David Pugh’s Post

Founder: “I need help finding investors.” Me [Fundraising Strategist]: “When do you want to close your round?” Founder: “Yesterday.” Me: “Great, so you’ve got a strong investor pipeline!” Founder: “Umm… I haven’t started yet.” Sound familiar? 😱 But fundraising success starts long before you need the money as networking is the foundation of a successful raise. But too many founders wait until the last minute, hoping investors will just appear. ❕ Spoiler: They won’t ❕ The secret? Start early 1️⃣ Attend founder - investor events (Rare Founders Vasily Alekseenko and Seedlegals put on great events Meera Mawkin 2️⃣ Join pitch nights 3️⃣ Build relationships on LinkedIn I know you’re juggling a million things, but combining business growth with consistent investor networking is the key to a smoother raise. What’s your go-to strategy for meeting investors? Let’s share tips in the comments! 🚀 #FundraisingTips #StartupFundraising #NetworkingForFounders #InvestorRelations #Entrepreneurship #SeedFunding #StartupSuccess

Going from great idea to revenue-generating business can feel like a massive task. 😰 But break it down step-by-step and you’ll be up and running before you know it. 🏃♂️ Serial entrepreneur and startup champion Anthony Rose tells you how to get started on your fundraising journey. Watch the video or read the article for tips on testing the market, where to look for investment and how to grow your revenue. 📽 Check out the article 👉 https://lnkd.in/eprQwsgJ

Founders who aren’t leveraging social media are leaving money on the table. 💸 Here’s a reality check: → Investors are scouting online → Your competitors are getting more active → Your potential clients aren't aware of your existence The days of hiding behind a great product and hoping for the best are over. You need to be in the mix, sharing your story, engaging with the community, and showing your vision. Waiting until you “have time” is a rookie mistake. Your online presence is part of your pitch. It’s where your next big break might come from. So, if you’re not building your digital footprint, you’re basically handing the advantage to someone else. Get active or get left behind. 🚀 – ♻️ Repost to wake up a founder in your network #vc #venturecapital #capitalraising #fundraising #Founder #funding #business #investing #entrepreneur #startup

I was invited to a networking event showcasing high-end cars and boats this past weekend here in Miami. The networking experience far exceeded that of any 'investor' conference I’ve attended recently, which are mostly filled with service providers. It reminded me of some valuable advice I learned the hard way when I set out on my own to start my fund 20 years ago. The best time to add me to your email list or newsletter is after we’ve had a conversation—whether in person or virtually. Avoid spamming me with emails as if I’ve walked into a movie halfway through. You should have an onboarding process that invites people to start watching your company’s or fund’s story from the first scene. That’s how you become memorable and build a community. No one really does this because they’ve become accustomed to hustling everyone, just like Gary Vee tells them to. If you’re raising capital, interactivity is the new currency, but you must justify the attention you demand by being human. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Startups #BusinessAdvice #CapitalRaising #Networking #InvestmentStrategies #EmailMarketing #CommunityBuilding #FundManagement

QA Wolf co-founder and CEO, Jon Perl 🐺 appeared on Entrepreneurs on Fire with host John Lee Dumas. He shared how we raised our Series B amid high interest rates, declining valuations, and economic challenges. The key? Delivering measurable customer value. Jon breaks down three "EoF Value Bombs" that shaped our fundraising strategy: 1️⃣ Be generous. Relationships and trust in employees open doors. 2️⃣ Prioritize customer value. A product powering client success is the ultimate growth engine. 3️⃣ Tell an evidence-based story. Make the metrics behind the success so compelling that investors can't say no. Don't miss this insightful conversation! #Fundraising #StartupSuccess #CustomerValue #Entrepreneurship

Dear Founders If you build a great product and excel at selling, keep focusing on that. Don't spend too much time on fundraising. Build brand visibility and keep selling. Investors will follow you. Happy customers are the best fundraising tools. VCs will reach out to your customers because they believe them more than you. Also, don't think it's easy after fundraising. It's a more stressful journey than before. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #CustomerFirst #SalesSuccess #BrandBuilding #InvestorRelations #FundraisingTips #BusinessGrowth #StartupChallenges

I couldn't agree more with Sayyid Sawad ✅ In the startup bubble, the focus had shifted to raising money 💰 and enjoying the ride on investors' dime. True founders, however, prioritize delivering value, proving their model, and showcasing at least ONE happy customer who can pitch for their success. Before seeking external funding, it's crucial to establish a profitable, sustainable, and vetted framework. Founders must understand the challenges and responsibilities tied to the money they handle. Investors look for highly ambicious individuals with proven credibility & stability in the core team. Remember, you don’t just sell a product; you sell a brand. For first-timers, "yOU aRE tHE bRAND". Invest in self, build your personality and credibility first – the product will follow and could be pivoted as needed. #kctalks #startup #entrepreneurship #brand #greeninkpro #funding

#Entrepreneurship #StartupStruggles #InvestorRelations Hey there! So, I’ve been in the pitching game for almost a year now, and with my startup gearing up for launch, I find myself diving deep into fundraising. I’ve snagged a couple of angel checks, which is great, but I’ve been noticing a recurring challenge in my pitch meetings. It’s interesting to see that around **60%** of the conversations focus on product execution and my newly-minted CTO/co-founder, while the other **40%** totally miss the mark on grasping what we’re all about. 🤦♂️ So here’s my burning question: **When do you decide to wrap up a meeting with potential investors who just aren't getting it?** 🕒 Especially when it becomes clear that their understanding of our vision is so off-base that pursuing a relationship would just be a waste of time? Letting these calls drag on often turns into a mini consulting session I didn’t sign up for. It’s like they think we haven’t done our homework or that they’re the first to... How Soon Should You End a Pitch with Disinterested Investors? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/gaFjjdj5 Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Share your insi...

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💥𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲💥 Thinking about recent client successes, one thing stands out: the power of having the right people in your corner during a fundraising round. Here's why champions, coaches, and supporters are crucial: 💰𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆: Fundraising can seem like a maze.  It's not, but it can be confusing. Having a guide who's been there before can save you time, energy, and costly mistakes. 💰𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: A coach keeps you focused and moving forward, even when it gets tough (and it will). 💰𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: When the right champion opens doors for you, you'll feel like you've just joined a very exclusive club, where investments come to your startup easily. 💰𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵: Feedback from experienced ears can transform your story from good to irresistible. 💰𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: The fundraising journey is a rollercoaster. Having someone to steady you is invaluable. 💰𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: A seasoned advisor helps you see the big picture and plan several moves ahead. 💰𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁: The right associations can significantly enhance your startup's perceived value. 💰𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 & 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: A strong support team not only cheers you on but also helps you understand the exact work needed at each stage. 💰𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: A coach helps you identify what's crucial to focus on and what to ignore during fundraising. This filter is invaluable in maintaining momentum and avoiding distractions. 💰𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: An outside opinion helps you discern when to evaluate results and adjust plans, versus changing course with every piece of feedback. This stability is crucial for long-term success. Remember, even the most successful founders have teams supporting them. Investing in the right guidance isn't an expense—it's an investment in your success. 🤔 Curious: Who's been your most valuable supporter in your entrepreneurial journey? Share below! #StartupAdvice #Fundraising #EntrepreneurshipJourney #VentureCapital