Scale’s Post

📝 Scale x Claret Capital Partners! Dilution is one of the biggest problems that founders face as they look to optimize and manage their cap table. However, they often forget to answer this question: when should you structure your round with venture debt vs equity? This week, Aryaman Banerjee and I are super excited to share our first investor interview featuring Brian Geraghty (Principal at Claret Capital) who's fund has supported companies like Epic Games, SuperAwesome, Razor Group and Butternut Box | B Corp. The problem? Most founders default to equity when they don't need to: ❌ Unnecessary dilution at critical growth stages ❌ Taking longer to raise than needed Claret's solution? Consider venture debt in these specific scenarios: ✅ Extending runway by 6-12 months to hit key metrics ✅ Bridging to a better valuation in tough markets ✅ Preserving ownership while maintaining growth ✅ Funding M&A opportunities quickly One of Brian's key learnings was that: "Venture debt is for growth, not survival. We're looking for companies that can raise equity but are choosing debt for strategic reasons." Check out the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gh6p8HEj #VentureDebt #StartupLessons #VentureCapital #VentureCapital #Investor

🚀 Scale Founder Interview: Merge! 🚀 We're excited to share our interview with Shensi Ding, co-founder of Merge! For those who didn't already know, Merge is tackling the $100B+ integration market with their unified API platform - with support from leading investors like Accel-KKR, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and more. In this edition, Shensi shares invaluable insights on making the leap to full-time founder: + The founder's catch-22: needing validation to quit, but needing to quit for validation + How to validate before going full-time + Why the best founders are risk mitigators, not risk takers Shensi has already been featured in TechCrunch, This Week in Startups, or Forbes, and we're really excited to share her story below! 👉 Read the full edition here: https://lnkd.in/gzqGxUEg #Merge #B2BSaaS #UnifiedAPI #Startup #VentureCapital #SeriesB #Fundraising

An exciting day Three at #AustinStartupWeek! It's Funding Day, also known as VC day, with a bustling line outside the building. Emerging VCs are here sharing their stories, while there are insightful VC reverse pitches offering valuable insights on what VCs seek and how to engage with them effectively. Current session is about the landscape of founders and VCs in Texas, #4 in VC investing! Charlie Plauche Krishna Srinivasan Morgan Flager Kerry Rupp Thomas Ball These vcs have awesome insights for founders looking to partner and what and what not to do! #AIAgents

🚀 Crafting the ultimate pitch? Use Sequoia Capital's Perfect Pitch Deck Template to captivate investors! 🌟 - Hook: Start with your unique value proposition. - Big Idea: Present your vision & solution. - Problem: Define what you solve. - Why Now: Show market timing. - Market Size: Know your market's worth. - Competition: Highlight your edge. - Product: Detail your offerings. - Business Model: Reveal how you make money. - Team: Introduce your dream team. Get funded with clarity and confidence. #PitchDeck #SequoiaCapital #StartupFunding #TheVCCorner

Founders: Series A (and later) growth is proving HARD right now. VCs have pulled back, but stellar growth expectations are still here. Most CEOs and founders are hurting. Founders, this event is for you: learn about your funding options, what's going on in the capital markets, how it impacts you, and get clarity in this sea of noise. It's short and focused on YOU, not investors. No pitches or long presentations, stage and other standard VC-focused theatre. Listen, learn, and interact over (good) drinks with other peers. FREE but limited capacity, so register or miss it. > https://lu.ma/2erp1va7 #funding #event #founders #capital #growth

Carta's Peter Walker: "Is it really 18-24 months between VC rounds? Data says not so much anymore. 3 potential reasons why: 1. Many founders are struggling to raise the next primary round. They may be turning to bridge/extensions (whether priced or on convertibles like SAFEs). 2. Many founders are 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 to fundraise at a slower pace. Perhaps they raised a sizable round a few years back and feel relatively less pressure to go back to the market. Maybe they are waiting for a macro shift to restart VC conversations. 3. Many founders are 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 whether they'll ever fundraise again. If a little cash went a long way for their startup and they are profitable / close to it — does it make sense to dip back into VC? Or is the sustainable business pathway more attractive?" I suspect that there is a 4th category that describes a lot of companies - Zombie ventures. Even bridge financing is not available, but Ventures can run for surprisingly long periods on fumes. This can be a time of great risk for officers and directors as they run out of funds for D&O insurance, tax payments and compensation. https://lnkd.in/eX2dyiFr

Think Like an Investor 💡 Investors review thousands of pitches—what makes yours stand out? The key lies in clarity, strategic vision, and real data. At Venture Growth Hub, we craft presentations that highlight what matters most to investors. Let’s help your pitch rise above the rest. Visit www.venturegrowthhub.com to learn more. #InvestorReady #PitchDeckDesign #StartupSuccess #ClarityMatters #TheVentureGrowthHub

It was a pleasure to chat with Sean Hacking, founder and CTO of Veer Cycle. Veer is driving innovation in the light EV mobility market with their carbon fiber belt drive. They are also continuing to innovate with their new gear shifting system. I talk about my educational foundation while at UCLA, Pepperdine Caruso Law, and then into venture capital while pursuing my MBA at USC Marshall EMBA Program. I also discuss my continued learning about angel investing with Hustle Fund Angel Squad and what I look for when deciding in what startups to make investment. #cycling #ev #mobility #innovation #customers #investors #investment #venturecapital #vc #angelinvestors #angelinvesting #framework #logistics #supplychain #manufacturing #learning #education #alwaysbelearning https://lnkd.in/g3yNivFC

I personally think an elevator pitch is more important to get right than a pitch deck! That very first point of contact. Can you clearly and succinctly describe your business in under 60 seconds? Ideally, 30 seconds? Too many founders I meet ramble on for too long and focus on their current product, opposed to the problem they are looking to solve. Top Tip: Practise your elevator pitch relentlessly. Practise it on everyone you meet. Even your family! Get your whole team to practice it. Focus on perfecting a short, impactful pitch. It’s your key to opening doors and sparking interest. Remember, you’re not trying to close the deal there and then; you’re only trying to get investors interested enough to want to learn more. It was a pleasure to be featured in SeedLegals latest e-book and give some thoughts about raising investment.

🚩 What are the biggest red flags investors watch out for? It’s not just about the product or the pitch—it’s about the team, the vision, and the ability to grow. At Bits & Pretzels, leading investors shared the deal-breakers that every founder needs to know. Curious to find out what they had to say? 🎥 Watch the video now and discover insights that could make all the difference. Have you experienced a red flag? Share it with us! 👇️🤔 Danke Tom Morgan and Annegien Blokpoel! 🥨 #BitsAndPretzels #StartupFunding #InvestorAdvice #RedFlags #EntrepreneurTip