Next Round Ready

In this conversation, Daniel Ibri discusses the essential steps and strategies involved in the fundraising process for startups. He emphasizes the importance of preparation, organization, and strategic engagement with potential investors to successfully raise capital.

In this conversation, Steve Walsh shares his journey from corporate life to becoming an entrepreneur and investor in startups. He emphasizes the importance of helping founders grow their businesses through networking and resource sharing. Steve discusses the sectors he believes will thrive in the coming years, particularly those leveraging technology in traditional industries. He outlines the gree...

In this conversation, Chris and Levi Velez Reed explore the intricacies of the startup ecosystem, focusing on Levi's journey through various roles in the startup community, the importance of understanding venture capital, and the challenges faced by non-venture scale companies. They discuss the Startup 425 program aimed at supporting diverse businesses, the dynamics of investor relationships, and...

In this conversation, Craig Cummings, co-founder and general partner at Moonshots Capital, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship and venture capital. He discusses the importance of leadership, the pressure of delivering results, and the criteria for investing in startups. Craig emphasizes the need for effective communication with investors, the significance of understanding...

In this engaging conversation, Chris and David Walker delve into the intricacies of the investment world, exploring David's journey from military service to becoming a seasoned investment professional. They discuss the challenges and grind of working in hedge funds, the importance of learning through experience, and the lessons learned from failures in starting hedge funds. David shares his insigh...

In this conversation, Chris and Stuart Webb discuss the importance of systems for founders, especially in the context of the growing influence of AI tools. They emphasize the need for clarity of vision, maintaining lead flow, delivering excellence, building a cohesive team, and knowing when to exit a business. Stuart shares his insights from his journey as a founder and the lessons learned from hi...

In this engaging conversation, Sam Sterling shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, detailing her transition from a corporate role to launching her own startups. She discusses the challenges she faced, including co-founder issues and funding obstacles, and how she navigated these to find innovative solutions. Sam emphasizes the importance of networking, validating assumptions, and the courage t...

In this episode, Chris emphasizes the importance of distribution over product perfection. He shares insights on how great distribution can elevate a mediocre product, while a perfect product without reach remains unnoticed. Chris discusses strategies for founders to focus on distribution, including understanding channels, leveraging existing audiences, and the significance of storytelling and part...

In this conversation, Kelly Perdew, co-founder and managing partner of Moonshots Capital, discusses the critical role of extraordinary leadership in startup success, drawing from his military background and experience as a venture capitalist. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding for founders, the challenges of navigating government contracts, and the necessity of transitioning from a...

In this episode, Chris discusses the critical shifts in identity that founders must undergo to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, market influence, and building a strong team to achieve product-market fit. The conversation underscores the importance of founders articulating their vision, engaging with their target market, and entrusting others to help execute their ideas effectiv...

In this conversation, Chris and Logan Weaver discuss the impressive growth of Surmount AI, transitioning from a B2C to a B2B model, and the strategies that have led to their success. Logan shares insights on distribution, content marketing, team dynamics, and the evolving funding landscape, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the right investors. The discussion highlights the challenges an...

Why Personal Branding Is Your Secret Weapon as a Founder In this episode, Chris breaks down why personal branding has become non-negotiable for startup founders in 2025 - and it's not about follower counts or going viral. ⚡ Key Takeaways: Why AI makes your personal brand MORE valuable, not less The simple content strategy: 1 blog post + 1 video per week = complete brand presence How VCs actually...

In this episode of Next Round Ready , Jon sits down with Dana Robinson , a seasoned founder and investor, to explore how startups can refine their pitch to not just raise money — but to make an impact. Dana shares hard-earned insights on connecting with investors, aligning your story with your mission, and standing out in today’s competitive funding environment. Whether you’re a first-time founder...

Let’s breakdown exactly how you can use content as leverage. This episode gets super tactical. Build in Public — Show the Journey * Share product updates, wins, and lessons learned weekly * Create “mini case studies” of customer results * Transparency builds trust — especially with early adopters and investors Create Educational Content for Your ICP * Teach, don’t just sell — solve your target aud...

In this episode of Next Round Ready , I sit down with Shaun Gold — venture capitalist, author, and serial connector — to unpack what founders really need to know when approaching investors. Shaun shares candid insights from the VC side of the table, including how deal flow is evaluated, why storytelling is critical in pitching, and what separates the founders who get funded from the ones who fade...

There’s really only two things you need to build a media brand for your company. By the way, these things work together. You can create content around your company as you’re building and growing. Commit to a Format - Video is king! You can’t create great content without video. Most of the other great content comes from video first. Once you record a great video, you can develop different pieces of...

In this episode of Next Round Ready , Coach Chris sits down with an insightful guest Steph from OpenVC to explore how authentic relationships with fellow founders, operators, and investors can unlock growth and funding opportunities. They unpack the power of community in the startup space, from deal flow and strategic partnerships to gaining clarity before a fundraise. You’ll hear how real convers...

Content isn’t just about generating leads — it’s about building investor trust. Before a single pitch meeting, most VCs are already watching you from a distance. They’re checking your updates, reading your posts, and evaluating your ability to communicate, lead, and build in public. So how do you earn that trust before you ever ask for a check? You’ll learn: * Why VCs are silently watching your mo...

In this episode of Next Round Ready , Dan Banning joins me, Coach Chris, to unpack the marketing mindset founders need before they raise money, launch campaigns, or hire agencies. Dan brings years of experience working with venture-backed startups and shares actionable lessons on building traction without wasting time or budget. We had a great discussion on brand awareness and how it gets confused...

Content isn’t seen as important to most VCs but the biggest companies in the world are taking content seriously now. a16z and Y Combinator are putting out videos and podcasts everyday. Let’s breakdown how you can use your expertise as a venture capitalists to scale your brand. This episode covers: * How to think about content as a VC * Why 1 post per week can shift your inbound * What the best in...

Every startup founder I know is fighting the same battle: What’s the strategy to stand out, build trust and create momentum without a massive budget? After 10 years of building content across YouTube, newsletters, and startup teams, I saw the same pattern over and over: Startups that win find ways to communicate. They usually do that through content. It could be shitposting on Twitter, daily TikTo...