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Always Have a Customer Update 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 show progress with customers. In each interaction with an investor, bring up new information about a customer. Investors care less about how the product works and more about how the customer is engaging with the product. In each update, show new information about the customer interaction. Here's a list of customer updates to consider: A list of care abouts from the customer for a solution. A product specification. The customer's test results of the startup's product. The startup's pitch to the customer to buy the product. The price negotiation for buying the product. The customer's buy rate and retention rate. The customer's comparison of the startup's product with a competitor's product. Additional features the customer wants from the product. How the product fits into the customer's workflow. Investors want to know how well the product works for the customer to understand product-market fit.  Always have a customer update when talking 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 .

Ideal Size of a Due Diligence Team Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Due diligence works best when it's a shared endeavor. It can take a substantial amount of time to diligence a startup. The ideal size of a due diligence team is six people. Here are the key roles and responsibilities of the team: The lead. Takes responsibility for the overall diligence process and typically recruits the others on the diligence team. Sales, marketing, and competition. Investigate the sales of the startup, as well as the marketing strategy and the current competitors. Financials. Reviews the financial pro forma, income statement, and balance sheet to understand the financial health of the business. Product and technology. Reviews the status of the product and the technology underlying it. Team. Reviews the skills of the team and the commitment of each one to see if it meets the needs of the business objectives. Terms sheet. Builds and negotiates the terms sheet, including the valuation. Consider joining an angel network to find others to help with due diligence.   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 .

Good Design Techniques for the Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the primary tool in fundraising. It's important to develop a pitch deck that's clear and engaging. Here are some key techniques to improve the design of your pitch deck: Use graphs and charts to show numbers and data. Increase the impact of the data through charts with bold lines and colors that stand out. Use colors and contrast to highlight key points. The colors should be consistent with the color theme of the deck, which should complement the startup's logo. Choose a font that's clear and legible.  Avoid big blocks of text and break paragraphs down into bullet points. Align the style of the pitch deck with the startup and its mission. Use glyphs and other design elements to communicate the message. Add background images to create additional effects. Show how the product works using a 3 to 4-step sequence. Create a flow in the deck to tell the startup story in a seamless fashion. Consider these steps in adding good design to your 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, host Hall Martin engages with Ron Ondechek Jr., a seasoned investment executive and the founding managing director of South Highland Ventures LLC. With over 15 years of experience and a track record of leading more than 100 transactions totaling over 1 billion dollars, Ron shares insights on South Highland Ventures' investment mandate, deal sourcing, and diligence processes. He discusses the firm's strategic partnerships, including collaborations with family offices like Nova Stone Capital Advisors, to secure proprietary deal flows in the low mid-market acquisition fund sector. Ron emphasizes the importance of aligning motivations, communication, and the ability of entrepreneurs to navigate markets and work effectively as a team to ensure successful investments and growth. Drawing from his extensive experience, Ron also highlights key factors that contribute to consistent value creation and pitfalls that destroy value in venture capital and private equity spaces. The conversation delves into specific strategies for working with under-recognized markets and mid-market companies, the importance of operational improvements, and the structure of search fund acquisitions. Ron also touches on the balance necessary in structuring deals, ensuring fair compensation and alignment of interests among all parties involved. For more insights and to connect with Ron, you can reach him via email or phone as provided in the show notes.    Visit South Highland Ventures LLC at     Reach out to at     _______________________________________________________ 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 .

Garry and Tim discuss the magic of Grand Final week, they chat about some local footy results over the weekend and look ahead to Geelong and Brisbane on Saturday at the MCG. For Feedback, please email joel.brooks@sen.com.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Invest in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Vertical SaaS is a recurring revenue business that focuses on a specific application or a narrow vertical sector. By narrowing the scope of the target application, the startup can focus its efforts more effectively on solving the problem. Here are some key points to consider in investing in a vertical SaaS play: While the target application may be narrow, make sure the market is big enough to support a venture business. A vertical SaaS business starts with a specific application to win a place in a customer's business. Once inside, the vertical SaaS seeks to take on additional applications. Later, the vertical SaaS business can extend to other businesses connected to the customer. The key to a vertical SaaS play is to have a control point in the business, such as the core customer data, or an efficient platform for managing applications, or a technology such as Artificial Intelligence. Once established, the control point opens the door to other areas in the customers' business.  Investors should look for the control point to see how the vertical SaaS play will grow. Vertical SaaS businesses require less capital to launch and scale. This reduces the amount of funding the startup needs to raise. Consider these steps in investing in a Vertical SaaS 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 .

