Venture Declassified

In this insightful episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Spock tackle the often contentious topic of CEO compensation in startups. With an engaging and dynamic discussion, the trio delves into the intricate balance of aligning executive pay with company milestones and investor expectations. Key Topics •      Budget implications of CEO compensation wi...

In this episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Schpok dive into various investment strategies and market dynamics affecting angel investors.  Key Topics •      Investment Strategies: Sticking to goals, but being flexible •      Benefits of Knowing CEOs or Board Members: Looking beyond just using deal platforms like AngelList. •      Emotional Engageme...

Episode Summary In this episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly and Jacob Spock, along with special guest Nick Wangler, co-founer and COO of Orthodontic Details, delve into the intricate dynamics of venture capital and startup fundraising. The episode offers invaluable advice for founders navigating the challenging VC landscape, focusing on practical strategies to enhance the...

In this thought-provoking episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly and Jacob Schpok, alongside guest Ben Pidgeon, delve into the complexities of investment decision-making in the venture capital world. This episode shines a light on the critical factors that influence whether to continue funding a company or finally "wave the white flag. The discussion starts with the imp...

In this special episode of "Venture Declassified," recorded live at the Rally Innovation Conference, hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Spock engage with a series of live pitches and conversations with entrepreneurs and founders. They unpack the complex dynamics of the fundraising landscape for startups, exploring how the backgrounds of entrepreneurs—whether they are repeat founder...

In this enlightening episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Jacob Schpok, Ben Pidgeon, and Mike Kelly take a deep dive into the intricacies of Series A valuations, fundraising strategies, and the unique challenges faced by Midwest startups. The episode sheds light on the complex dynamics that come into play when a company with $3 million in annual recurring revenue aims for a Series A...

In this episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Mike Kelly and Ben Pidgeon explore the complexities of managing angel syndicate groups and the art of curating investment opportunities. Both Mike and Ben run angel syndicates, creating SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) for investments, and they highlight the challenge of recommending numerous deals each year without overwhelming their investors. Ben el...

Episode Summary Welcome back to Venture Declassified. In this episode, we continue our conversation into the nuances of creating an influential pitch. Jacob and Ben share their insights on the significance of active listening to evaluate a team effectively. We then pivot to tackle the challenging topic of setting valuations and discuss vital metrics including revenue, customer acquisition costs, a...

Episode Summary In this episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Mike Kelly, Jacob Schpok, and Ben Pidgeon come together to talk about the fundamentals of an influential pitch. This episode promises to strip away the misconceptions and focus on what truly matters during investor presentations. As the hosts delve into the narrative aspect of pitch decks, they emphasize clarity and accuracy in communi...

In this engaging episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Schpok dive into the pivotal role of technology, specifically AI and chat GPT, in revolutionizing the world of investing and due diligence. The episode is packed with insights on how these cutting-edge tools can streamline and enhance the investment decision-making process. The hosts kick things...

In this episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Ben Pidgeon, Jacob Schpok, and Mike Kelly dive deep into the intricate world of board hygiene and governance, shedding light on the critical aspects that can make or break early-stage companies.  Jacob Schpok and Mike Kelly explore into the nuances of good board hygiene. They underscore the significance of managing personal biases and relationships in...

In this episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Jacob Schpok, Mike Kelly, and Ben Pidgeon look into the world of early-stage startup funding, particularly focusing on pre-seed investments. They discuss a $3 million pre-seed fund that evaluates startups at the ideation through pre-seed stage, offering checks as small as $20K. The hosts highlight the importance of founders clearly articulating the us...

In this insightful episode of Venture Declassified, hosts Mike Kelly, Jacob Schpok, and Ben Pidgeon deive into a range of compelling topics surrounding investment scenarios and the intricate dynamics of startups.  The hosts first navigate a complex situation involving dissolving a preferred stock arrangement within a company and the potential repercussions of allowing private sales of shares post-...

Welcome to another intriguing episode of Venture Declassified. Today, we delved into the captivating world of starting a distillery, as entrepreneur Mike Kelly shared his in-depth plans and strategies for establishing a distillery business in Indianapolis. The conversation unfolded as Mike discussed the intricacies of the go-to-market strategy, the role of a key partner, and the initial focus on c...

In today's episode, we're diving into the complex world of startup fundraising as companies transition from pre-seed to seed stages. Our co-host experts, Jacob Schpok and Ben Pidgeon, join me in deciphering the intricacies of setting valuations, focusing on the nuances of revenue pro forma and the leap into Series A capital raising. Jacob Schpok kicks off the discussion with insights int...

Welcome back to "Venture Declassified," the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of venture capital and private equity. Today we're diving deep into the ever-evolving world of venture capital and the fascinating yet perilous terrain of life science investing.  We'll dissect whether venture capital always aims for a "home run" or if it can be content with "sin...

Episode Summary Welcome to another episode of Venture Declassified. We are excited to welcome a very special guest, Rory Billing, a savvy entrepreneur disrupting the sports app industry.  The idea for The Fan's Place was born out of a desire to find a way for everyone to win from their love of sports. The brothers, Rory and Connor, had been playing fantasy sports for years and realized that t...

Show Zero Venture Declassified is here to provide you with practical insights, expert advice, and a deeper understanding of the investment landscape for first-time investors. Hosted by a team of seasoned investors and financial experts, this podcast is tailor-made for newcomers who are eager to learn about the fundamentals of investing and want to make informed decisions. We understand that starti...