In the last two decades, the startup industry has seen remarkable transformations, from the emergence of angel investors and venture capital firms to the rise of SaaS, cryptocurrencies, and the global diversification of the field.
In this episode of The Back Channel, we delve into a crucial post-fundraising topic: choosing service providers for your startup.
Join Jason Yeh on The Back Channel as he demystifies thesis-driven firms. They may not be as rigid as you think!
Just like with any skill, there are beginners, and there are experts. Through practice and experience, the experts become exceptional at what they do.
In this episode, Jason shares a conversation with a founder who recently raised capital but had to close their startup.
Ever wondered why your startup story and pitch deck need to be razor-sharp? Sure, you want to impress investors, but there's more to it than meets the eye. Host Jason Yeh dives into the secret sauce of crafting a compelling narrative that not only wows investors but also ensures your story gets shared effectively.
2023 was a tough year to fundraise. Almost all venture-backed founders felt the toll of being in a down market this past year. But when you're a female engineer, on top of that a female founder of a tech company - it almost always feels like a tough year to fundraise.
In this episode, we explore the wisdom behind reconnecting with investors who previously passed on your pitch. Remember, investor passes aren't personal; they often stem from timing or fit issues. Before reconnecting, update your narrative with progress highlights. When reaching out, exude confidence without begging. Showcase your growth, increasing investor interest, and upcoming fundraising round. These reconnections aren't just about securing funding; they're opportunities to refine your pitc...
In this Backchannel episode, Jason tackles a familiar trap for founders: productive procrastination! From fixing pages to creating automations, it's easy to get caught up in tasks that feel productive but aren't top priorities for fundraising. I get it, working on things you enjoy is crucial, but as a founder, your plate's overflowing. Listen to this episode to hear Jason's insights on how to distinguish between enjoyable distractions and high-leverage tasks that drive real progress. Prioritize ...
Not every entrepreneur starts off knowing what business they want to create. For Bobby Pinero, Co-founder and CEO of Equals, it took him 8 years of building Intercoms Finance Organization to the success it is today until he found the product he wanted to create. Best part? He is building the product he always wished he had while working there. In today's episode we dive into Bobby's background, how he decided on Equals, and ultimately the trials and tribulations that went along with raising a $1...
Have you ever compared fundraising with real estate? Once you do, you'll be shocked by their similarities.
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 w...
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! -- If you're look...
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! -- If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of ...
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! -- If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise m...
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! -- If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our w...
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, i...
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 b...
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. -- I...
One of the hard truths of fundraising is that most founders don't have nearly enough investors added to their target lists. Some stop at 20, others even less. In all reality, you should AT LEAST be targeting 100. And if you're going to be targeting that many, one of the things you are going to need is a CRM system. Having a database for tracking your communications is one of the best ways to run a tight process and stay organized when meeting with investors. In this episode, Jason dives into the...
Pre-seed vs. seed. It seems there are more and more terms coming out, but no one fully knows what they mean. My guess is even most investors don't actually know the difference. Nevertheless, it's good to get an overall understanding of what the world of venture capital means by these two closely associated terms. In this episode, Jason outlines the key differences between seed and pre-seed while also explaining how to answer this seemingly hard question from investors: "Are you raising seed or p...
Rejection. It's a fundamental part of the game, even for the biggest success stories like Airbnb. Rejection is tough, but it's also a chance to learn. Don't let it drag you down; build a packed calendar for pitches, boost your confidence, and remember that every "no" is a step closer to a "yes." Rejection is your path to funding success. Believe it! -- If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fund...
We are in new times. Raising money has become harder than it used to be. Impressing VCs has started to feel like it's impossible. Because I work with founders on a daily basis, I know the struggle. So, I made this episode where I'll be going over the top things to be prepared for before going out to raise. Founders, it's time to take notes! -- If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com...
A few months ago I had a fireside chat with a successful venture backed founder and friend of mine, Daniel Hatkoff. I wanted to bring him on is because like myself, he has also gotten to wear both hats as a VC and founder, so he's got a ton of valuable information around raising venture capital. During our chat there was this reoccurring theme of reputation, and how building his ultimately led to a successful $30M round for his company Pitzi. In this episode, I go over the key takeaways from our...
Let me get something straight: fundraising is tough. You will be challenged. You will be knocked down. But if you have true grit and passion for your company, not even the hardest of blows can keep you down. For Tiffany Kelly, CEO and founder of Curastory - she know's all too well what it's like to take a hit. And less than two months ago, she experienced what I call a founders worst nightmare. In today's episode, you get to hear an unfiltered version of what it's like being a founder raising mu...
Depending on how long you've followed me or stayed in touch with what I'm up to, some of you might not know that I fly down to Brazil at least a few times a year. One reason being I have a good friend who runs a company down there called Colbi. I had no idea that he would connect with me the founder of an organization that I still partner with till this day called Latitud. If I had to sum up what Latitud is, I'd say it's now the YC of LATAM. Since then, I've fallen in love with the startup ecosy...
As an entrepreneur, it is all too easy to lose yourself in your work. If you aren't careful, your entire life becomes consumed by it. This is not to say you shouldn't be obsessed with the your company and the goals that you have for it. But let it be a reminder that forcing yourself into burnout is not serving you or your company. As a 3x founder himself, our host Jason Yeh dives into 3 things he does to maintain a sense of work/life balance. If you are some who struggles to unplug from your wor...
It's becoming more and more common for people to get through college and realize they still have no idea what they want out of life. On top of that, majority of the time we're too scared to do anything about it. Next thing we know time has passed and we feel suffocated in a job we don't even like. We put our dreams on the back burner, sacrificing creativity for stability. For today's guest Lucas Martinez - Co-founder and CEO of Talent.com - he knew right away that the corporate world wasn't for ...
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 informati...
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...