Advisor Shares Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders can find additional support through advisors. Advisors are typically experienced operators who previously ran a startup and now provide coaching and consulting services. The startup brings in an advisor to coach on areas that are unfamiliar to the founder. They often have industry connections, sales experience, or funding contacts.  The advisor should have enough time and experience to provide value to the company. Advisors are compensated with advisor shares. They earn them over time through vesting with their consulting work rather than their investment dollars. Advisors typically aren't in a position to be an employee through lack of time on their part or lack of resources on the startup's part. Compensating with shares incentivizes the advisor to do their best, as they'll receive their payout when the company exits. Equity shares paid to the advisor are typically a quarter to half of one percent of the outstanding shares. These shares vest over a one to two-year period, typically without a cliff.   This means the shares start vesting immediately. It's best to sign one-year agreements and no longer, as the startup will grow and its needs will change.   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 .

Impact of VC on the Entrepreneur Ecosystem Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture capital plays a key role in entrepreneur ecosystems. The VC sits at the nexus of startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While not all startups receive VC funding, most startups seek investment from the VC. Here is how the VC impacts the entrepreneurial ecosystem: Providing funding for startups with venture-level potential. Applying business skills to early-stage startups that may have inexperienced founders. Attracting capital to the ecosystem. This means drawing other investors into the ecosystem to provide funding.  Networking the key players in the community together. VCs foster needed interactions between startups, providers, and investors. Creating new jobs for the ecosystem. Funding creates new jobs that propel the startup forward and grow the ecosystem. Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. The VC catalyzes the development of new products and business models. Venture capitalists help spur the growth of entrepreneurship. Consider attracting key venture capitalists to your entrepreneur ecosystem.   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 Write Concise Investor Updates Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders should keep their investors up to date on the business.  Investor updates on a regular basis are important. Here are some key elements to include in your investor update: Remind the investor what you do in one sentence. Investors often have dozens of startups ongoing, so it's helpful to remind them. Start with the current month's focus for the team. Talk about wins as well as losses. A few bullet points on each should suffice. Next, show the metrics for key areas such as cash, revenue, and product development. Discuss the team by showing who is coming and who is going. Indicate where you need help at this moment. Give a shout-out to those investors who helped you in the past month. This will encourage other investors to contribute. Summarize each topic into one sentence. This gives the investor an overview in a short amount of time. The investor update should show them how they can help. Finally, always be open and honest with the 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin welcomes Uli Chettiapally, a distinguished physician, researcher, and healthcare innovator from Burlingame in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chettiapally shares his journey and expertise in driving physician-led innovation and collaboration through his firm, Innovator MD. He discusses how frontline medical professionals can identify unmet clinical needs and develop scalable solutions with the support of specialized education and networking opportunities provided by Innovator MD.  The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities in funding healthcare startups, the role of AI and data in improving patient outcomes, and the importance of involving physicians early in the innovation process for realistic and effective healthcare solutions. Chettiapally also highlights his new venture, Sirica Therapeutics, aimed at revolutionizing autism treatment, and urges listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for further collaborations.   Visit InnovatorMD & Sirica Therapeutics at   Reach out to at     _______________________________________________________ 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 Challenge With Solo-Founder Startups Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many investors avoid investing in startups with a solo founder. Here are some reasons why: The company is at risk in case something happens to the founder. There's no one there to pick up the business. The lack of additional founders often means the company has limited growth potential. It takes multiple skills and people to grow a business. It takes longer for the startup to accomplish the work because there is only one founder. The solo founder startup has fewer family and friends for funding. Early-stage funding is built on the founders' network.   The fundraising takes longer as there's only one founder to hold the meetings. Multiple founders can cover more ground in following up with investors. The startup has limited resiliency. With more founders comes a stronger base to lead the company. For startups with a solo founder, consider building a more robust team around the founder to avoid these issues.    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 .

Incentives for Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Closing the fundraiser can sometimes be a challenge. In down markets and uncertain economic conditions, investors hesitate to commit. Consider incentives for investors to move the fundraising to a close. Here are some key incentives: Offer advisor shares to investors who invest above a minimum amount. This gives the investor additional shares in return for their support. Negotiate the value of the advisor shares based on the work the investor will provide. Offer warrants to investors who invest within a certain time period. Warrants give the holder the right to additional shares. Finally, consider adding preferences to the terms sheet for investors who come into the round. Preferences give the investor dividends, which in most cases will be accruing rather than paying out. Put a deadline on the incentives to move the investors to action. Consider a deadline in the 1-2 month range. Consider these incentives to close investors to finish the round.   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 Questions You Don't Know Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors ask many questions of startup founders. Founders should know their business and, in particular, their numbers. Sometimes an investor will ask a question that the founder doesn't know. Here are some key steps on how to answer questions you don't know the answer to: First, make sure you understand the question. Probe to find out more about it. If it's a question requiring a simple answer that you don't know, then state you don't have it readily available, but that you will find it for them. If it's a deeper dive question, then break the question down into separate components and open a dialog on the subject. Explain what you know so far. Describe what you're doing to learn more in this area. List what you hope to accomplish with the answer. Invite feedback on what to do as well.   While this may not answer the question in a succinct fashion, it shows how you are approaching the situation. Use the question as an opportunity to show you have a plan. Demonstrate what you have done so far on it.   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 Perform Technical Due Diligence Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors perform diligence on a startup before investing. Most of the diligence focuses on the financial aspects of the business. Technical diligence is just as important. For startups, it's also important to focus on the technical aspects. Here's a list of areas to review for technical due diligence: Architecture Review the technical architecture for scalability and robustness. Check the architecture for fit with the application. Code Review the code for quality and documentation. Are there processes for testing and verification? Security Review the code for security measures. Perform penetration exercises to check its strength. People Interview the technical team for their technical background and skills. See if the skills match the project requirements. Intellectual property Review the intellectual property to see if the key technical features are covered. Consider these steps in performing technical due diligence on a 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 .

