• Fundraising: Demystified! True Stories Direct From Founders

  • By: Jason Kirby
  • Podcast

Fundraising: Demystified! True Stories Direct From Founders By cover art

Fundraising: Demystified! True Stories Direct From Founders

By: Jason Kirby
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  • Summary

  • In this podcast, we uncover the untold stories of founders who have weathered the highs and lows of raising capital. We go beyond the headlines and Techcrunch funding news articles to explore the uncharted territories of the fundraising landscape. In each episode, we'll sit down with founders from various industries who have raised venture capital to bring their visions to life. They'll open up about their personal journeys, fundraising tactics & more. If you're a founder, this podcast offers a ton of value & insights you can apply to your fundraising journey. Don't forget to hit subscribe!
    Jason Kirby
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Episodes
  • EP 48: How Alex Pattis Raised $75M in 300 Deals by Launching a Syndicate

    EP 48: How Alex Pattis Raised $75M in 300 Deals by Launching a Syndicate
    Jul 4 2024

    In this episode, we're sitting down with Alex Pattis, general partner at Riverside Ventures and author of the newsletter "Last Money In". Alex shares his journey from sales director to launching a syndicate that has completed over 300 deals and deployed $75 million in capital.


    Alex provides valuable insights into how syndicates operate, their advantages for both founders and investors, and the common pitfalls to avoid. He also discusses the current trends in the syndicate market and offers advice for founders considering working with syndicates.


    Here's what you're in for:

    • 00: 00 - Intro

    • 04:53 - Demystifying syndicates: Understanding LPs and SPVs

    • 07:54 - The value of syndicates for founders

    • 14:11 - The importance of transparency in the syndicate process

    • 18:37 - Current trends in the syndicate market

    • 32:36 - Common mistakes in the syndicate market

    • 38:01 - Strategic fundraising with Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)

    • 47:19 - Outro


    This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.


    Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders


    Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc


    Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc


    ABOUT ALEX PATTIS

    Alex Pattis is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a diverse background in both operations and venture capital. He is currently a co-founder of Last Money In Media, producing the most actionable VC newsletter focused on explaining Special Purpose Vehicles within the

    Venture Capital ecosystem. He is also a General Partner at Riverside Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies. To date, they have deployed over $70 million.


    Alex's operating background includes nearly a decade of scaling early-stage startups, focusing on growth and commercial strategy. In venture capital, Alex has invested in over 250 companies as a General Partner at Riverside Ventures. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in the early stages of their businesses. His experience spans both operational and investment roles, giving him a unique perspective on the startup ecosystem.


    Connect with Alex Pattis on:

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-pattis-1709011a/

    • Newsletter: https://lastmoneyin.co/


    ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

    Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.


    Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.


    ABOUT JASON

    Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.


    You can reach out to Jason through:

    Email: jason@thunder.vc

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/
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    47 mins
  • EP 47: How Wen-Wen Lam Sold Her $100M Revenue Startup During Covid and Became a Top VC

    EP 47: How Wen-Wen Lam Sold Her $100M Revenue Startup During Covid and Became a Top VC
    Jun 27 2024

    We're excited to have Wen-Wen Lam, former founder of NexTravel and formerly a partner at Gradient Ventures, join us in this episode. Wen-Wen shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early days at LinkedIn to founding and scaling NexTravel to $100 million in bookings before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the travel industry.


    Wen-Wen provides invaluable insights into the challenging process of acquiring and selling a company during a crisis. She walks us through her strategic approach, including compiling a list of potential buyers, pitching the acquisition, and navigating the intense psychological pressures involved which led to the acquisition by Travelperk in 2020. She also talks about the transition into venture capital where she focused on consumer applications of AI in areas like chatbots, the creator economy, and social platforms. Wen-Wen shares her unique perspective on identifying promising startups in these spaces.


