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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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

Make Sure the Convertible Note Has a Conversion Point Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Convertible notes are useful tools for fundraising. They are easy to set up and often don't require much legal work. The best part is they don't require a valuation to be set. Instead, a valuation cap is used to give assurance to the investor that the valuation will not be set at an unreasonable level. Most convertible notes convert on a subsequent round funded by equity. In the event there's no follow-on equity round, then the note should convert at the maturity date. This is most often at year 3 or 5 from the start date. One of the drawbacks of some convertible notes is that they don't set a maturity date. In reviewing a convertible note, make sure the note sets the maturity date and converts at that point. This ensures the investor receives the equity stake. For startups, this is also an important issue, in that the note left in debt form means the investor could demand their investment back with interest. Review your convertible notes for the conversion point.   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 .

Talk to Investors As if They Were Already Partners Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. First-time founders often spend their pitch time selling their product. This fails as it doesn't focus on the other elements of the business the investor needs to know, such as the team, the market, the competition, and more. It treats the investor as a customer.  They are not buying the product; they're buying a part of the company Instead of selling, try treating the investor as a partner. This approach positions the investor as a collaborator. Start by telling the investor your story. Engage the investor by showing where you are with the business. Show why this business matters and is making a difference. Highlight your progress with customers. Talk about the challenges with the competition. Invite them to join the effort. It's important to build a connection with the investor. Selling is transactional. Partnering is collaborative.  Treat the investor as if they were already a partner in 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 .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin speaks with Abdul Golden, an investor, operator, and mentor with a rich background in deep tech and entrepreneurship. Abdul shares the founding story of Shujaa Capital, his venture capital firm focused on democratizing tech investing for diverse and underrepresented founders, especially in undercapitalized regions like Africa. He highlights the undervalued opportunities in these markets and discusses the importance of financial impact and ethical practices in venture investing. Abdul also touches on the emerging trends in minority-led startups and the evolving investment landscape in the US. He offers insights into how Africa's young demographics and leapfrogging of legacy technology systems present unparalleled opportunities for economic growth and technological innovation.  This episode provides valuable perspectives on investing in emerging markets and the pivotal role of passionate, systematic approaches to making impactful investments.  Visit Shujaa Capital at or 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 .

Key Steps to FDA Approval for a Therapeutic Drug Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. FDA approval is a lengthy and involved process with therapeutic drugs that startups must go through. Here's a list of the key steps to achieve FDA approval: After basic research, the founder applies for an Investigational New Drug Application called an IND. The founder takes the proposed therapeutic or drug through four phases of clinical trials. Phase 1 is for safety testing.  Phase 2 is for effectiveness. Phase 3 focuses on additional safety testing to determine side effects. Phase 4 focuses on additional efficacy tests. After testing comes the New Drug Application or NDA. The FDA reviews the NDA, including the clinical data and research, to determine approval. There are fast-track paths for drugs that treat serious medical conditions that have no current solution. There is also a breakthrough therapy path for drugs that show substantial improvement over the current solution. For investing in therapeutic startups, consider the FDA pathway for the drug and where it currently resides on that pathway.   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 .

Preparing for a Crowdfunding Raise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Crowdfunding is a viable method for raising funding for a startup. Here are some key considerations before pursuing a crowdfunding campaign: Platform choice. Look for the appropriate platform for your startup. There are large platforms that are commonly used and many smaller ones that cater to niche audiences. Look at the fees associated with the platform and their level of support for finding investors. Most platforms provide for about 1% of the fundraising. Marketing platforms. Most crowdfunding campaigns require a network of 10,000 contacts or more to achieve initial success. Look for marketing platforms that can generate more contacts at a cost-effective price. It's not unusual to find that social media and email marketing cost 20% or more of the fundraising. Content creation. Look for resources that can help generate the required content, including pitch decks, updates, digital assets, and social media posts. Consider these steps before launching your crowdfunding 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 Metrics by Stage Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors use metrics to understand the performance of the startup. Here's a list of key metrics by stage: Pre-seed.  User engagement with the prototype. Since there's no revenue-generating product, look at how often and how long the customer engages with the prototype. Seed.  Initial revenue traction and cash spend Track month-over-month growth rates and how much of the revenue is recurring. Look at the burn rates of the company to see how much runway they have. Seed+ Continuing revenue traction and more efficient use of capital. Startups often raise an additional round after the seed raise. The funds continue to grow the revenue, and the company should see a lower burn rate. Series A. Revenue run rate with an increase in retention. The company should be finding product market fit, and so more revenue should come from retention. Series B.  Revenue run rate with a greater increase in revenue than in cost. The company should continue to grow the business, but the costs should flatten or decrease on a unit economic level. Consider these metrics in reviewing 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 .

How To Make Your Pitch Deck Look Professional Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There's a big difference between an average pitch deck and a great one. The great pitch deck sends the signal that you are an above-average startup. It shows class and status over other companies raising funding. Here are some key steps to make your pitch deck look great: Add an investor disclaimer about investor solicitation. While this is not often done, it signals the founder knows something about securities law. Use a professional graphics designer to polish the deck. This shows you care a great deal about how you are perceived by the investors. Use uniform glyphs from the same source with a common look and feel. The grab bag of icons found on the internet can look clunky. Spell check your pitch deck to make sure you don't have any mistakes. Include sources for key slides, such as the Total Available Market and any assumptions built into the financial forecast. Make good use of charts, tables, and graphics. Otherwise, the pitch deck will come out looking word-heavy. Make clear the ask in the deck to show the investor the next step. Include these steps in your pitch deck preparation.   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 Key Component to Investor Updates Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Updates to investors throughout the fundraise campaign are a must. Investors want to know you are making progress. It's important to send weekly or monthly updates about progress on sales, team, product, and fundraising. The key component to investor updates is to show you have a plan and it's working. The updates on sales, team, and product show you have a strategy in motion. The updates should highlight the momentum and progress the startup is making. In the very early stages, investors will focus on sales to see if anyone will buy the product. After that, the investors look at the plan to see if it is building. This may include shipping products, signing partners, engaging prospects, or closing customers. Show how the plan has a strategy built in to grow the business and later scale it. After the initial launch, investors will look for more than just selling the product. They will look to see that revenue continues to grow, gross margins continue to climb, and cash burn continues to shrink. Make sure your investor updates showcase how your company is achieving the plan.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin welcomes Anshuman Sinha, a veteran entrepreneur, angel investor, and fundraising strategist who's making waves in the Southern California startup scene. As co-founder of Startup Steroid and a leader at TiE SoCal Angels, Anshuman shares how these organizations are reshaping early-stage investing through technology, syndication, and a global network. With 68 chapters in 14 countries and over $1 billion invested over the past three decades, TiE has become a powerhouse in fostering innovation. Anshuman details how syndication is driving speed and efficiency in funding, with some deals closing in as little as three weeks thanks to collaborative diligence and shared investment infrastructure. The conversation dives deep into Startup Steroid's role in centralizing deal flow and standardizing the investment process. Anshuman explains how tools like the Ready Score help founders gauge their investor-readiness while giving angel groups a fast, structured way to screen and syndicate deals. He also outlines how platforms like Startup Steroid enable investor groups—ranging from family offices to micro VCs—to partner more effectively, streamline cap tables with series LLCs, and bring promising startups into the U.S. market by setting up Delaware C-corps. With deals sourced from all over the world and evaluated through a centralized system, Startup Steroid is enabling smarter, faster decision-making for investors while easing the burden on founders. As the discussion turns to angel education, Anshuman highlights the value of groups like the Angel Capital Association and stresses the importance of mentorship for new investors. He and Hall also touch on the rising use of AI in due diligence and the need for a more unified approach to cross-border investing. Looking ahead, Anshuman proposes LinkedIn Live AMAs to connect with global founders—especially those unfamiliar with the U.S. market—and help them navigate the path to capital more confidently.  Visit Startup Steroid 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 .

How To Get Your Investor To Help With Sales Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors can help their funded startup in many ways. In addition to making introductions to other investors, they can also help with sales. Here are some key steps on how to get your investor to help your startup: Clearly articulate your ideal customer profile. The more specific you make it, the better the leads your investor can send you. Arm them with email templates that they can use to send to their network to find prospective customers. Send the investor a list of prospective companies you want to meet. This helps them in combing through their contact list to see who they know. Show where you found the last three customers and how you engaged with them. This gives them an idea of how your sales process works. Follow up with the investor with the results of the introductions. This shows you are taking their efforts seriously. For those prospects that turn into customers, make note of it in your investor update reports. This encourages the investor to continue prospecting and helps recruit others to join the effort. Consider these steps to engage your investor for increasing sales.   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 Position Your Bridge Raise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, bridge rounds fill the gap between the stage raises. Startups use bridge raises for many reasons, such as preparing for the next round, increasing the runway, or covering a gap left by an unexpected event. It's best to position the fundraiser as a positive. Show how the startup is doing well and is on track with the plan. Position the bridge round as an opportunity to gain an even stronger position. It could also be used in pursuit of an unexpected strategic opportunity that recently came up. Avoid positioning it as a remedy for bad planning or missed forecasts. The worst reason of all is the “we've run out of money”. This shows a lack of planning and poor management of resources. Investors will look at the cash runway of the company before investing. If there's less than four months of runway, they will often assume poor management to be the cause. Make sure you launch a bridge raise in advance of a cash crunch situation. In raising a bridge round, showcase the progress made with the previous investment. Pursue investors who have made an initial investment but have not yet made a follow-up investment. Consider these steps in positioning your bridge 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 Start Angel Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. First-time investors often wonder where to begin in angel investing. Some join angel groups or syndicate funds. Others start looking for deals to invest in. Either way, here are some key steps to start angel investing: Figure out what type of deal you want to fund, including sector and stage. Look for sources of dealflow that provide those leads. Many join clubs and networking groups that attract those types of companies. Identify a few key criteria in the startup that signal potential success. This could be a large target market, an experienced team, a disruptive technology, or other.  Start with small investments to test the waters. If the startup does well, then consider additional investments in those companies. Look for patterns among the startups that point to success. Once you have a process that works, set up a system for reviewing deals, diligence the ones that fit, and tracking the funded ones. Consider setting up your own syndicate fund. Invite other investors to join in the companies you are funding. Consider these steps to start angel 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 .

Win, Expand, Extend in Vertical SaaS Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a vertical SaaS business model, there's a strategy for growth called Win, Expand, and Extend. In this model, the startup wins its initial customer application. From there, the business expands into other areas of the company. This includes other applications that use the same platform, data, or technology. A platform-based approach provides an environment in which to plug in more applications. A data-based approach means owning the core data and applying it to other applications. A technology-based approach means applying the core engine to other applications. An example technology would be Artificial Intelligence. Extending the business model can go into suppliers and vendors. The application could be moved into a supplier network to provide a more efficient and seamless process. The user's customers are potential targets. Partners of the company could also be candidates Finally, finance providers could be engaged.  In this case, the company can offer payment solutions to help customers purchase the product. Consider the Win, Expand, and Extend strategy for your 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 .

More Control Points 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 great business model for startups to use. It focuses the product on one specific sector. This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more. A control point is a strategy for controlling the customer account. Here are more control points for a vertical SaaS startup. Drive demand by generating access to more customers. Offer payment tools such as short-term loans to pay for the service. If your solution drives enough business, you can take a percentage of revenue as payment for the service. Network the customer with their vendors and suppliers to create a better experience. Provide value-added products for customers, such as concierge services. Provide an alternative network to the customer's current system. Many customers have outdated solutions.  Instead of replacing them, provide an alternative path for users to do their job. Consider how to engage these control points for your vertical SaaS customer.    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 .

S7E2 – Dr. Emilia Onyema Welcome back to Season 7 of Tales of the Tribunal! We're thrilled to bring you another powerful conversation in this week's episode. Our guest is the incomparable Dr. Emilia Onyema, professor at SOAS University of London, international arbitrator, and global thought leader on justice, inclusion, and reform in international dispute resolution.

On this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Dr. Guy Cooper, MD, an orthopedic surgeon by training, who discusses his company's breakthrough treatment for bladder cancer, the world's most expensive cancer. Dr. Cooper explains that his company, Combat Medical, is seeking $2.3 million to close a $5 million investment round to further their innovative approach that utilizes heated chemotherapy. This method enhances the drug's effect, improves penetration into cancer cells, and significantly reduces recurrence and progression rates. Combat Medical has already conducted over 100,000 procedures outside the US, generating $4.3 million in revenue last year and holding patents that cover their products globally. Dr. Cooper articulates the company's successful trials and their aggressive expansion plans that project a substantial market growth by 2032. He outlines the potential for significant exit opportunities through acquisition by major medical device companies or IPOs on the Nasdaq.   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 .

Control Points 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 great business model for startups to use. It focuses the product on one specific sector. This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more. A control point is a strategy for controlling the customer account. This provides a hedge against competition.  In a vertical SaaS business, there are three control points. The first is the workflow. If your product provides the core workflow, you own the operations of the customer's business. This makes it harder for a competitor to displace your solution. The more the customer uses your workflow, the stickier your product. The second is the data. If you own the core data set of the customer's account, then others must go through your system to access that data. This makes your solution stickier and harder to move to another solution. The third is the level of account engagement. The higher your account contact in the organization, the stronger your position against the competition. Consider how to engage these three control points for your vertical SaaS customer.    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 .

Why 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 venture sector in the tech space. It narrows the scope of the startup to a single application. Vertical SaaS has many advantages as follows: It's easier to position in the market and message to the customer. By narrowing the scope, the startup can dive deeper into the application, providing a better solution. Distribution can be easier as it focuses on one vertical. Vertical SaaS is highly specialized for the customer's needs. There's less competition because the overall space is smaller. Vertical SaaS requires less capital to launch and scale the business. The key to a successful vertical SaaS business is to ensure there's a large enough market.  If the total available market is too small, it will be difficult to achieve a venture outcome. The founder needs to be highly experienced in the sector. For many applications, a vertical SaaS approach will yield a successful startup. Consider focusing your startup on a specific sector.   Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:   Check out our other podcasts here:   For Investors check out:   For Startups check out:   For eGuides check out:   For upcoming Events, check out    For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group    Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .

Raising an Inside Round Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most startup fundraisers seek capital from outside investors who are new to the round. This brings new investors into the cap table. There are rounds in which the existing investors fund the startup. This is often done for bridge rounds. Instead of raising the next major round, the startup raises additional capital to prepare for the next major round. This often happens between the seed and Series A, which is a bigger step compared to other rounds. An inside round often occurs around an important milestone, such as reaching cash flow positive or achieving a specific metric. They are often smaller fundraisers in terms of amount. They focus on existing investors. The goal is often a key metric needed to raise the next round. They are often priced at the same valuation as the last one. It's easier to raise a small amount from the existing investors than from outside investors. Inside rounds are common and don't necessarily indicate the startup is in trouble. Consider an inside round 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 .