Benefits of Family Office Funding Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Family offices bring many benefits over other investor types as a funding source. Here's a list of reasons why family offices should be considered for your fundraising: Family offices have deeper pockets than angel investors. This allows them to make more follow-on investments. Family offices are not tied to a ten-year fund cycle as venture capitalists are. This allows them to be more patient for the exit.  Family offices will fund deals outside the traditional venture model. This provides capital for a wider variety of startups. Family offices typically don't have a Limited Partner base to appease. This allows them to invest at other times in the startup's life cycle. Many family offices have deep experience in business. This gives the startup another source of mentorship for growing their business. Family offices can take the role of a passive investor. This gives the startup the freedom to take the company in the direction they want. Consider these benefits of taking family office funding.   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 Hone Your Deal Selection Process Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors funding startups go through a great number of deals to find the ones to fund. The investor won't know for several months or years if the deal is going to work out or not. The startup's fundraising is typically over after six months or a year.  The investor often brings their personal business experience to the selection process. For startups, this may or may not be the best way to screen startup deals. Markets and technologies change over time, so it's important to keep up to date with one's selection process. Here's how to hone your deal selection process: For the next twenty-five startups, write out which ones you would invest in and why. Do the same for those you would not invest in and state why. Revisit those twenty-five startups three to six months later to find out what happened to them. Compare their outcomes with your written projections.  This will tune your selection process by giving you more factors to consider. From time to time, hone your selection process to find out what's working in the startup world and what is not.   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 Martin welcomes Abe Kwon, a partner at Lowenstein Sandler, LLP, a renowned national law firm with a strong focus on emerging companies, venture capital funds, and investors. Abe Kwon shares his extensive experience as a startup venture capital lawyer and provides key insights into the critical legal considerations for early-stage fundraising, especially regarding venture capital, SPACs, and alternative capital vehicles. The conversation delves into best practices for governance and board structuring as companies grow, emphasizing the importance of trusted legal counsel in navigating these complex waters. Abe Kwon discusses the growing trend of cross-border investments and the complexities early-stage startups face when hiring contractors or employees abroad. He highlights the resurgence of crypto and digital securities, providing his perspective on evolving legal requirements and the importance of staying updated with regulations. The episode also covers strategies for preparing for M&A and IPO events, stressing the importance of having a solid legal framework from day one to ensure smooth exits. Abe Kwon shares lessons learned from challenging deals and offers practical advice for founders in choosing the right legal partner and preparing for due diligence. The discussion wraps up with an exploration of trends in the ESG and impact investing space and how legal frameworks are adapting to sustainability-based capital. Abe Kwon also touches on his involvement in national innovation ecosystems and the impact on local startup communities.    Visit Lowenstein Sandler LLP at Reach out to at ;   _______________________________________________________ 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 KISS Note Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. KISS in the startup world stands for Keep It Simple Security. It's similar to a convertible note. Here are the differences between a KISS and a convertible note: The KISS gives the holder the right to participate in future funding rounds. Convertible notes only convert the current debt into equity. The KISS gives the holder a “most favored nation” clause, which means the holder gets the best terms of any investor in the round. The KISS gives the holder additional liquidation preference rights. Convertible notes give no liquidation preferences. The KISS note is more investor-friendly than a convertible note. In addition, the KISS note provides representation and warranties, which means the founder has disclosed all relevant information and is liable if not. The KISS can be transferred to others without permission from the founder. The KISS, like convertible notes and SAFE notes, is easy to use and simple to apply.  Consider a KISS note for your 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 .

Under Promise, Over Deliver Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, the startup founder should underpromise and overdeliver to the investor. Here are some key areas to apply this: Forecasting.   Most founders overpromise and underdeliver on their sales forecast. Instead of over-promising on the revenue results, forecast a lower number and then show how you exceeded the forecast. Planning. Most founders overpromise on their progress in building products. Instead of overpromising, set a less aggressive goal and show the investor how you are ahead of plan. Hiring. Most founders set an aggressive goal for how many team members they need. Instead of hiring the full headcount, show how you accomplished the goals with a smaller headcount. Fundraise. Most founders set ambitious goals for their fundraisers. Instead of proposing the ideal fundraising timeline, set a lower goal. In the updates to the investor, show how you are ahead of schedule on the raise. Apply these steps to under-promise and over-deliver to the 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 .

