LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.
Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. You can update your choices at any time in your settings.
Last week, I attended the TechCrunch Annual Founders Summit in #Boston, and it was an enlightening experience. Meeting other founders provided a unique environment to exchange insights and support one another through our entrepreneurial journeys.
Many of the speakers also delivered invaluable wisdom across different stages of a founder’s journey:
Jess Lee offered a comprehensive framework for assessing product-market fit and crafting compelling value propositions for different types of markets.
Edith Yeung provided a crash course on leveraging our online presence and branding to attract investors, customers and partners.
Lily Lyman taught us how to approach investor conversations when building relationships vs raising funds.
Jake Cohen shared candid advice on how to grow a venture without VC funding, or to do so in a way that keeps the founding team and its employees set for long-term success.
Sara Choi emphasized the importance of conducting due diligence on the individual we pitch to, and not just the firm they represent.
Daniel Kang outlined strategies to help founders optimize their cash flow and maintain financial prudence.
Rudina Seseri shared insights on founders’ journey to validating product-market fit and scaling to $1M ARR after closing their seed round.
Special thanks to the people I met at the Summit!
Ryan StohlAnoushka RamkumarJustina SamantaAkhil DapharaDaniel R.Shaurjya MandalCloey WongAaron Joshua Pinto
After 5 years in VC, I've seen 1000s of pitch decks and pitches from founders. But I realized for all the time founders spend pitching VCs, how many times have founders heard the VC's pitch to them?
Given how many pitches we see from founders, we think it’s only fair to share our pitch to founders with you!
The Harlem Capital Pitch covers:
- Who we are & most importantly our values
- How our team support founders
- Our portfolio and the ecosystem we've built
- Insight into what it really takes to reach VC scale
- Benchmarks for VC funding stages
- Lessons learned from our portfolio
Founders - it's so important to understand who you'll be partnering with on the 7-10 year VC backed startup journey!
What makes angel investors tick? 🤔
We caught up with angel investor, Michael Nissim, who shares exactly what he wants to see from startups that guarantee investment💸
If you're about to begin your fundraising journey, looking for an angel investor or simply want to learn a bit more about the process, tune in to the full episode on our YouTube channel this Friday!👇
https://lnkd.in/dDfmxkdy
I've seen as many founder breakups as failures to reach product market fit.
We’ve talked a lot on First Funders about product-market fit. Still, in my conversation with Julie Lein and Clara Brenner of the Urban Innovation Fund, they reminded me of the importance of a cohesive team. Is there a fit between the co-founders? I've started calling this cofounder-to-cofounder fit.
As early-stage investors, we often only meet the CEO Founder during our process and not the rest of the team. It's a delicate balance not to take too much of a team's time, but it's also critical to understand working dynamics.
Think about the last time you evaluated visit cofounders of a company together. How did they interact? Did they agree on the big things? Did they seem to actually … like each other?! These are all key observations investors need to make so they can choose founders with rock-solid relationships – not just ones who have opposite skills.
I've hosted founder dinners to allow me to get to know teams. Julie and Clara take the time to go to the startups' offices, which is a great option! What else are investors doing to understand team dynamics better while respecting the team's time?
#founders#cofounders#investors#vc
Time is precious when you are pitching your startup in front of VCs at a partner meeting, so you want to make sure you are utilizing all your time correctly.
One technique to try here is to practice two versions of your slides: short and long.
“The former will help prepare you for a situation where you’re being interrupted non-stop, while the latter helps you in the situation where all you hear are crickets,” says First Round Partner Liz Wessel.
As a former founder, Wessel remembers the significance (and the pressure) that comes from preparing for a first-time fundraise. She shares seven more strategies of how seed stage founders can nail their first VC partner meeting at the link in the comments. 👇
Day 1:
FunderFindNG vs. Accelerators - A Unique Approach! 🚀*
Hey LinkedIn Community!
Ever wondered how FunderFindNG stands out from traditional accelerators? We're not your average accelerator - we're a dynamic ecosystem connecting founders and investors in a way that redefines collaboration. Join me over the next six days as we explore what sets FunderFindNG apart!
#FunderFindNG#InnovationJourney#StartupDifferentiation 🌐🔍
Alexander Shartsis, CEO of Silverwood and an expert GTM strategist, explores the varied approaches of venture capitalists in the startup ecosystem.
Alex sheds light on why the best venture capitalists may take their time before investing and the importance of building trust and credibility. He shares an anecdote about a startup's rocky venture pitch—highlighting the consequences of missing targets and the harsh reality of investor expectations. 📊
🔍 VCs value more than just metrics—they're investing in potential and partnerships over time. It’s important to foster strong relationships and effectively manage expectations to pave the way for future opportunities.
🎧 Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gTB-r-t6
Most first time founders struggle to fundraise because they don't understand Venture Capital Dynamics.
I've put together an guide to fundraise with:
1. How to pitch to investors 🔊
- The basics
- What not to do
- What the best do
2. The startup pitch framework 👨💻
3. Data room notion template created by me 🤑
Coment below and DM me and I'll share it with you! 🚀
A big welcome to the next cohort of Praxis business fellows...
A decade ago, I was a fellow like you. Here's my attempt at offering some heartfelt wisdom to each of you :-)
You've all embarked on this transformative journey for unique reasons. I vividly remember arriving in NY for week one. Within just the first hours of casual lunch, meeting people, and a couple of sessions...I was overwhelmed. I felt so different, didn't agree with some of the initial core content, and was hit hard by imposter syndrome. All at once.
I retreated to my hotel room before dinner and cried.
Little did I know what I was in for - first burning down my theology of entrepreneurship I'd spent the previous decade trying to figure out, then rebuilding it with a stronger foundation. And doing it all alongside a beautiful community of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors that I now am so thankful to call dear friends.
As you begin this adventure, remember:
Embrace the challenge: There is much to work on around leadership, strategy, and operations... and yet may God do an important work deeper inside you.
Join a greater mission: You're being invited to participate in the renewal and redemption of all things - solving big problems as part of God's rule and reign on earth.
Find joy in partnership: God is at work, doing amazing things, and is so proud and excited you are willing to help "hold the tools" (I think of the joy when my middle schoolers "help" me on a project around the house).
Be open to transformation: Be prepared to take a step back if needed. Bring your authentic self and embrace the journey ahead.
So buckle up. Embrace the journey. God is going to do a great work in and through each of you over the coming months (and then decades ahead!)
#PraxisAccelerator#RedemptiveEntrepreneurship
Difference between VC-backed/bootstrapped startups is the conservation of founder energy.
Chasing VC depletes.
Building Community & sharing upside with everyone who helps you build & grow replenishes.
Audience=>Community=>Earn-gated Collaboration=> MVP =>Cashflow=>Community VC.
Forecastr | Startup Advisor | Angel Investor
3wI ❤️ NYC!