    Here's what you're in for:

    • 00:00 - Intro

    • 00:34 - Background and path to founding NexTravel

    • 06:59 - Scaling NexTravel to $100 million in bookings

    • 10:45 - Impact of COVID-19 and the decision to sell the company

    • 16:02 - Strategic approach to running an acquisition process

    • 24:44 - Joining Gradient Ventures and her transition into VC

    • 32:00 - The rise of chatbots and their appeal to younger generations

    • 37:02 - The power of unique and funny content

    • 42:00 - Outro


    This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.


    Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders


    Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc


    Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc


    ABOUT WEN-WEN LAM

    Wen-Wen Lam, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, was formerly a partner at Gradient Ventures, an AI fund. Prior to joining Gradient, she founded NexTravel, a corporate travel booking platform that scaled to over $100 million in bookings before being acquired by Travelperk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her resilience and strategic approach allowed her to navigate the challenges of acquiring and selling a company amid a crisis. Wen-Wen's entrepreneurial journey began at LinkedIn and she has also worked with the founders of MySpace at Slingshot Labs, providing her with unique insights into building successful startups, fundraising, and operating in rapidly evolving industries.


    With her multifaceted career, Wen-Wen brings a valuable combination of operating experience and investment acumen to Gradient Ventures, focusing on areas like chatbots, the creator economy, and social AI applications.


    Connect with Wen-Wen on:

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenwen/

    • X: https://x.com/wenwen?lang=en


    ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

    Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.


    Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.


    ABOUT JASON

    Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.


    You can reach out to Jason through:

    Email: jason@thunder.vc
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/
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    42 mins
  • EP 46: From Bankruptcy to Multi-Million Dollar Exits with Rob Hunter

    EP 46: From Bankruptcy to Multi-Million Dollar Exits with Rob Hunter
    Jun 20 2024
    In this episode, Rob Hunter, partner at Speaker Ventures and exited founder, shares his entrepreneurial roller coaster journey. From going bankrupt with his ice cream franchise in his 20s to getting into Y Combinator, raising venture capital, and eventually exiting his tech startup HigherMe. Rob provides insights on navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, making tough decisions like when to step away from the CEO role, and evaluating acquisition offers. He opens up about the mindset shifts required to bounce back from failure and contrasts his experiences raising VC for HireMe versus his subsequent startup ResetButton, where he quickly raised $2 million on just an idea and PowerPoint deck. Rob also talks about the acquisition process - valuation expectations, legal due diligence, deal structuring with earn-outs and seller notes, and ultimately deciding when an exit makes sense for founders and investors. Here's what you're in for: 00:00 Intro 02:08 Challenges of scaling a brick-and-mortar business 07:08 Lessons from failures 32:18 Strategic talks and potential acquisition 34:39 Cutting a deal and transitioning the business 39:21 Contrasting fundraising experiences 46:44 Creativity in deal structures 50:04 Realistic expectations and understanding investor preferences 1:00:51 Outro This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders. Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc ABOUT ROB HUNTER Rob Hunter has been an entrepreneur from a young age. By the age of 12, he had an eBay account and was selling Japanese professional wrestling VHS tapes and DVDs to finance his education at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. His success on eBay enabled him to establish a mini-student real estate empire. After graduating, he sold his properties and ventured into the ice cream business, opening seven Marble Slab ice cream stores by the age of 25. As a multi-unit franchisee, Rob experienced many highs and lows, gaining valuable lessons along the way. In 2012, Rob received a prestigious scholarship to pursue his MBA at Babson College, the #1 school in the world for entrepreneurship. Since relocating to Boston, he has met a co-founder, a wife, and immersed himself in the city's vibrant technology startup culture. Over several years, Rob built and eventually sold HigherMe, an HR tech solution for the restaurant industry. He also tackled the US student debt crisis with Reset Button/Lexria. Currently, Rob focuses on investing in real estate, startups, and small businesses, while spending as much time as possible with his family. Connect with Rob on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhunter7/ Website: https://www.speakerventures.com/ ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders. ABOUT JASON Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development. You can reach out to Jason through: Email: jason@thunder.vc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/
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    1 hr and 1 min
Leadership Economics
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