.png)
How Brian Sheng Closed a $112M Round for Aquaria (Brian Sheng / Aquaria - Ep 55)
Raising money isn’t just about convincing investors—it’s about surviving long enough to do it. Brian Sheng, founder of Aquaria, bootstrapped millions of his own dollars, ran relentless product-market fit experiments, and faced rejection after rejection before securing a $112M round to scale his breakthrough water technology. We dive into the toughest moments of his fundraising journey, the insight that finally got investors on board, and the mindset that kept him pushing forward. If you’re a founder struggling to raise capital, this episode is a must-listen.
Latest Episodes -
Check out our latest chats with awesome founders.

TBC: The Similarities Between Real Estate and Fundraising
Have you ever compared fundraising with real estate?Once you do, you'll be shocked by their similarities.In today's episode, Jason gives a real life example of how he discovered just how similar they are.While having to find a new renter for his home, he realized how he still needed to build momentum, keep options open, and communicate the value of the property in a way that grasped others attention.He even learned the lesson of not getting too ahead of yourself, and to keep running a process until the papers are signed.Listen to the full episode to learn more about the similarities between fundraising and real estate and how you can use this analogy yo help your fundraise.See you next week on The Backchannel!

TBC: The Need For Support in Fundraising
For a topic that seems to be "cliche", it sure is important. What if we were to tell you that getting support around your fundraise is one of the best ways to guarantee success? As founders, you are automatically biased toward your own product. That means you are also biased toward your pitch, deck, and any other materials you might share with an investor. In this episode, Jason dives into 3 areas of fundraising you should be getting support around, and why it's so important. See you guys next week on The Backchannel!

TBC: CEOs Should Always Be the Ones to Pitch
Who should be the one to pitch - the CEO or the outgoing salesman? In today's episode of The Backchannel, Jason explains why he believes the CEO should always be the one pitching to investors. Although there might be a few exceptions, investors are looking to get to know the person who is running the ship and making the big decisions. A salesman sells the vision, the CEO is the one who executes on it. Remember: investors bet on the jockey, not just the horse. See you next week!

TBC: Explaining "The Money Round"
In this Back Channel episode, we're diving into the elusive "money round" investors adore. So what is it? To sum it up, the "money round" is the round before a valuation spike. Investors are searching for crystal-clear milestones and confident execution that screams, "Next round, here we come!" How do you do that? Make sure to watch the full episode where Jason dives into the details. See you next week!

TBC: Preparing For a Pitch Competition
Working with founders it's safe to say Jason has seen a lot of pitches, good and bad. Not to mention he himself has pitched quite a bit in his past as a VC-backed founder. In that time, he's learned what to do and not to do. In this episode, Jason gives some practical tips around how to make the most of your pitch for a pitch competition. Enjoy the episode!

TBC: Data Rooms - What You Need to Know
There's a lot of talk about data rooms in the startup world - but a lot of founders struggle to understand what a data room actually is. In today's episode, Jason discusses their purpose in validating a startup's pitch for investors. On top of that, he explains when and how to share a data room effectively. Founders, if you're even slightly confused around how to properly use your data room to help you get funded - watch this episode!

TBC: Pitching VCs Through a Screen
In this episode, we're unraveling the mystery behind Zoom-based pitches – a critical skill in the post-March 2020 startup landscape. Jason takes us on a journey, reminiscing about the pre-COVID days of in-person meetings, shaking hands, and engaging conversations. Ever wondered why some pitches feel like a Broadway show while others are just a mundane PowerPoint affair? Today, he shares the secret sauce: making your Zoom pitch more of a dialogue and less of a presentation. Forget the monotony, inject life into your virtual pitches, and learn how to capture investors' attention authentically. Make sure to give the full episode a listen. We'll see you next week on The Backchannel!

TBC: Launch Before You're Ready
Slow and steady doesn't always win the race. In this episode of The Backchannel, we dive into a unique perspective on startup success that's not just about fundraising but about building a thriving business. Jason emphasizes the importance of launching your startup before you think you're ready. Forget about striving for perfection—what you really need is to get something out there and start chatting with customers. Find out how launching before your masterpiece is complete not only leads to a better product but also impresses investors. Tune in to this episode to discover why taking the leap now can save you from a lot more trouble down the road.

TBC: How to Grow Your Network FAST
In this episode of The Back Channel, we've got a cool fundraising hack for you. Ever thought about hosting networking dinners to amp up your investor connections? Sure you won't become best friends overnight, but these connections create a sense of mutual support for one another. Plus, it might surprise you how similar the process of setting up a networking dinner is to setting up a fundraise. If you're tired of feeling like you have no way of growing your network - this episode is for you.
Featured Episodes -

.png)
.png)


