timeline to break even. If your business requires a long timeline and has thin margins, rethink your business model. Investors look for robust margins and short runways to profitability. Show how the business is up and running and stable, and can weather uncertain economic conditions.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

What Angels Look For Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angel investors are not professional investors in the same way as venture capitalists. Angel investors are typically successful business people who want to invest in startups. The old angel saying is, they want to make a little money, do a little good, and have a little fun. They often have a broad or general investment thesis.   They don't focus on one sector or niche in most cases. They look for startups that are solving a big problem with a differentiated solution, and led by a strong team with experience. They look for product validation and market validation. The product works, and people will pay for it. Most importantly, they look for startups demonstrating the growth story. The revenue is growing, and the startup is making good progress on building the business. There needs to be a large potential reward but it doesn't have to be 100X as in the case with many VCs. They avoid companies that need to raise a large amount of additional capital, as this will dilute them. They get excited about an opportunity that has recently reached an inflection point.   This could be closing a lighthouse customer, launching the final version of their product, or hiring a team to accelerate sales. In raising funding, position your deal for angel investors with these care abouts.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

First Meeting With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. After a number of calls with a prospective investor, there comes the first meeting in person. Here are some key steps in running that meeting: Introduce yourself and your team. Show the market you are pursuing. Present your solution. Show your sales process and how it works. Explain your go-to-market strategy. List the milestones you plan to achieve with the funds raised. Define the fundraising status, including the amount, terms, and how much has been raised so far. Make the presentation a collaborative effort, taking questions along the way to ensure everyone is tracking with you. Answer questions directly and to the point.  If the question begins with How many or How much then the answer should be a number. If the question begins with When, then the answer is a time or date. Stay on topic and avoid long, meandering stories. Finally, come prepared knowing your numbers. Consider these points when preparing for your investor meeting.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Alan Foreman, the CEO of Be Secure, who discusses the transformative journey of his company in the realm of heart health. Alan shares that he founded Be Secure nine years ago after a lengthy career in Accenture's Life Sciences division. Currently, the company is on a $12 million growth raise to commercialize its breakthrough heart health technology, which received FDA clearance recently. Be Secure focuses on making preventive rather than reactive heart health solutions, leveraging their powerful, device-agnostic software that offers high accuracy ECG readings in consumer and medical devices alike, such as the latest versions of the Whoop and Fitbit devices. Alan elaborates on how the recent challenges faced by Philips, a significant player in heart monitoring technology, present both a testament to the need for better solutions and an opportunity for Be Secure to make a substantial impact on the market. Alan details the company's innovative use of cybersecurity experts and detailed signal processing to develop technology that bridges consumer wellness and medical-grade ECG technology. He highlights how Be Secure's cloud-based and on-device solutions offer transformative accuracy and efficiency in heart monitoring, even earning the interest of major insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield. The conversation turns to the scalability and swift deployment of Be Secure's solutions in medical environments, emphasizing how their data quality can accelerate and improve diagnosis in cardiologists' workflows. Alan stresses the importance of their upcoming scale-up and commercial focus, particularly in filling the funding gap to expedite the deployment of their remarkable technology in the healthcare space. We also learn about Be Secure's financials and investment strategy, which involves contributions from venture capital and venture debt providers. Alan emphasizes ongoing discussions with top medical companies and the anticipated rapid revenue growth fueled by the latest FDA clearance. The episode wraps with Alan addressing some practical questions about scaling, design timelines, and the lifecycle of deals with their partners, giving a comprehensive view of Be Secure's promising future. For more updates and opportunities to engage with Alan and Be Secure, stay tuned to Investor Connect.    Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Early Stage Traction Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the very early stage of the life of a company, traction can be more than just revenue growth Here are some key traction points to look for. The founder has an idea. The founder has an idea and a pitch deck. The founder has an idea, a pitch deck, and an MVP or minimum viable product The founder has an idea, a pitch deck, an MVP, and a customer. The founder has an idea, a pitch deck, an MVP, and a customer with revenue. The founder has an idea, a pitch deck, an MVP, and a customer with revenue that is growing. The founder has an idea, a pitch deck, an MVP, a customer with revenue that is growing, and a repeatable process for signing up customers. By breaking the early stage into phases, one can better understand if the startup is making progress. Startup investors look for signs of traction and momentum in the deal before investing. Consider this more nuanced version of traction in assessing very early-stage startups.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .