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In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin talks with Herbert Drayton, a partner at Highmark Capital, about the importance of building capacity before expecting change in the startup ecosystem. They delve into the legwork involved in preparing companies for investor engagement, including managing pitch events, and running marketing campaigns. Herbert shares his insights on the key components that make a startup successful, emphasizing the significance of infrastructure, mentorship, and community support. He discusses how Highmark Capital focuses on investing in AI startups led by underrepresented founders in the southeastern US, mainly in South Carolina. Additionally, the episode introduces Ava, the new AI-powered assistant at 10 Capital that helps entrepreneurs find funding tips and investors locate their next big investment. Ava extracts knowledge from over 500 blogs, podcasts, and tools like the 'How Fundable is Your Startup' calculator to answer user questions efficiently. For more information about the events and resources at 10 Capital, visit their website and poke around the 'Events' tab. Herbert addresses the crucial yet often neglected aspects of creating sustainable investments, such as ensuring the founders are ready to scale and providing them with robust ecosystems for long-term success. He illustrates how successful investment isn't just about providing capital but also about offering the necessary support systems, including mentorship, strategic partnerships, and continuous guidance. This comprehensive approach ensures that both the investments and the entrepreneurs have the foundation needed for impactful growth.    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 Slides in Your Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the pitch, there are specific slides that are key to the investor. Here's a list of key slides to include in your deck. Problem -- provides the overall context for the startup. It must be a big problem outlined with a few numbers. Solution -- shows the product that solves the problem. It's important to make clear what the solution is and how you make money. How it works -- shows the product in action with the customer's situation. Shows how the solution fits into the customer's workflow. Traction -- shows the current status of revenue with customers.  It's important to state the current status as the investor needs to know where the startup is today. Team -- shows who will take the business forward. The team must have experience and be all-in on the startup. Target market -- shows the market the startup will pursue. The market must be large and growing.  It's also important to show where the startup will enter that market. Fundraise -- shows the amount of funding sought and at what terms. The fundraising ask must fit the stage of the company. Be sure to include these slides in 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 .

Burn Multiple Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Burn rate is the amount of cash spent over and above the revenue received. It's typically calculated on a monthly basis. Burn multiple is a metric that calculates the capital efficiency of a startup. To calculate burn multiple divide the monthly burn rate by the net new ARR. It shows how much revenue your startup is generating vs dollars spent. The burn multiple shows the efficiency of the business unlike the CAC: LTV ratio which measures just sales and marketing. In most startups raising venture capital the burn multiple ranges from 1X to 3X. Anything below 1x is fantastic.  From 1x to 2x is good 2x to 3x is a problem Over 3x is a major problem. Very early-stage companies may have a 3X burn rate because the revenue hasn't come up yet. At Series A many companies have a 2X multiple. At Series B the burn multiple should drop down to 1X or less. At break even, the burn rate multiple will drop to 0. Check the burn multiple of startups in your portfolio to see if they are tracking for their stage.   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 .

Pre Seed Seed Seed+ Seed++ Series A Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup funding, the raises come in rounds.   The startup can raise a pre-seed round followed by a seed, then a Series A, Series B, and so forth. Many founders view this approach as one step after the other. The reality is there's a large gap between the Seed and the Series A. Some call this the Valley of Death. This occurs because the startup often moves from family and friends and angel funding to institutional investors. The gap is wide between the two investor types. The funding reality is closer to Seed Seed+  Seed++ another $250K bridge round and then Series A. One strategy is to find bigger and more lucrative customers as you move through the series so you can generate more revenue. This reduces the amount of funding required to reach the next level. Another strategy is to factor this many rounds into your fundraising strategy from the start. Consider the valley of death and how you will cross it with your fundraising planning.   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 First Raise Is a Minimum Round Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup fundraising, many founders try to raise too much funding in the first round. This causes dilution for the founder as the valuation will be low.  In startup fundraising, the first raise is a minimum round. Instead of raising everything you need to accomplish the goals, you should raise a minimal amount to get the initial product up and some revenue coming in. The startup's valuation will be at the lowest point in the life of the business so it's best to raise the smallest amount possible. As the startup builds more products, teams, and revenue the valuation will rise. The majority of the funding comes later when the valuation is higher. This strategy reduces the founder's dilution. In structuring your fundraiser consider what can be done to generate the biggest bang for the buck with the least amount of funding. Then add more capabilities to the product and more team members. By tranching out the product features one can reduce the funding requirements.   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 .

Valuation Is the Primary Factor Impacting Returns Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many terms in a startup fundraising terms sheet. Valuation is the primary factor impacting investor returns. Here's an example showing the impact of valuation on the returns. The pre-money valuation plus the investment yields the post-money valuation. The investor's ownership is the investment divided by the post-money valuation. For example, if a startup is raising $1M with a $4M pre-money valuation that yields $5M post-money.   This gives the investor a 20% ownership stake as the post valuation is $1M divided by $5M. In another example, a startup is raising $1M with a $19M pre-money valuation that yields $20M post-money.   This gives the investor a 5% ownership stake as the post valuation is $1M divided by $20M. There are terms that can help mitigate an outsized valuation such as a liquidation preference in which the investor receives their original investment first. Of all the terms in the deal, the valuation is the primary factor to consider.   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 Christopher Ezold, partner at Wisler Pearlstine, a Pennsylvania-based law firm specializing in business, employment, and corporate law. Christopher shares insights on emerging legal risks and trends that businesses should prepare for, especially amid economic uncertainties in 2025. Key topics include the importance of securing debt, the complexities of cybersecurity and privacy laws, the rise of labor and employment issues, and the challenges around mergers and acquisitions. Hall and Christopher also delve into common legal missteps that lead businesses into lawsuits and emphasize the significance of proper documentation and early involvement of legal counsel. Christopher explains the nature of fraud, distinguishing between intentional deception and negligence that creates opportunities for fraudulent actions. He recounts complex fraud cases, including one involving a private equity fund's deceptive practices, and shares lessons learned from these experiences. The conversation also touches on the fluid legal landscape of non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, offering advice on how to ensure these agreements are both necessary and enforceable. Christopher highlights various ways fraud can occur within a company, from overvaluing assets to manipulating earnings, and stresses the importance of internal vigilance and thorough investigation. Hall and Christopher discuss strategies for addressing potential fraud or legal violations, from preserving data and starting immediate investigations to understanding the impact and having flexible plans in place. Christopher underscores the importance of having a trustworthy attorney who understands the business and can provide early advice to avoid litigation. The episode concludes with practical tips on engaging the right authorities for different types of fraud cases and the critical role of transparency and trust in the attorney-client relationship.  For more information or to contact Christopher, visit www.wislerpearlstine.com or email him 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 .

Consider Dilution in Setting Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup fundraising dilution is a key issue for founders. At each stage of funding investors will demand a certain amount of equity. Here's how much each round will cost a startup in equity: Pre-seed Typically funded by family and friends the cost of funding is 5 to 10%. Seed Angels take 5 to 10% while venture capitalists take 10 to 25%. Seed+ Most founders will need additional funding to carry the business forward.   Seed+ rounds cost the same amount as seed rounds. Series A Venture capital investors will seek 15 to 25% of equity at this stage. Series B Later-stage VCs look for 10% to 20% of the equity at this point. Series C and following. Growth equity investors look for 10% to 15% at this level. Consider the impact of dilution on your startup from 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 .

Diligencing AI Startups Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Artificial intelligence or AI brings new capabilities and applications. Many startups launch their business around AI technology. Investors considering an investment in an AI startup should check the following: Source of data. Does the startup have access to data sets? Unique data. Does the startup have a data set that others do not have access to? Clean data. Is the data clean and ready for use or must it go through a costly cleaning process? Quantity of data. Does the startup have access to a substantial amount of data? Cost of processing. How much does it cost to process the data? Machine learning. Also called  ML. Do they have their own ML model or are they using an open-source one? Core competency. What is their core competency -- core data, machine learning, user interface, and others? ML skills. Does the team have a core skill set around developing ML? Data collection regulatory Does the team gather and use the data sets within compliance? Consider these factors when you are conducting your diligence on an AI 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 .

Medical Device Milestones Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The medical device startup has a well-defined list of milestones to achieve to bring a product to market. Here's a list of key milestones for the medical device startup: Market requirements -- defines the current status of solutions and unmet needs of the market. Product requirements -- defines the features and specifications of the proposed product. Prototypes -- intermediate implementations of the product for testing, customer feedback, and fundraising with investors. Clinical unit -- a version of the product to be used in clinical testing. Pre-clinical validation -- clinical tests to determine safety and efficacy. Clinical trials -- animal and human tests with the clinical unit. CE Mark -- certification to sell the product in Europe. FDA 510K approval -- for non-invasive products in a sector with previously certified devices this is the shortest path to FDA approval. First orders from customers -- the initial purchase of the approved product. Break-even -- the product achieves break-even on revenue with cost to build and sell. A typical medical device will take three to five years to gain FDA clearance and reach the market. Consider these steps for your medical device development.   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 .

Overcoming the Investors' Hesitancy Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, there comes a time when the investor must decide to join or pass on the round. Many investors hesitate to join as they try to decide. Here are some steps founders should take to overcome the hesitancy: Start the outreach to investors well ahead of launching the campaign. Begin six months before contacting potential investors and indicating you are preparing a fundraise. Use the six-month window from first contact to campaign launch to educate the investor and provide a few updates. Craft a strong story and use case for your company. Take the investor on the journey with you by keeping them up to date on the ups and downs of the business. Show how short the time from launch to break even will be and how well-defined it is. In the very early stages avoid forcing the investor to climb the valuation wall.   The valuation wall is the challenge the investor undergoes to determine the correct valuation. Instead, use a convertible note with a valuation cap which effectively kicks the valuation question down the road.  Consider these steps to avoid the investor hesitancy phase.   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 Private Equity Differs From Venture Capital Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Private equity and venture capital are different types of investment. Here are the key differences: Risk level Private equity takes less risk and thus a lower potential return than venture capital. Private equity investments invest in firms with a positive profit line while venture capital investments run negative on the bottom line putting everything into top-line growth. Control level Private equity often takes a controlling position in the company. Venture capital takes only an oversight position in most investments. Stage of business Private equity invests in mature companies with a history of revenue and profits. Venture capital invests in early-stage companies with great promise. Funding source Private equity raises funding from institutional investors. Venture capital raises funding from limited partners who are typically high-networth individuals. Size of investment Private equity often invests substantial amounts of money into the business to increase profitability. Venture capital typically invests smaller amounts of capital to increase the growth rate. Consider these differences in considering private equity or venture capital funding for your fundraise. 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 dive into the world of live entertainment as a service with Jason Seitz of Ticket Rewards. Jason provides an insightful overview of how Ticket Rewards is transforming live entertainment by partnering with brands and venues to offer a seamless, engaging experience for consumers. With a significant inventory of tickets worth half a billion dollars, Ticket Rewards works with major brands like HBO Max, Celebrity Cruises, and United Mileage Plus to drive engagement and retention through exclusive ticket deals and loyalty programs. This innovative approach helps these brands maintain customer loyalty and reduce churn by providing unique, emotionally resonant experiences that tie back to the brand itself. Jason also discusses some compelling case studies, such as the impact of their partnership with Celebrity Cruises, which saw a 40% higher open rate and 20% higher click-through rate for live entertainment emails. Similarly, their collaboration with HBO Max resulted in higher engagement rates and retention. The podcast further explores their revenue streams, scalability, and how they are striving to grow their client base amid increasing interest from new potential partners like Lyft, Travelzoo, and others. Their innovative business model and successful partnerships have helped them make commendable strides in the industry, including finishing the year on a profitable note. Towards the end, Hall T. Martin and his guests delve into the intricacies of term sheets, offering a comprehensive breakdown of key financial parameters and how convertible notes like the 3x in 3 provide a flexible investment option. Hall emphasizes the importance of understanding term sheet dynamics, especially how these agreements can significantly favor either the founder or the investor. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of live entertainment and innovative business models, as well as those keen on investment strategies in dynamic startup environments.   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 Gap Between Seed and Series A Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup funding, we talk about preseed, seed, Series A, Series B, and so forth. It sounds like each stage is just one step after the other. When you finish your pre-seed round you raise your seed. In reality, there's a gap between seed and Series A. It often takes several rounds of funding to close it. Most startups raise a preseed, seed, seed+, seed++, and another bridge round for $250K, and then go to Series A. This is often a surprise to first-time founders. The reasons are as follows: In most cases, the Series A is the first institutional round of investment. The requirements regarding revenue, growth, margins, churn, and other factors are fixed and rigorous. Prior rounds of funding were often made regardless of the results of the business but rather on the promise of future results. Series A investors have specific requirements around valuation and ownership stakes.  This often requires better metrics and more revenue to make it work. It's often the case that the founders have a vision for a specific valuation. Specific valuation targets often require better metrics from the startup. Make sure you plan for the gap between the seed and Series A in your fundraise.   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 Startups Advantage Over Big Companies Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. While big companies have size, resources, and reach, the startup holds advantages of their own. Here's a list of the startups' advantages: Focus - the startup can focus all its energy and resources on one thing. Big companies have an existing product line, team, and commitments they must maintain  They cannot focus solely on one thing. Speed -- the startup can move fast in building and iterating on a product. Big companies must coordinate teams across department lines. They cannot move fast given their structure, culture, and workload. No legacy products -- the startup has no existing products to defend. Big companies have legacy products they must support and sell. In most cases, they must work around their current product lines. No brand risk -- the startup has no historical brand to maintain. Big companies have a brand and must protect it. They cannot take on risky startup products as it puts their reputation at risk. While big companies have a brand, scale, and resources, the startup is particularly well-positioned to pursue new products with disruptive technologies.   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 .

Startup Stages Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The startup goes through several stages before it achieves product market fit and then scaling. Here are the key steps that come before: The founder establishes the team.   This is often driven by a passion or a business opportunity. The founding team develops a vision for the business they will build. This is often improving the customer experience around a current problem. The team envisions a product that provides value to the customer that solves the problem. The team tests the market by talking with customers. This often involves building minimum viable products and prototypes. The team builds an initial version of the product and tests the business model. The goal is to see if the customers use the product and if demand will spread. The team takes the product out to a broader range of customers to check interest. The initial customers are often family and friends and may be biased in their assessment of the product. The team works on the product to achieve product/market fit. The goal here is to make sure the product works well for the customer and meets their needs. Consider these steps in establishing a startup for your idea.    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 .

No NDAs Before the Investor Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup fundraising, the NDA comes near the end of the process, not at the beginning. An NDA stands for Non-Disclosure Agreement and requires the signatory to keep confidential any, and all information disclosed. A founder asking an investor to sign an NDA before the pitch signals to the investor that there's nothing protectable about the business. In most cases, the investor will not sign the NDA and will take a pass on the deal. A founder should give the investor basic information without an NDA. The founder should focus on the benefits of their technology and business model instead of describing exactly how it works. An example includes, our software reduces cost by 3x. There is a place for NDAs later in the process. When investors go into diligence, it's appropriate for the founder to ask the investor to sign an NDA. Other cases to use an NDA in the startup space include the following: A potential acquirer wants to license a product or technology. A potential acquirer wants to buy the company. The diligence box has employee, customer, or partner information that is sensitive. Keep the dialog on a non-confidential basis with investors so they can learn more about the 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 .

Fundraising – Important but Not Urgent Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising can be hard for startups because it falls into the important but not urgent category. The Eisenhower matrix shows four sectors. Important and urgent-- spurs immediate action Not important but urgent -- delegate it Not important and not urgent -- discard it Important but not urgent -- plan for it In fundraises where there is no pressing need for funding, it can be difficult to complete. Other urgent tasks can take precedence over fundraising. This includes hiring employees, closing sales, and keeping clients happy. Fundraising most often is not urgent and doesn't press the founder so it gets deprioritized. Fundraising requires intention, discipline, and focus. Develop a fundraising schedule and map it out on your calendar. Set aside time for it each week. Set activity goals for the number of contacts you will make.  Engage your team to hold you accountable. In the startup world, what you focus on and pay for gets done.   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 T. Martin speaks with Barry Fella of Cranial Devices about their innovative approach to treating hydrocephalus. Barry sheds light on the significant challenges associated with the current treatment method, such as high failure rates, infections, and the need for multiple revisions throughout a patient's lifetime. Cranial Devices is developing a physiologic shunt that offers a safer, more reliable alternative by draining excess cerebrospinal fluid directly into the venous system, significantly reducing the likelihood of failures and complications. The new shunting method presents a promising advancement in medical technology, with numerous benefits for patients, surgeons, and healthcare payers alike. Barry elaborates on the device's FDA classification, ongoing animal pilot studies, and plans for human trials in South America or Australia. He also discusses the future market opportunities, particularly for older patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus, and how Cranial Devices aims to capture a considerable share of the revision market. Tune in to discover how this groundbreaking technology could transform the landscape of hydrocephalus treatment.   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 Can Do for Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angels can bring more value than just funding to your startup. Here's a list of what angels can do: They bring a network for hiring key people on the team. Their network can also help find customers, partners, and others. They bring experience and can help make key decisions along the way. They help with fundraising, product development and launch, and financial decisions. For those with a high profile in the community, they bring notoriety to your startup. This helps in finding more investors and partners. They bring domain expertise if they come from the industry the startup targets. They provide coaching to help formulate strategy. They provide mentorship to startup founders. They provide additional support in the form of CFO and COO work. They bring a rich history of success and failure stories about other startups. They provide access to new networks and communities. Consider these points when recruiting angel investors for your fundraise.   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 .

Comparing Funding Sources Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup fundraising, there are four distinct groups to consider for funding. The list includes venture capital, angel investors, angel groups, and family offices. Here's the comparison of each source: Venture capital VCs have their diligence process and will take some time to complete it. They write $150K to $500K checks on the first round. They are very sensitive to valuation. They often require board seats. They provide the most support of any investor type. Angel investors They can make decisions quickly They write $25K to $50K checks. They tend not to be swayed by valuation as much as other investors. They rarely require board seats. They provide the least support. Angel groups They have a process that will take some time to complete.  They write $100K to $500K checks for a typical deal  They can be sensitive to valuation. They sometimes require board seats. They provide some support.  Family offices They can act like angels and move quickly or they may have a more detailed process. They write $100K to $250K checks on the first round. They can be sensitive to valuation. They sometimes require board seats. They provide some support. Consider these factors for your fundraise in selecting your target 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 Fundraise in Down Markets Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The venture world cycles up and down based on technology breakthroughs, stock market gyrations, and other factors. In up markets funding can be more plentiful. In down markets, it can be more challenging to obtain. Consider these steps in fundraising in a down market: Spend more time bootstrapping the business to gain traction. For funding look for individual angels. Angels are less impacted by the financial cycles and can usually afford to invest a small amount at just about any time. Look for a corporate client or partner that can provide a great deal of business through one channel. Make sure you are using any available non-equity financing such as revenue-based funding, factoring, and equipment leasing.  Consider joining professional groups where your customers live to make connections and learn more about the industry. Look for custom projects that utilize your core product.  This helps pay the bills and keeps your team engaged with solving customers' problems with the core product.   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 .

Core Slides in the Pitchdeck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck tells the startup's story and provides key information about the investment opportunity to the investor. There are five key slides that an investor needs to see to understand the state of the business. Problem. The investor needs to understand what problem the startup solves to determine the market size. Solution The investor needs to see what the startup proposes to solve the problem to understand what product the startup must build and sell.  Team. The investor needs to know who is on the core team leading the effort to build and sell the proposed product to see if they have the requisite skills.  Traction. The investor needs to know where the startup currently stands on the path to engaging the market. Fundraise. The investor needs to know how much funding the startup needs to accomplish the go-to-market plan.   These five slides provide the basic context with which an investor can understand the business. Without all of these, the investor lacks enough information to move forward with the deal.  Make sure you cover these points in 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 .

Startup Business Models Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Businesses sell to consumers, which is called B2C, or to businesses called B2B. Startups aggregate users, create marketplaces or sell services. Here's a list of key startup business models to know: Freemium -- the startup gives something for free to build the customer list and then sells premium services to them. Subscription -- the startup finds a needed service and sells it to the customer on a recurring revenue basis. Marketplace -- the startup brings buyers and sellers together in one place and makes money off the transactions. Fees for service -- the startup provides a service, content, or access in exchange for a fee. Advertising -- the startup attracts an audience and sells advertising to those who want to promote their product or service to that audience. Data monetization -- the startup collects data from a group of people or processes and sells that data to others who use it to improve their business. Razor - razor blade model -- the startup sells a product that requires disposable components to use.   This creates a recurring revenue stream from repeat purchases of the disposable product. Consider these business models 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 Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pre-seed company raising funding faces a challenge. There are no revenue, traction, or performance metrics to show the investor. The startup basically has an idea, a team, and little else. For the pre-seed pitch deck, cover these topics: Start with the team and show each one's past experiences. Talk about how the team knows a particular market and use case. Highlight the problem in that market. Show the key insight the team has about the market and the problem. Discuss how to solve a problem with that insight. Show why now is the best time to pursue this opportunity. Point out a recent change in the industry or an inflection point in the market that provides an opening. Show what the team has done so far to reach these conclusions and who they have talked to. Show the market size and the entry point into that market. State the investment ask and use of the funds. The key to a successful pre seed pitch is to show you have a strong team with a unique insight that can be exploited in a short time frame.   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 Mike Sloan, Founder, and CEO of Simple Labs. Mike introduces Cogni, an innovative device designed to tackle significant challenges in the wine and spirits industry, such as product loss due to evaporation and spoilage. Starting from his background in bourbon country and transitioning to wine country, Mike shares insights on the industry's pressing needs and how Cogni could potentially save billions in losses annually while optimizing premium product selection through continuous barrel monitoring and data analytics powered by AI and ML technology.  Mike outlines the substantial market opportunities with both immediate and future potential, illustrating how Cogni's platform extends beyond a simple device to a scalable solution with a global reach. He emphasizes Cogni's current traction in the market, with agreements in place with leading distilleries and collaborations with academic centers. Investors will be keen to note the $10 million Series A round intended to accelerate growth, scale production, and refine the innovative real-time monitoring technology further. The discussion also delves into the technical specifics of Cogni, including hardware and software integration, cost, and reusability, demonstrating how the platform offers a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for winemakers and distillers alike. Tune in to learn more about how Simple Labs is poised to disrupt the wine and spirits industry and capitalize on a $1.6 trillion global market opportunity.    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 .

Help the Investor Understand Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors hear a great number of pitches. In each pitch, the investor must figure out what the startup is doing and if it meets their investment criteria. In pitching, an investor considers these steps to help the investor understand your startup: State clearly what the startup does. In fact, state it in 5-7 words so the investor has a clear understanding. Show a picture of it, if possible. State the value proposition. This shows how the product is different from the competition. Use analogies and metaphors to explain complex technical products so non-technical people get a sense of it.. Identify your target market and your ideal customer profile. Show the customer ROI from using the product. Investors want 10X improvements over the competition, not 10% increases. Show not only a large available market but also an initial beachhead market that you have already established. Display the team and call out the skills each one brings to this startup. By providing a few clear points in the presentation, the investor can more easily grasp the basics of the 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 .

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 .

Best Practices for Series A Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising for Series A is fundamentally different from fundraising for a seed round. In the seed round, the goal is to convince the investor you can sell it.  In the series A round the goal is to convince the investor you can grow the business. Here are some best practices for running a Series A fundraise. Show how the business is up and running with a solid growth trajectory. Demonstrate that you have achieved product market fit and can increase sales. Raise for sales and marketing and not more product development. Focus on your core product and avoid expanding to other products. Show your unit economics to show the profitability of your core model. Show how funds raised will directly increase sales. The other departments in the business, customer service, support, finance, etc, are up and running, albeit on a small scale. Show your repeatable, predictable sales model from start to finish. Include the steps you take to generate a lead, qualify it, and close the sale. Calculate the ratio of leads to customers and average sales price. Set it up so you can plug in a forecasted sales number, and the model shows how many leads you must generate, qualify, and close. Demonstrate to the investor that you have the sales machine figured out.   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 .

Matching Risk To Reward Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In choosing an investment, the investor matches risk to reward. A public stock may go down but most likely will not go bankrupt. A startup is much more likely to go under. Since the risk is low in a publicly traded company, the reward may be low. Since the risk in a startup is high, the reward must be high. For later-stage startups the risk of going bankrupt is lower than for earlier-stage companies. Therefore, the return on investment may be lower. Beware investments such as restaurant deals where the reward is low but the risk is high. Most restaurant deals offer a percentage of revenue over the lifetime of the business and nothing on the exit. The risk is high because it could go under in the first few years. In many cases, a restaurant deal will give the investor a 10 to 20% return but stands the chance of losing all of it by going out of business. For a true early-stage company, the reward must be high because the risk is high. Match risk to reward in your startup investing.   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 engages in a conversation with Jason Kutasi, a prominent member of YPO, a global leadership community for young presidents. Jason discusses his journey from exiting a D2C children's book publisher to Scholastic, to establishing an ad agency post-exit. He shares his expertise in marketing, emphasizing the importance of testing products, brand names, and customer interests before fully investing in them. Jason provides vital insights on the common mistakes startups make, such as not understanding their target customers or the actual pain points their products solve, and the necessity of a deep understanding of marketing for startup success. Jason also illustrates various scenarios using his experience with scalable startups, highlighting how businesses can optimize their marketing strategies to be more efficient and effective. He stresses the importance of testing before building a product and understanding the specific needs of potential customers. For example, he talks about how A/B testing helped a client choose the better product name, leading to higher customer engagement. Jason also reflects on the evolution of marketing strategies and the increased emphasis on cost-effective, rapid market-testing methods in today's startup ecosystem. The conversation concludes with Jason's perspective on remote work, the impact of COVID-19 on startups, and the integration of AI in digital marketing. He emphasizes the significance of building human connections and understanding your investors' needs. Jason advises startup founders to fly out for face-to-face meetings to build stronger relationships and improve their chances of securing deals. Throughout the episode, Jason's insights provide valuable lessons for both budding entrepreneurs and seasoned investors looking to navigate the ever-changing landscape of scalable startups. Visit YPO 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 .