How To Use Framing in Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching investors, framing can be used to position the startup as a successful business. Framing is how you structure your message to shape how your audience perceives it. It can be used to generate credibility and overcome objections. Start with a problem statement and a compelling solution. Position the team as credible and trustworthy. Articulate the benefits of the solution throughout the pitch. Show how it aligns with the goals of the investor, which is to make a return. Contrast is a framing technique. Use it to show the difference between the current problem and the promised future of the solution. Start with what you want the audience to think and work back to the solution that creates that result. Positioning is another framing technique. Use it to place your startup as superior by showing the competitive advantage. Use framing in your fundraising pitch to 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 .

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The Myths of Biotech Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Biotech investing differs from tech investing. There's often no revenue traction to assess. The startup must navigate the FDA path while dealing with cutting-edge devices and therapeutics. Here are some myths of biotech investing: Myth 1-Biotech startups are building companies. In many cases, the biotech startup will sell during the clinical trials or at FDA approval. They rarely proceed to launching a business. Myth 2- Biotechs take much longer than tech companies to exit. Most biotech startups exit in the 3 to 5 year range, which is often shorter than tech companies. Myth 3- Regulatory is the key hurdle to overcome. In reality, it's proving the therapeutic works. Most drugs fail in clinical trials and never reach FDA submission. Myth 4-Reimbursement is the key to a successful biotech therapy. In reality, it's showing value to the physician and patient through high efficacy and low toxicity, which is the key to success. Consider these myths in analyzing biotech startups for 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 Close a Strategic Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Strategic investors are large companies that use startup investments to further their business objectives. They rarely invest to make a financial return. They fund startups to stay abreast of new technologies and markets. They often invest in advance of buying the startup. To close a strategic investor funding, consider the following: The investor doesn't care about the market size, competitor analysis, or go-to-market. They care about furthering their own strategic goals. Align the presentation with how the startup will help them reach their objectives. Focus the effort on building products and testing markets that are important to the strategy. Use these tools to gain an introduction to the key people at the strategic level and their priorities. Point out the key value propositions of the startup and where they should look for entry points into the market.  Identify the key decision makers and keep them informed of your progress. Be patient with the corporate process, as it will take time.  There's typically a small number of people focused on funding startups at their company, so don't expect significant resource commitments. Consider these steps in closing a funding round from a strategic corporate partner.    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 Martin speaks with Rachna Dayal, a global health biotech and venture investment expert, founder of Sugati Ventures.  Rachna shares her transition from corporate roles at Johnson & Johnson and Philips to founding and running a venture fund focused on transformative health tech startups. She talks about the major differences between working in large corporations and managing a small VC fund, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and addressing high unmet needs in healthcare through innovative solutions in medical devices and AI-enabled platforms.  Rachna highlights her investment thesis around consumer-first, purpose-led brands, particularly focusing on life-saving devices and enhancing quality of life, and discusses the crucial role of founder-market fit and diverse backgrounds in fostering innovation in the healthcare space. She also touches on current trends such as the rise of AI in healthcare and the impact of economic conditions on venture capital, offering advice for new investors and emphasizing the need for perseverance during tough times in the investment landscape.  Visit Sugati Ventures at Reach out to at   _______________________________________________________ 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 .

Tips on How To Follow Up Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, investor follow-up is the critical work of the campaign. Timeliness is a key factor. Each day that passes without the follow-up degrades the value of the interaction. Here are some tips on how to follow up with investors: After a pitch, set up a follow-up schedule starting with the day after the pitch.   Then repeat the follow-up three days later, one week later, and two weeks later. This keeps the founder top of mind. Each follow-up provides new information about the business and how it is doing. Use the follow-up process to build a relationship with the investor. Set up a system to track investors and plan out updates. Take casual conversations with investors and turn them into coffee meetings to discuss further. Take investor questions seriously and answer the next day. Send a thank-you note to those who made an introduction and the results that came from it.  Timeliness of follow-up is as important as the content provided. Consider these tips on how to follow up with 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 .

Best Practices in Raising a microVC Fund Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising a microVC fund, consider the following: It takes 12 to 18 months to raise an initial fund. Most funds start off in the $10M to $25M range. With a successful funding record, one can move up to the $35M to $50M range. Limited partners will be family offices and high-net-worth individuals. In raising funds, consider these best practices: Show how your fund is unique and differentiated from other funds. Make clear the vision for the fund and what it will accomplish beyond the return to the investor. Show the competitive advantage of the team and its network.  Highlight the track record of the team in deploying capital.  Look for an anchor investor who will lead the fund and place a sizable amount to start. Build out the team so the fund is not a solopreneur endeavor. Fund closings range from 3 to 5 rounds over the course of the raise. Give incentives to investors to join the fund, such as access to direct investments that are doing well.  Consider these best practices for your microVC 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 .

