Funded | How They Raised Millions

As founders, it’s normal to want to show investors that you are worth it - that you are an expert in your field and that your company means something. This is the main reason why a lot of founders make the mistake of overcomplicating their pitch. You try to show the value of your company without realizing that there’s unnecessary complexity attached to it. In today’s episode, Jason talks about why...

Thesis-driven firms have been on the rise for the past few years. These firms have a specific area of focus - one they use as a main driver for their marketing. Because of this, some founders have a hard time in finding the “right” firm they’d want to invest in their business. But did you know there's a dirty little secret behind these theses? In today’s episode, Jason reveals a secret behind thes...

They say the second time’s a charm - and that rings true for Robbie Bent, CEO and Co-Founder of Othership, specifically on his fundraising and founder story. Like most entrepreneurs, he had a massive drive to succeed. His mindset, however, turned out to be one of the major things holding him back from what he was really passionate about. He pushed beyond limits, and reached a point where he needed...

Diversity hasn’t always been a major part of the world of venture capital and startups. But founders of different ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds have started entering the market in a big way. As that’s happened, it’s been amazing to watch the ever-changing landscape of founders starting their own companies. In this special Funded episode, we look back and hear the stories of diverse founde...

Introductions hold incredible power in the world of fundraising. Pulling a good network together and getting to know new people takes effort and time. But you know what? It’s a hundred percent worth it. You’ll find out why in this episode, where Jason breaks down the importance of introductions - both cold and warm, and how it basically forms the backbone of early-stage fundraising. ---------- If...

Rejections. Passes. Declined proposals. These things are inevitable in any fundraising story - so as early as possible, it’s best to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Because no matter how hard you prepare and how much effort you exert, there will still be people looking at you with doubt and criticism. In this episode, Jason tells the story of one of the most famous ‘pass’ stories ever, and ho...

Everybody has their own timeline. Some succeed early on their journey, while others go on for so long that they feel that success is too far away. But the thing in entrepreneurship is - you never know what to expect. Things might go your way at a very, very unexpected time. In this episode, Jason shares one of the craziest, fastest fundraising rounds that happened right before his eyes - getting a...

Mastering your company’s narrative is one of the most vital things that you should have when starting any business. It’s what sets you apart from all the other competitors that are trying to solve the same problem as you do. In the world of entrepreneurship, having strategies about what and how you tell your story is necessary so you can be sure that you will really reach your target audience in t...

With all the social media platforms at our fingertips, everyone can stay updated about any and everything. People consume content on social media on a daily basis - and as we know, individuals nowadays are heavily influenced by what they see online. And as founders/fundraisers, you should definitely take advantage of this. In this episode, Jason talks about why you should post and share your wins...

Ever heard of a good drug? And no, what I’m talking about is probably not what you’re thinking… it’s the fear of missing out. In the eyes of founders and fundraisers, FOMO is a feeling you want potential investors to sense deeply. Curious? Tune in to this episode and hear more about the benefits of using FOMO as a strategy in getting them on board with your company. ---------- If you're looking fo...

No matter how much you prepare for something, there always comes a time when you stumble and fall. Truly, mistakes are inevitable in any circumstance in our lives, but that doesn't mean we can avoid some of them through learning from other people’s experiences, right? In this episode, Jason goes into detail about one of the biggest mistakes that founders make in the process of searching for invest...

Red flags are warnings that there’s possible danger ahead - so when you see one, it’s best to turn around and change your direction. In fundraising, there are many red flags that investors look out for. We’ve already mentioned one of them in our past episodes: a company that is a solution looking for a problem. In this episode, Jason elaborates on a specific red flag he commonly sees in startups,...

When should you start taking meetings with investors? If you think you should wait until you’ve already started raising money to reach out, then you’ve got it quite wrong. Ever heard of warm-up meetings? If not, then you’re in for a treat! In this episode, Jason talks about the importance of getting introduced and talking to investors way before the start of your fundraising journey - and how your...

Adjusting to whichever investor you’re talking to is necessary to get the most out of any conversation. Understanding where they are coming from will help you know exactly what approach to use. In the fundraising world, we all know that every single person is unique - people all have different mindsets, motivations, and end goals, all of which affect their decision-making process. In this episode,...

Selling. Fundraising. Selling. Fundraising. Are they related? What’s the connection? Is the knowledge of one a requirement for the other? In today’s episode, Jason expounds on these two concepts, and how their dynamics work together in the world of fundraising. Look out for some helpful tips that you can apply to your own fundraising process. ---------- If you're looking for more fundraising conte...

Have you ever wondered how essential it is to put in a lot of energy and effort into a process? We sometimes focus so much on our end goal that we tend to forget that the preparation required is equally as important, and sometimes even the highlight of the entire ride. In this episode, let’s take a quick look at how important it is to focus on the entire process itself of fundraising, which, when...

When you’re at the point of scheduling meetings with investors, that’s when you’re most likely to feel overwhelmed. Should you categorize your investors? Who should you talk to first? What if you mess up? How do you know you are doing the right thing? All these questions swamp your mind and all of a sudden, you now have tons of meetings to prepare for. But worry not! In this episode, Jason lays ou...

There’s always a gray area when it comes to setting the valuation for a business during the fundraising process. The big question is always… WHO? Is it the fundraiser, the investor, or is it agreed between the two? What’s the basis? How is it determined? In this episode, Jason shares his take on who should set the valuations and explains why he thinks that way. ---------- If you're looking for mor...

Mastering language has got to be one of the most important psychological tools anyone can utilize and benefit from - including and especially for fundraisers. Speaking and understanding the same language of people you work with can work wonders when it comes to making connections and raising funds. In this episode, Jason talks about the critical importance of learning your investors’ language and...

One of the most vital processes before facing investors is building the perfect pitch deck. There is a tough balance to find with decks. You don’t want to be too short and lack the information an investor needs to get excited. You also don’t want to be too long and overwhelm the reader with data. In this episode, Jason talks about pitch decks - particularly, his favorite part of it, appendices - a...

Are you a problem looking for a solution, or a solution looking for a problem? Pondering this is vital for entrepreneurs, especially for first timers who are just establishing the core of their business. While it’s easy to get lost in the world of entrepreneurship, it’s also worth it to spend time thinking about the real “why” of whatever you’re working on. In this episode, Jason talks about the d...

Funded presents: The BackChannel. Tune in with Jason Yeh as he shares behind-the-scenes insights, helpful tips and tricks, and reactions to all things fundraising and startups - starting next week! Watch out for the first episode drop on Monday, March 28, 2022.

We've got some exciting news to tell! Hear the latest updates revolving around our podcast - what's new and what's to come. Stay tuned for the upcoming weeks!

Fundraising for software that supports charitable giving started off as a challenge for Grapevine CEO Emily Rasmussen. After unlocking the fundraising story that would gain traction, she ran into another challenge. The year-end holidays disrupted her momentum and threatened to sabotage an exciting round. Emily shares how she weathered the storm and the important lessons she learned about the impac...

Adeel Malick, the co-founder and CEO of Humming Homes, had the perfect background to start a company and lead a fundraise. Experience at startup studios, an MBA, and stints at top venture capital firms had him setup to knock the first fundraise for his startup out of the water. When things didn't go as planned, Adeel had to reflect, regroup, and recommit to the process to get his company the seed...