In this episode of The Backchannel , we talk about the realities of raising capital and why many founders may not be ready for venture funding. Instead, we explore the often-overlooked world of angel investing—who angel investors are, how to find them, and how to tailor your pitch to different types of angels. Whether you’re building a billion-dollar startup or a sustainable small business, this episode offers a practical playbook on how to secure early-stage funding.
Dec 05, 2024•7 min•Ep. 104
In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason unpacks why many founders struggle to raise capital in today’s cautious VC environment and offers alternative strategies to keep momentum. Learn how to tap into angel investors, leverage AI, and access global talent to build traction on a lean budget. Tune in to hear how you can turn obstacles into opportunities—and don’t miss the next episode, where Jason breaks down the art of pitching to angel investors.
Nov 28, 2024•7 min•Ep. 103
In this episode, Ron Belldegrun, co-founder of ByHeart, shares how he raised over $300 million to transform the infant formula industry with cutting-edge science and a vertically integrated supply chain. Ron dives into his experience navigating the fundraising landscape, balancing the expectations of consumer and life science investors, and winning support for a mission-driven product in a highly regulated space. He talks candidly about the challenges of pitching a long-term vision, securing buy...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 52
In this episode of The Backchannel , we dive into a personal story that brings three critical fundraising lessons to life. Learn why early-stage fundraising is truly a numbers game, how your conviction in your vision can withstand rejection, and why giving value before seeking it can build powerful, reciprocal relationships. We’ll also explore how investor psychology plays a role in deal-making and how to use it to your advantage.
Nov 21, 2024•11 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of The Backchannel , we explore why making in-person connections can be a game-changer for founders. Recorded on location in Austin, Texas, Jason shares insights sparked by his own travel experiences, focusing on why meeting face-to-face can have a major impact on relationship-building, especially when it comes to securing investments.
Nov 14, 2024•8 min•Ep. 101
In this episode of The Backchannel , we're dropping a quick but essential take on balancing brilliance and likability and how both play into the fundraising game. We revisit a core concept from a past episode: time given – time to interest . If your brilliance gets investors hooked fast, you don’t need as much relationship-building. But if it takes longer to spark that interest, likability becomes your best tool for buying more time. We also talk about how being difficult, even if you’re brillia...
Oct 31, 2024•7 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, Curtis Northcutt, MIT PhD and founder of CleanLab, shares his compelling journey from rural Kentucky to raising $25 million from Menlo Ventures and Bain Capital. Curtis reflects on the challenges of growing up with limited opportunities, the loneliness of dreaming big in a small town, and how those experiences ignited his drive to build something meaningful. He also dives into the complexities of raising capital during a downturn, balancing investor relationships, and making tou...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 51
In this episode of The Backchannel, we're diving into the role anxiety plays in fundraising, especially when it comes to warm introductions with investors. If you’ve ever hesitated to reach out to old contacts or second-guessed your follow-ups, this one's for you.
Oct 24, 2024•7 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we’re talking about how VCs need to raise money too, not just startups.
Oct 17, 2024•7 min
In this episode, we dive into the concept of awareness for founders, focusing on how to effectively create it.
Oct 10, 2024•5 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we talk about handling the pressure of investor pitches. Many founders feel anxious about facing tough questions from investors, but it’s important to understand that these questions often come from genuine interest, not an attempt to catch you off guard.
Oct 03, 2024•8 min
After bootstrapping her company for months, Teasha Cable, founder and CEO of CModel decided it was time to raise. But early on, the rejections came in hard. Instead of giving up or getting offended, she learned from each rejection, tweaked her approach, and started executing on what investors wanted to see.
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore the different types of angel investors you’re likely to encounter early on in your startup journey.
Sep 26, 2024•10 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore the ins and outs of valuation caps and uncapped SAFEs. Many founders toss around terms like valuation caps without fully understanding their impact, and we’re here to break it down.
Sep 19, 2024•9 min
In this episode of The Back Channel, Jason tackles the often misunderstood concept of valuation caps in fundraising. He walks through what a valuation cap is, how it works, and its role in SAFE agreements and convertible notes.
Sep 12, 2024•10 min
In today's episode, we hear from Michael Diesu, co-founder & CEO of Revenue Roll on how he raised his $2.5M seed in one of the toughest markets Venture Capital has seen in years.
Sep 10, 2024•53 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we revisit a fundamental topic that every founder should understand: post-money cap SAFEs and their implications.
Sep 05, 2024•9 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason dives into one of the most overlooked yet essential tasks in fundraising: building your target investor list.
Aug 29, 2024•11 min
In today’s episode, I chat with Christal Wang, co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, the top ADHD coaching platform for adults. Christal shares her journey from YC to closing a successful pre-seed round, and how she navigated the challenges of raising a $2.2M seed round after a major pivot
Aug 27, 2024•53 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we dive into a topic that’s been on a lot of founders’ minds: the difference between pre-seed and seed rounds in today’s shifting market.
Aug 22, 2024•8 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, the focus is on the critical role deadlines play in successful fundraising efforts.
Aug 15, 2024•8 min
In this episode, we explore the realities of fundraising with Orri Bogdan, Founder and CEO of VAE Labs.
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The Back Channel, we explore a critical topic for founders: showcasing traction to VCs.
Aug 08, 2024•12 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, we revisit a popular topic among founders: how to create efficient fundraising processes. We address several questions submitted by founders, exploring various aspects of the fundraising journey.
Aug 01, 2024•15 min
In this episode, we sit down with Coco Brown, founder of Athena Alliance, to discuss her journey of transforming a nonprofit into a venture-backed enterprise and successfully raising $2.5M in funding.
Jul 30, 2024•59 min
In this episode, we're tackling an important startup scenario: unexpected VC interest.
Jul 25, 2024•8 min
In this episode of The Back Channel, we dive into five thought-provoking strategies to elevate your fundraising game while challenging existing advice.
Jul 18, 2024•12 min
In this conversation we hear how Brian Raymond started Unstructured and how he was able to raise 3 rounds of funding, adding up to over $65M, in just two years.
Jul 16, 2024•58 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, the focus is on why intelligent individuals often struggle with pitching to investors.
Jul 11, 2024•8 min
In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason answers 5 questions submitted by founders about pitch decks and pitching strategies.
Jul 05, 2024•16 min