Investors Want To Know How the Business Will Be Successful Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most first-time startups pitch their product to the investor rather than their business. They often spend a great deal of time on how the product works. Investors want to know how the business will be successful, not how the product works. Shift the focus on the product from how it works to how it enables business success. Describe how the business will create the product at a reasonable cost. Show how customers will discover it and what steps the business will take to make them successful with it. Discuss how the product impacts the customer, such as saving them time, money, or effort. Show the monetization model and how customers will pay for it. Show why the customer will continue using it over time. All of these elements point to a successful business. Focusing on how the product works misses the point the investor seeks. Instead, show how the business will be successful.   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 LPs Look for in First-Time Fundraisers Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Limited Partners investing in venture capital funds are similar to startups raising funds from venture capitalists. In pitching LPs to invest in a fund, include the following: They need to know the basic context of the fund. Show the sector, stage, investment thesis, and the target fund amount. Summarize this information so it's clear and easy to find. Show why the target sector is ripe for investment today. Investors want to know the track record of the team. While the team may not have raised funds before, they must have experience with funding startups, such as angel investing. Show the track record from this work. Showcase the team's diligence process and how they screen and analyze startups. Articulate the team's competitive advantage.   This is most often from their network of who they know. Include the cost of the investment, such as management fees and carried interest. Note the payback terms to the VC and when it starts. This is often after the investor receives their initial investment back. Showcase this information in summary form on the first slide of the deck, as investors will want to know more before digging into the details.   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 Martin sits down with Tien Wong, CEO and Chairman of Opus8, a private investment advisory firm focused on life sciences, health tech, and marketing tech. Tian shares his extensive experience in leading and funding high-growth technology ventures and discusses the evolution of the Connect Preneur networking event, which has become the world's largest virtual pitch event and hosts eight in-person events annually across the East coast and Mid-Atlantic region. He highlights the current 'funding winter' and offers advice to entrepreneurs on surviving this challenging time by staying focused on building traction and maintaining profitability. Tien also emphasizes the importance of building authentic relationships with investors and shares insights into how diverse founders and investors enhance better outcomes and innovation. He outlines Opus8's strategy in expanding nationally and internationally, focusing on high-quality companies and investor relations.    Visit Opus8 at Reach out to at or   _______________________________________________________ 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 Perform Investor Diligence Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders raising funding should ask as many questions of the investor as the investor asks the founder. Here are some key points in the founders' diligence on a prospective investor: Before engaging investors, research them online regarding their portfolio, investment thesis, and investment team. The more one knows about the investor, the better one can approach and engage them. Review the investors' online content. Research the investors' social media, blogs, and other postings to learn more about their position in the market.  Evaluate the investor's reputation.  Ask other startup founders about the investor and how they work with founders. Talk with the investor's portfolio companies about their experience. This may give a somewhat biased viewpoint since the founder received funding. Assess the investor's operational capabilities and how they can help the startup. The investor team often indicates what support they can offer the startup. Understand the investors' values and what they prioritize in a startup. For example, impact investors will look for a social benefit in addition to a financial return. Consider these points in diligencing a potential investor 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 .

The Cost of a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising will take time and money to complete. For the early stage, it's primarily the time spent.  Later-stage fundraising will cost money as well. Here are some key costs to consider when planning a fundraiser campaign: For those using a broker to raise funding, they take 5 to 8% of the raise and an additional 2-3% for expenses, often in the form of a retainer. Short-term loans in the venture space cost around 25% of the funds raised. A portion of this is paid in cash, and some in equity. Those who use factoring to fund product builds will pay around 15% of the funds raised. For crowdfunding raises, the cost of social media and email marketing ranges from 10-20% of funds raised. Legal fees for papering the deal cost around 1% of the funds raised. A $2M funding will cost around $20K in fees. While in the past, the investors may have paid the legal fees to paper a deal, it's more common today that the startup will pay for it. A savvy investor will also know that the startup is paying for the fees out of the funds raised. Consider these costs in raising funds 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 .

Trigger Words To Show a Value Proposition Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors look for the startup's value proposition to make an investment decision. In pitching, investors use these trigger words to show a value proposition: High growth. Note the growth rate of the company and the speed at which things happen in the startup. Scalability. Show how the business model and the virality of the product position the company to scale. Traction. Show the current revenue run rate and how it is increasing. Track record. Show the team's track record in starting, growing, and exiting businesses. Pain point. Show how the product is a painkiller and not just a vitamin. Disruption. Show how the company is disrupting the industry with new technology or business models. Inflection point. Show how the growth story has hit an inflection point and is trending higher. Milestone. Show how the growth of the business has reached a milestone event, triggering the fundraiser. Use these trigger words to show a value proposition.   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 .

