TBC: Can You Pitch a Big Vision?
In this episode of The Back Channel, we talk about the pressure founders feel to pitch a massive vision — and what actually makes that land with investors. VCs need to believe in billion-dollar outcomes, but that doesn’t mean you should throw out the biggest idea you can think of. Credibility, traction, and storytelling all shape how your vision is received. We also revisit the Airbnb pitch and why their big thinking worked — and how yours can too.
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TBC: The Role of Emotions in Pitching
What's the most important part of pitching your company to VCs?
Some think it's sharing the right numbers and statistics.
Others think it's about giving the investors a wealth of information about the company.
And then there's those who believe storytelling to be the key.
To be clear, I think all of these are important aspects of a pitch.
But theres something missing - emotion.
If you tell a story but have no emotional connection to it, it's just a story.
If you overload investors with information and numbers but they have nothing to connect it back to, it's just clutter.
In this episode I talk about the importance of connecting all aspects o your pitch through emotion.
If you can get an investor to feel the relief your product or service gives to it's customers AND then back it up with proof, chances are you've got a deal.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: What VCs Are Saying About AI Investing
Ever since chatGPT was released in November of 2022, there has been a flood of other AI platforms pulling from OpenAI's original technology.
That being said I was so curious to know what that means for venture capital firms funding these new AI companies, when it seemed like all the hard work was being done by OpenAI.
Why were investors pouring money into these AI startups that didn't seem to have defensible technology?
I wanted to hear from experts in the industry who could give me answers - so I made it happen.
A couple of months ago I hosted a fireside chat with Yohei Nakajima, GP of Untapped Capital and founder of BabyAGI and Sarah Catanzaro, GP at Amplify Partners.
They were able to answer all of my questions and more. In this episode, I sum up their answers and key takeaways for you to hear.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Intros & Forwardable Emails
The art of introductions is something heavily ignored when founders are learning how to start their fundraising process.
Truth is, intros are the lifeblood of a great fundraise.
There are many different components that go into making introductions, but today we'll be focusing specifically on forwardable emails.
While meant to simplify, intros often backfire - especially if you lack a process behind it. This episode will give you all of the basics surrounding forwardable emails like sequences of interactions, double opt-ins, connecting emails, and more.
Head to our website to find some real examples of what a forwardable email should look like: adamantventures.com
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Side Letter Warning
Side letters are not only more complicated than they seem but dangerous to your fundraise if not properly managed.
Side letters, often accompanying standard agreements like safes, may seem harmless at first but can include onerous clauses like pro-rata rights.
In this episode Jason emphasizes the importance of early negotiation and proactive communication to safeguard founder interests.
Tune in to protect yourself from this common challenge in the fundraising world.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Putting Project Management First
Project management - an often overlooked and unsexy aspect of fundraising.
Contrary to the dramatic portrayals in movies, fundraising is essentially a series of repetitive and detailed tasks. While not brain surgery, these small actions demand attention and diligence.
While it might seem like project management is 'taking away' from more glamorous business pursuits it's actually the underpinnings that form the foundation for success.
Success in fundraising lies in effectively managing oneself and others throughout the process.
In this episode Jason discusses the importance of creating processes that set you up for success. If you tend to avoid project management, this ones for you.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: What Comes First - Calm Confidence or Investor Interest?
One of the most common dilemmas faced by founders in the fundraising world is the chicken and egg dynamic.
Much like the age-old question, founders often grapple with the challenge of needing investor interest to gain confidence and at the same time, requiring confidence to attract investor interest.
Truth is in order for an investor to be confident in you, you first have to be confident in yourself.
In this episode, Jason will be exploring how to implement a process in order to break free from this cycle of uncertainty and instead - create confidence from within.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Post Money Cap Safes have Anti-Dilution!
We’re back on post-money cap SAFEs talk!In the previous episode, we explained what it is and how it works within the fundraising process.
For this episode, Jason goes deeper as he illuminates a more specific topic: the anti-dilution provision within post-money cap SAFEs.
With the evolution of the fundraising and startup worlds, many things have changed, and the rounds raised by founders are tremendously affected.
This affects everyone in the process - both founders and investors.
Tune in with us as we examine the entirety of this process and how it affects your fundraising!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Post Money Caps vs. Pre-money Caps (an explainer)
Founders are often intimidated by some of the more complex fundraising concepts.
One of these is the concept of post-money cap SAFE.
Post-money cap SAFEs can get tricky for some founders, especially for first-timers.
In this episode, Jason dives a little deep into the dynamics of this concept, along with SAFEs in general, valuations, and how it all relates to the post-money cap SAFE.
Get your pens and prepare for this episode as we talk about specific examples and scenarios, concepts involved, and steps to take so you can better navigate your fundraising journey.
Oh, and this is only part 1. Make sure to tune in next week for the 2nd part on this topic!
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
TBC: Vulnerability in Fundraising
We all have stories we like to keep to ourselves for many reasons.
It’s uncomfortable to tell these stories because they may be a sign of weakness, a reminder of a terrible mistake, or that nobody would understand.
This is why many founders tend to adopt the “fake it til they make it” attitude.
This won’t work forever, though.
In this episode, Jason tells a couple of stories where a founder’s vulnerability was precisely what they needed to get their investors to understand them fully.
Tune in as we talk about what really goes into an investor’s mind when they hear about your problems, struggles, and mistakes.
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If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab my weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
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