The Secret Is in the Iterations Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many founders try to tell everything to the investor in the first pitch. This is not possible as there's no way to convey everything about the startup in one go. It's best to break the information down into smaller pieces and drip it out over time. The multiple interactions help build the relationship. While each step seems small, they are accretive. One step builds on the other. Take your information and pull out the most enticing elements, such as a recent sales win, a new hire, or a product development piece. Use these tidbits in your pitch to attract investors. Take the remaining information and break it down into updates and follow-up content pieces. Schedule out the follow-up pieces so you present a consistent flow of information to the investor. The small but consistent updates will build and reinforce your growth story to the investor over time.  It takes multiple touches to close an investor. Set up those content pieces and schedule them over the course of the 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 .

What Not To Say in a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, startups should avoid these statements to investors. “We have no competition.” If there's no competition, then there is no market. Instead, the founder should talk about how the startup solves the problem in a new and unique way.   This is the value proposition of the business. “You'll need to sign my NDA before I can tell you about my business.” The investor will interpret this to mean there's no protection on the business, such as intellectual property. Instead, the founder should limit the discussion to the benefits their technology provides and not go into how it works. “I've included my sweat equity on the cap table.” The investor will only recognize equity that is bought with dollars. The founder should consider sweat equity as table stakes that all startups must bring to the fundraise. “We only need 1% of this billion-dollar market to be successful.” While this statement may sound compelling, the investor interprets this statement as lacking a go-to-market strategy. The founder should focus on their initial traction with customers by outlining the first twenty customers they will pursue. This shows a focused approach to entering the market. Avoid these statements in 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 .

What Is a Value Proposition Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A value proposition is a feature that makes the startup valuable to the customer. It's not your mission statement, which is the overarching goal of the business. It's not your mantra that shows what your business stands for. A good value proposition aligns with the customers' needs. A unique value proposition shows how your business differentiates from others. Those who identify with your value proposition are your ideal customers. To identify your value proposition, look at the customer's problem and ask how you can solve it in a new and different way. Analyze the competition to see how your solution differs. Test the value proposition with customers to see how well it resonates with them. Good value propositions focus on the customer and are unique. It's important to write out your value proposition so that you clearly understand it and can communicate it to others. Every startup should identify its primary value proposition and promote it to the market.   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 .

Don't Overhype It 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 articulate all the values in the deal. If you don't mention it, then it doesn't exist in the investors' minds. Investors only know what you tell them. Include the values in the deal such as customers, other investors, partners, and team members, to name a few. You want to show everyone is supporting the effort and more are coming. In the process, don't overhype the deal. Don't indicate you have revenue when you do not. Don't say you have won a contract when it is not yet signed. Don't talk about a new hire if they haven't actually joined yet. It's okay to talk about the potentials and what is in the works, but don't go so far as to pretend you have something that you don't. Ultimately, the investor will learn everything about the deal, and if it doesn't match with what you said, then you will have a credibility problem. In summary, make sure you highlight all the great things you have going in the deal, but don't overhype it with things that don't yet exist.   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 Enhance an Investor Update Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In writing an investor update, include the status of the business, key milestones achieved, and upcoming challenges. Here are some additional elements to add to the update to enhance it. Remind the investor what you do with a one-line summary or your mantra. This provides context to the investor about your business and the efforts you are making. Provide a report summary at the top in the form of a short paragraph outlining the main takeaways. Just about every investor will read the summary at the top. Call out investors who have gone the extra mile and provided value to the business since the last report. Everyone wants to be recognized, and this practice gives investors an incentive to do more. Instead of making a general call for help, include specific requests to people you know who have the connections or skills. Include links to previous reports so investors can return to them for additional information. Add information to the report about the team and what they are doing. Include photos of recent events to refresh the investors about the group. Consider adding these elements to your investor update.    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 .