Taking VC Funding Means Taking the VC's Business Model Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In taking venture funding, the startup is also taking the VC's business model. The VC must provide the Limited Partners a venture-level return. It's a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. A venture-level return requires the following: Continually raising funding. Startups will need to raise funding all the way to the exit to achieve the milestones. This can be challenging as venture sectors move in and out of favor over time. Dilution. The founders will find they are continually diluting their positions on each round of funding. As the valuation grows, the dilution becomes less, but hopefully the pie is getting bigger to offset it. Selling before the full potential. The VC must return funds to the LPs, and needs exits to do so. Most funds are on a ten-year cycle.   At some point, the LP will require an exit even if the business is not at its full potential. VC  funding brings with it venture risk and the costs associated with a high-growth company. Consider these points before taking VC funding.   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 Startup Is Scalable Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many startup fundraising pitches focus on the product.  It's important for the investor to know what the product is and its basic functionality.  The investor is also interested in how the business will scale. Instead of describing the product in great detail, use that time to show scalability. Here are some key points to show how your startup is scalable: Show how the process for buying and using the product will scale. This includes the business model and how the customer will discover it. Also, show how the product usage will spread from one user to another. The virality and the monetization model give the product scalability. Consider how to build virality into the product so it's easy to connect the product to potential new customers. To track usage, it's best to connect the product to the web. This also provides a method for upgrading the product and providing support. Scalability means the product can grow and generate revenue faster than the cost of selling and supporting it. Include scalability in your startup fundraising 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 .

Key Elements of a Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to bring the investor up to speed on the deal in a short amount of time. Here are some key elements to consider when crafting your seed pitch deck: The core information an investor needs includes the problem, the solution, traction, team, and fundraising. After this basic context, the investor looks at the business model, the market size, and the competition to gain more details. Next, the investor reviews the team to see if there are sufficient skills and experience to accomplish the plan.  Finally, the investor looks at the fundraising to see if it's appropriate for the stage of the company, and it is realistic based on their traction. Ensure your deck provides the information investors need to know. Structure the deck so it's easy for the investor to pick it up. Craft this information into a flowing narrative as it's easier for the investor to track. Consider these steps in building the seed 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin speaks with Alicia Castillo Holley, the founder and general partner of Wealthing VC Club. Alicia shares her intriguing journey from being a scientist concerned about the limited impact of her lab research to becoming an entrepreneur and eventually a venture capitalist.  She discusses the inspiration behind her transition and the concept of 'wealthing,' which redefines traditional wealth-building models by emphasizing a dynamic, resource-positive approach rather than a static view of money and wealth. With years of experience managing multiple VC funds across different continents, Alicia underscores the importance of respecting money, making impactful investments, and maintaining a balance between optimism and humility in entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. She also sheds light on evaluating purpose-driven ventures for both impact and return, offering a structured yet flexible strategy for emerging investors, particularly in underserved markets.   Visit Wealthing VC Club at Reach out to at    and on   _______________________________________________________ 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 Make a Persuasive Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to persuade investors to support your startup. Here are some key techniques to make a more persuasive pitch: Identify what the audience seeks to do and play to that reward. Investors seek a financial return, so they play up the potential exit. Conversely, identify what the audience fears and bring that into the pitch. Most investors fear losing their money, so show how the startup will not fail. Create an image in the audience's mind that captures their imagination. This could be a story about a recent customer use case that shows how compelling the product is. Consider positioning and how it can persuade the audience. For example, showcasing your product as designed very well for a customer's workflow gives confidence to the investor that it will be sticky. Demonstrate credibility and build trust. Show the experience and credentials of the team to build confidence.  Ask questions to generate curiosity and build a little mystery into the pitch to keep the audience engaged. Finally, answer questions with confidence to show you're familiar with the subject and have a plan for it.  Consider these techniques in building a persuasive 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 .

Personalizing Investor Email Outreach Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Email outreach is a key component of fundraising. It's an efficient way to reach out to investors to notify them of your fundraiser as well as provide updates on your progress. In reaching out to investors, it's best to personalize the email. Here are some key steps in personalizing your investor email outreach: Capture key information about each investor, including first and last name, email, sector of interest, and how you know them. Set up a CRM with a tracking system and a database for managing the list. Create a series of email templates such as an introductory email, an update email, and an investor report. Create content that can be posted on the website, social media, as well as email. This provides a consistent message to the investor audience. The objective is to keep the investor informed of your progress on a consistent basis. Track the result from each email with who opened or responded to it. This will help prioritize your follow-up efforts. Give the investor the ability to opt out of the communications. Over time, your email outreach will help form a community of investors with whom you can raise funding.  Consider these steps in personalizing your email outreach efforts.   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 .

Sharing Your Pitchdeck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the initial document investors want to see. It's important to have your pitch deck ready to go when engaging investors. In sharing your pitch deck, consider the following: You don't have to send the deck ahead of time, although it can expedite the process of identifying interested investors. It's important to provide the deck if asked.  Holding back the deck will appear strange. Don't ask for NDAs for your pitch deck, as it should not have confidential information. Create multiple versions of the deck for different use cases. One deck could be for sending in advance of a meeting.  This one should be simple and easy to understand without your providing commentary. Another deck could be an angel version, which emphasizes the go-to-market strategy and initial traction. Another version of the deck could be for the venture capitalist, showing how this will be a homerun. Consider putting your deck online and providing a link to it.   This gives you the opportunity to update the deck without having to resend it. Consider these steps in sharing your 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 .

Signs an Investor Is Not Interested in Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching for funding, look for signs of interest from the investor. Here's a list of signs indicating the investor is not interested: The investor doesn't ask probing questions but only superficial ones. The investor doesn't put their funding out as an option for the deal. The first question is about valuation, indicating the investor sees this only as a financial transaction. The investor doesn't discuss next steps unless the founder asks. The investor gives little or no feedback on the pitch or the startup. The investor doesn't appear to be doing any research into your company or space beforehand. The investor fails to introduce the founder to other investors or customers. The investor asks for more information but doesn't actually do anything with it. The investor failed to prepare for the pitch and doesn't have any initial questions. In many cases, the founder can spark interest with a great pitch. In some cases, the founder will need to follow up to show progress and traction to gain interest. Look for these signs that indicate the investor needs warming up.   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 chats with Vishal Arora, a tech executive and managing partner at VDO capital. Vishal explains how VDO invests in early-stage deep tech startups with a unique approach that leverages a network of over 70 channel partners including incubators, accelerators, and universities to source deals. He highlights the importance of human capital in evaluating startups, focusing on team dynamics, technology, market potential, traction, and revenue prospects. Vishal also discusses the company's phased due diligence process and the lessons learned from working with both first-time founders and serial entrepreneurs.  Additionally, Hall and Vishal explore the role of VDO in collaborating with incubators and accelerators, mentoring founders, and supporting startups post-investment by leveraging industry connections and expertise. The discussion concludes with Vishal's insights on macroeconomic shifts impacting early-stage venture investing and the transformative potential of AI and other emerging technologies. Reach out to at , and on   _______________________________________________________ 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 .

Common Mistakes in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Successful fundraising comes from preparation, focus, and experience. Here are some common mistakes founders make in fundraising: Not having a business plan. This should include what product or service you will provide and how you will sell it. Not knowing your market Your pitch deck should include an analysis of the market and its composition. Not knowing your competition Your pitch deck should include a competitive analysis showing how you will succeed. Unrealistic fundraising goals You simply won't raise $1M in the next sixty days. Break the raise into smaller rounds and identify networks of investors to pursue it. Not understanding the financial side of the business Build a financial model to determine how much capital you need and when. Failing to follow up with investors Make sure you reach out to investors to build a relationship and close the funding. Maintaining a relationship with existing investors Keep current investors up to date, as they can help with your raise. Consider these points for your fundraiser campaign.   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 Elements of a Successful Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising takes time, effort, and attention. The startup founder faces many demands from the business, including hiring employees, building products, and signing customers. Here are the key elements of the fundraising process to focus on: An extensive network of potential investors. This includes family and friends, angel investors, venture capitalists, and family offices. Identify key contacts for your investor network An ongoing sales-like process of reaching out to prospective investors. This requires a database, an email program, and a tracking system. Set up a system for tracking prospective investors. Proper documentation, including a pitch deck, terms sheet, and a data room. Build these documents before launching the campaign. A compelling story. Your pitch needs to resonate with investors, showcasing the problem, the solution, and why your startup will succeed. Craft a compelling narrative that captivates the investor audience. Finally, contact experienced founders and advisors for their input on what to expect. Before launching your fundraise, line up these key elements to ensure a successful campaign.   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 Duties of the CFO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The CFO plays a key role in the early stages of the startup. Here are the key duties of the CFO: The CFO develops and maintains the financial model for the business. This often comes out in the form of a financial pro forma for the pitch deck and data room. Investors want to know the startup's proposed forecast. They will review the financial pro forma to see if it's a bottom-up model or a top-down. The model also tells the investor how much the startup knows about their revenues and costs. The financial pro forma should be complete enough to help make strategic decisions. Also, the CFO manages risk in the business by tracking the cash runway, obtaining access to credit lines, and holding the right amount of insurance. The CFO oversees the tax reports and compliance requirements. Finally, the CFO can help management by providing key metrics on the business.  The CFO doesn't necessarily have to be a full-time employee but could be a fractional one. Consider how a CFO fits into 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 .