Add Investor Relations to Your Website Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, prospective investors use your website to learn more about the business. It's often the case that the investor will use the website to connect with the founder. To facilitate fundraising, add an investor relations button to your website. Create a page indicating you are seeking investors and providing a general contact us button to capture their name, phone number, and email address. Indicate that the company is seeking investors and capture their contact details.  Do not put up any information about the fundraise since the pitch deck and the due diligence is only for investors and not for the general public. For crowdfunding campaigns, consider using your own website rather than a crowdfunding portal.  This lets you turn investors into customers and customers into investors. It's a good way to build your customer base as well as an investor list. One can also keep your investor list for your own fundraising and not expose them to other fundraisers. Make sure your website is up to date and communicates your startup's values. Consider how to use your website to leverage 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 speaks with Christopher Ezold, a partner at Wisler Pearlstine, a Pennsylvania-based law firm specializing in business employment and corporate law. Christopher provides valuable insights into the common types of lawsuits startups and growing businesses face, such as violations of non-compete agreements, disclosure issues, and intellectual property disputes. He emphasizes the importance of due diligence in hiring practices, contracts, and vendor selection to mitigate legal risks.  They also discuss the pros and cons of litigation, arbitration, and mediation, as well as best practices for avoiding legal battles over non-compete and non-disclosure agreements. Christopher delves into the unique compliance issues faced by highly regulated industries like healthcare and biotech, particularly concerning government regulations and data privacy. He underscores the necessity of having knowledgeable regulatory advisors and maintaining robust data protection practices to prevent breaches and uphold trade secrets.  Additionally, Christopher highlights the impact of a startup's litigation history on its ability to attract investors, stressing the importance of protecting intellectual property and maintaining clean contracts to boost investment attractiveness. Finally, Christopher offers practical advice on making business decisions about settling lawsuits versus proceeding to trial, and outlines the evolving legal challenges for startups, including changing non-compete laws and the complexities of privacy and cybersecurity regulations. He concludes with crucial tips for startups and entrepreneurs to minimize lawsuit risks by hiring the right people, documenting agreements, and ensuring team integrity. For more information, listeners can visit Whistler Pearlstine's website or contact Christopher Ezold directly at www.wislerpearlstine.com   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 Importance of Your Website in a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Your website plays a key role in your fundraising. The first place an investor goes after hearing a pitch is your website. Make sure it is up to date and looks professional. Pitch slides are meant to be high-level thumbnails and typically contain few details. The investor wants to learn more about your product and your team. Make sure your product is well described, including any platform solutions. Also, keep the team page up to date with the current C-level team as well as any advisors. Position the website to be one level beyond your current fundraising stage. This will enhance your presence with investors. For example, if you are raising a seed round, design the website to look like a Series A company. Seed companies show you are selling the product.  Series A companies show that you are growing the business. Series B companies show you are scaling the business. Finally, consider adding an investor relations button on your site. This gives prospective investors the ability to reach back out to you for follow-up questions.   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 Round Closings Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In planning out a fundraise, it's best to break the raise into a series of round closings. Communicate the overall fundraise amount to the investor but break it into steps. The first tranche is called the first round close. This typically includes family and friends funding. Use this funding to attract more investors to join. Set the date for the closing and make the deadline clear when pitching investors. This gives a target date for investors to make a decision. A typical target date is eight to twelve weeks before the closing date. This gives the investor enough time to run their due diligence before investing. Too short a window and the investor will bail, saying they don't have enough time. Too long a window and the investor will procrastinate. Give investors who come into that round an incentive, such as an investor-friendly valuation. When that round finishes, start the next one. Set the next deadline and communicate the date to all the investors who did not invest in the first round. Inform the investor that you raised the first round and are now moving to the next one. Use funding from the first round to add momentum to the second one.   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 .

Steps To Plan Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before you launch a fundraise, first plan out your investor engagement: Follow these steps to prepare: Create a timeline, giving yourself three to six months before launching the campaign. Make a list of your key contacts, including both investors and connectors. This includes people who know investors and can connect you with them. Prioritize the list based on who would be the most likely to help you. Determine how you will gain an introduction to each investor by looking at mutual contacts and network affiliations. Develop your investor documents, including pitch deck, financial forecast, and diligence documents. Write out a series of email templates for introductions, follow-ups, and updates. Identify three to five investors to target first to practice the pitch and update the deck so it's complete. Track who has seen your deal through email and who has heard your pitch. Develop a series of communications to send out to carry the investor through the process. This will make follow-up simpler. The more structure and content you put in place before the launch, the easier it will be to execute the raise.   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 .

Building the Fundraise Funnel 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 funnel into your fundraising. Just as you have a funnel for sales so you need a funnel for fundraising. At the top of the funnel are people you know but have not yet heard the pitch. Reach out to them in advance of the fundraise launch and indicate you are not raising funding now but in six months, you will be. Offer to tell them what you are working on with no ask. Most investors are curious about what may be coming up and will take the meeting. After the pitch, ask to keep the investor informed of your progress.  Every month, send a short bulleted list of results about your business via email. After six months, you will have a list of investors who have heard the pitch and have been on the journey with you. This builds your investor funnel for when you do launch the fundraiser. It takes seven touches to close a sale so it takes seven touches to close an investor. By starting the process before you launch the formal campaign, you take care of those interactions. Include building the investor funnel into your fundraising plans.   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 .

Milestone Your Valuation Caps Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In strategizing your fundraising, it's best to break your raise into tranches. Most raises start with a Convertible Note or SAFE Note so one uses a valuation cap rather than the actual valuation. Give the first tranche an investor-friendly valuation cap. For the second tranche, raise the valuation cap by 50%. In the pitch to investors make clear that there's a limited amount of the low valuation cap equity. When those funds are raised, move to the next tranche at a higher valuation. Continue this stair-step of the valuation cap for the remainder of your raise. This creates scarcity for the low-priced equity and encourages investors to come in early rather than late. Most investors want to do the smart investor thing which is to be the last investor in the round. Give investors a reason to invest early. This will help move your fundraising along and avoid stalling out.   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 T. Martin and co-host Kat Delvedio dive into TenCapital's initiatives and upcoming events aimed at bridging the gap between startups and investors. We emphasize the importance of building investor relationships and share details about key programs like the Family Office Roundtable, Virtual Quick Pitch for AI-enabled tech companies, and the Life Science Syndicate. Hal introduces AVA, an AI venture assistant designed to streamline the investment experience by providing insights from a trove of resources, including blog posts, podcasts, and proprietary tools. The episode features pitches from innovative startups, starting with Nathan Monty of Enamel Pure. Nathan discusses how his company is revolutionizing the preventive dentistry market with a laser and imaging technology that enhances clinical procedures and introduces AI-driven diagnostics. Nathan describes the significant market potential, detailing the benefits of their comprehensive device, which performs teeth cleaning, enamel hardening, and whitening, all while generating valuable diagnostic data. Vadim Balashov of Viaduct Ventures and Nola Masterson of Portfolio join the panel to provide feedback and ask insightful questions about Nathan's presentation. The discussion covers exit strategies, market approach, and the innovative use of AI in both dentistry and investment strategies. For more information on TenCapital's events and to join upcoming sessions, visit tencapital.group and click on the events button. Those interested in learning more about AVA can find her at startupfundingespresso.com.    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 .