Feedback From VCs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors hear many pitches and often give feedback to the startup. Some investors avoid giving feedback for the following reasons: Argumentative-- the founder argues their way out of the feedback. Instead of accepting the feedback, the founder shows how it is not valid. Reputation risk -- some founders retaliate when they hear feedback they don't like. Instead of working on the feedback, the founder spends time getting even. Getting personal -- some feedback has to do with the team. It can be awkward to share personal feedback on the founder, so many investors avoid it. Founders can gain more feedback from investors by doing the following: Indicate respect for the VC's opinion and show a willingness to learn. Ask for specific feedback rather than general. Ask about areas of weakness and show you are open to the response. Skip the rebuttal and accept what is given. Avoid getting angry about feedback you feel is not right or unfair. Consider these points in encouraging more feedback from the 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 .

Negotiating Valuation With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The valuation is a negotiation, not a formula. Startup founders negotiating valuation should consider the following points: Know the current market rate for valuations for your stage and type of business. Investors will see many deals like yours and will know the current rate. Consider how to position your startup so it achieves the highest valuation. Run the valuation through several different formulas to see which one provides the best result.  This is where you want to start your valuation discussion. It helps to show how the assets of the business meet or exceed the proposed valuation. This shows the investor that there's no speculation it. Find comps that show the valuation of other businesses at a fundraise or exit. This helps prove the case that your business is worth what you say it is. Articulate all the values in the business. This is the most important part of the negotiation process. Highlight the team, the intellectual property, the revenue, and the product at the very least. Show the value of each for today and not tomorrow. Today's valuation is for today's fundraise.   Tomorrow's valuation is for tomorrow's fundraise. Investors are not interested in forecasts, but rather in what you have 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Paul Martin sits down with Stephen Diggle, founder of Vulpes Investment Management. From his country house in Umbria, Italy, Stephen recounts his journey from running one of Asia's largest hedge funds during the 2008 financial crisis to managing a family office-backed investment firm. He explains why they decided to pivot to a family office model following the immense success of their long volatility and short credit strategy, generating $3 billion for their investors in just 14 months.  Stephen also dives into volatility trends, the significance of tail risk strategies, and why he's reopening volatility funds in response to potential market volatility under the Trump administration and growing market complacency. Stephen elaborates on the mechanics and importance of tail risk strategies, sharing insights from his 2008 experience, including their lucrative hedge against Lehman Brothers' collapse. He discusses how such strategies find opportunities where sellers underestimate catastrophic risks, providing a non-correlated hedge against market downturns. Steve also highlights the lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing the need for diversifying investments into tangible assets like land and gold. Finally, the conversation touches on the current trends in volatility and the impact of passive investing on market stability. Stephen warns of the potential risks posed by an over-reliance on passive strategies and dynamic hedging, suggesting a reevaluation of traditional diversification assumptions. As markets reach all-time highs, he stresses the importance of preparing for unexpected market shifts.  Visit Vulpes Investment Management at ,   Reach out to at   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 .

Founder Experience and Traction Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, there are two key drivers to how much a startup can ask for funding. The first is traction. The greater the traction, the more the startup can ask in a fundraise. Traction includes current revenue run rate, quarter-over-quarter growth, and recurring revenue. The second is founder experience. Successful serial entrepreneurs with exits can use their reputation to raise more funding than the traction indicates. At the preseed level, successful founders can raise several million dollars more. This works particularly well if the founder is running a proven business model with a team that has done well previously. Experienced founders can also raise additional funds based on their reputation. This may be more in the order of $500K to one million dollars of funding. Consider using your team's startup experience and track record to make the case for a greater fundraise. This can be most helpful in the very early stages of the fundraising process, where there's little to no traction to reference.   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 .

Customize the Pitch for the Investor Type Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many types of investors. Founders should customize the pitch for the investor type. Here are some key investor types to consider: The analytical investor -- this type of investor looks at the financial and sales numbers to make an investment decision. For this type of showcase, the metrics in the business and highlight the growth performance and potential. The impact investor -- this type of investor looks at the community benefit that comes from the startup. For this type,  highlight the environmental, social, and other benefits the company brings. The leisure investor -- this type of investor looks to have a little fun with startup investing. For this type, point out the cutting-edge technology and the unique business model. In most cases, your pitch deck will remain the same, but what you highlight and how you contextualize the pitch will make it more relevant to the investor. The more you know about the investor ahead of time, the better you can customize it. In addition, during the pitch, listen for the questions asked to determine which type of investor you may have.   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 .

Build a Relationship With the Investor 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 build a relationship with the investor. Upfront, the investor wants to learn about the business and how it works. Ultimately, the investor wants to know who they are investing in. In pitching to the investor, introduce yourself and tell them something about you. Talk with the investor to learn more about them as well. In following up after the pitch, go beyond email to a phone call. In the call, exchange more information about yourself and learn more about the investor. When you are able to call them and they pick up the phone to answer it, then you have built the basis for a relationship. If you can't pick up the phone and call them, then you have not yet built that relationship. Fundraising at its heart is relationship building. Spend the time to build that relationship.   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 .