You're Too Early for Us Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders raising funding will often hear an investor say ‘You're too early for us.' Many founders believe the investor may be a candidate for a future raise. In reality, most investors who say you're too early are actually saying, it's a pass. Experienced investors become adept at how to say no to the founder without causing resentment. In this case, they are saying you're okay, your startup is okay, but the timing is off.   This implies it's no one's fault and it's beyond our control. This type of pass leaves the door open for a future discussion when the investor may be open to investing. Investors want optionality. They may not want to invest today but in the future, they may want to join the round. ‘You're too early' statement positions them to join later potentially. In many cases, the investor doesn't see enough traction to engage the startup. The next step for the founder is to continue building the business and look to attach to a growth story. There are sectors in the startup ecosystem that are hot and attract investment. Founders should find a way to connect their startup to that growth sector to generate more interest from 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 .

Keep Going Till the Money Is in the Bank Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, the deal is not done till the money is in the bank. Many founders stop their fundraise when an investor says, “I'm in.” It's important to continue the fundraising process even though you may have commitments to cover your raise. Not all investors come through with their commitment. Even a signed terms sheet doesn't mean the deal is done. Stories in the startup space abound with “the deal blew up on the one-yard line.” This football analogy shows the fallout of investors on the way to the end zone for a touchdown. When an investor says ‘yes', start working through the process to close the investor and bring the funds into the bank account. Continue talking to new investors about the deal.  Once your fundraiser has momentum new investors will ask about the startup. This is a great position to be in as you can showcase the interest in the deal from other investors to help close the round. Keep going till the money is in the bank.   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 .

Fundraise Closing Rate Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In sales, the average close rate of prospects is 5% to 10%. This often seems low to first-time salespeople who view their product as superior to the competition. There are many reasons why customers don't buy the product. These include the lack of budget, inability to make a decision, and other priorities taking precedence. In fundraising, the close rate with investors is similar at 5% to 10%. The startup founder must talk to a hundred investors to close investments from 5% to 10% of them. The founder sees the potential of the startup and the opportunity it has. But only a minority of investors pitched will ultimately come in. Reasons include lack of funds available to invest, inability to make a decision to go forward, and other startups such as portfolio companies that take priority. Founders should factor this into their fundraising strategy. Set a goal to meet enough investors to hit the fundraising target. There's a saying in the finance world.   You have to kiss a lot of frogs. The startup space is no different.   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 .

Research Your Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Just as investors do research on the startup so the founder should do research on the investors. Research includes both primary and secondary research. Primary research comes from talking with the investors' portfolio companies and other investors. Ask the founders who have worked with the investor about their experience. Look for what value the investor can bring.   This includes both connections to other investors and business skills such as hiring, go-to-market strategies, and financial management. Secondary research comes from researching the investor online for their past experience, investments, and content posted. Review the investor's LinkedIn profile to learn more about their work history. Look at the investors' website to understand their investment thesis and what companies they've funded. Superficial impressions of an investor are often misleading. Some of the best investors don't carry a high profile in the community. Choosing a bad investor can make your startup life problematic so research well and pick carefully. This type of research will inform your fundraising 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin is joined by Christopher Ezold, a partner at Wisler Pearlstine, a law firm based in Pennsylvania that specializes in business, employment, and corporate law. Christopher shares insights into the complexities surrounding non-compete agreements and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), especially as they pertain to startups and the investment landscape. He discusses the evolving legal landscape regarding non-competes, the importance of tailoring these agreements to specific roles and states, and the critical factors investors need to consider when evaluating a startup's legal safeguards. Christopher also touches on the broader changes in employment law, the impact of generational shifts on the workforce, and offers practical advice for ensuring legal agreements are enforceable to protect intellectual property and competitive advantage.  Reach out to Christopher at . Visit their website 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 .

Demonstrate Credibility With Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding either as a startup looking for investors or a VC fund manager looking for Limited Partners, it's important to demonstrate credibility. Investors love to be educated on a market segment. There are over 200 market segments in the venture space so it's difficult to keep up with them all. One way to demonstrate credibility is to take your market research and showcase it to investors. In launching a startup or fund, one typically does a deep dive on a market segment and generates an array of charts and graphs showing the trends and status of the segment. Take that market research and build a 15 slide presentation showing the state of the market including trends that are increasing and areas that are decreasing. Offer a briefing on the sector and go through the slides showing the status. Call out the insights to be gained such as where value will accrue. Show who will be the winners and the losers in the next five years. This provides the foundation for a startup or an investment thesis for a fund. By educating the investor on the market you are now positioned to discuss how your startup or fund will take advantage of those trends. Offer the market brief as a standalone meeting with no ask of the investor. It's important to build credibility first.   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 .