Richard breaks down his early bet on SpaceX at a $30B valuation, how he evaluates defense tech and space startups differently from traditional VCs, and why getting a government contract is less about technology and more about relationships. He also shares the real diligence filter he uses, why overvalued safes are an immediate deal killer, and what it actually takes to win DOD contracts as a startup.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a family office evaluates deals differently than a traditional VC fund
• Why Richard passed on smart founders from MIT and Stanford — and what they were missing
• The inside playbook for getting early traction in defense tech and government contracts
• What made SpaceX a conviction bet at a $30B valuation in 2019
• Why relationships — not technology — win government contracts

ABOUT RICHARD STROUPE

Richard Stroupe is an experienced operator turned venture investor who spent more than two decades building and scaling technology companies across national security and enterprise environments. Today, he invests in founders tackling complex, mission-driven problems across national security, aerospace, AI, and enterprise technology, bringing an operating-focused approach to leadership, decision-making, and disciplined scaling. He also hosts The Amplified CEO and an executive workshop through Elevate CEO.

You can reach out to Richard through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe/overlay/contact-info/

Website: https://capefear.vc/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A.

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it.

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast.

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

─────────────────────────────

The question you can't ask your board — you can ask https://exitboard.ai.

Should I take the LOI? Is this term sheet a trap? Am I underpricing the round?

ExitBoard gives you 100+ founders behind $10B in exits, on call, before you walk it into the boardroom.

Free. No sign-up. Ask anything → https://exitboard.ai

─────────────────────────────

Most bankers have never built a company. We have been in your shoes and exited.

Thunder was built by exited founders. 6,000+ post-exit founders in our network. $1B+ transacted. We work with VC-backed founders on debt, equity, recaps, and exits.

If you're exploring a transaction in 6-24 months, start a conversation with us → https://thunder.vc

In this episode, we delve into what actually drives startup growth and what quietly undermines it. We also get into how one bad exit almost wrecked him, and what he learned from losing years and seven figures because of one avoidable mistake.

If you're a founder, operator, or even just thinking about building, this episode will give you a clearer view of what’s worth your attention.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode87&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode87&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

We get into:

00:00 The Real Startup Journey: No Filters, No Hype

03:07 Why "Never Quit" Is Holding You Back

05:47 Churn: The Growth Killer Founders Ignore

09:12 What You Learn When a Startup Fails

12:05 Retention Isn’t a Metric. It’s a Strategy.

14:52 Why Investors Walk, Even If Your Numbers Look Good

17:48 The Retention-Valuation Link You Can’t Ignore

21:06 From Flatlined to $70M: A Turnaround Breakdown

34:37 How We Built the Most Trusted Brand in a Broken Industry

36:19 Revatto: Built to Solve Churn Without Adding Work

40:07 No Results, No Cost: A Different Kind of Retention Model

42:29 How To Save Customers, Without a Product Tutorial

45:10 You Probably Don’t Understand Your Churn. Here’s Why.

47:24 How to Test Revatto, with $1,000 in Free Recoveries

51:21 One Retention Habit That Changes the Game

54:24 The Exit That Went Sideways,  and What It Cost

ABOUT TRAVIS STEFFEN

Travis Steffen is a founder, operator, and builder with a track record most founders never reach. He’s exited eight companies, raised more than $100M, and led over $200M in M&A. His work spans SaaS, cannabis tech, fintech, and AI. Today, he’s the co-founder of Revatto, a company that helps subscription-based businesses retain more customers and only charges when it works.

Check out Revatto: https://www.revatto.com/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED 

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

He discusses the decision to bring on more strategic partners before raising an A round and the importance of being intentional in their fundraising approach and touches on why they chose to delay announcing their fundraising. 

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

03:13 The intimidating process of buying luxury watches. 

05:38 Co-founders and team assembly. 

07:41 Building beautiful, luxury products. 

15:46 Celebrities and investors' involvement. 

18:41 Fundraising challenges and strategies. 

24:01 The impact of strategic value. 

27:18 Ownership requirements and investor partnerships. 

34:07 SAFEs and founder-friendly fundraising.

40:25 Getting investors as customers.

ABOUT QUAID WALKER

Quaid Walker is the founder of Bezel, an authenticated luxury watch marketplace. Having spent most of his career at Google, Quaid developed a fascination for watches and their mechanical nature. His initial struggles in buying his first watch led him to create Bezel, a platform that offers a vast inventory of watches while ensuring authentication and trustworthiness. With a focus on providing a premium experience, Bezel's robust authentication team thoroughly inspects each watch before overnight delivery to the buyer. Quaid's goal is to ensure that every purchase meets and exceeds expectations.

LINKS MENTIONED

You can visit Bezel’s website at shop.getbezel.com to learn more about their platform and explore their vast inventory of watches.

Get in touch with Quaid Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quaidwalker/

Take a peek at his designs and work: quaid.io

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ 

Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc

Daniel Rosenberg, cofounder of Represent.com, shares how he helped creators and celebrities sell products without upfront cost using on-demand production. This removed the biggest barrier for creators: launching a business without upfront cost or inventory risk.

In this episode, he explains how Represent grew by working with top talent, why they focused on fewer, higher-value creators, and the risks that came with scaling fast. He also breaks down what really happens when you sell a company—from long deal processes to post-acquisition challenges.

Daniel also shares how the creator economy is changing. Today, creators don’t just want sponsorships—they want ownership and equity.

What you’ll learn in this episode:If you’re building a startup or thinking about exits, this episode gives you real, practical insights.

• How creators sell products without upfront cost

• Why choosing the right market matters

• The risks of scaling through big deals

• What actually happens during an acquisition

• Why many deals fall apart

• How the creator economy is shifting toward ownership

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+112&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+112&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Meet Daniel Rosenberg 

00:49 Represent Origin Story

03:07 Landing Big Talent

05:26 Growth Engine Explained

07:49 Mayweather Cash Drop

10:06 Licensing With Major IP

11:01 Affiliate Versus Celebrity Focus

15:05 Custom Ink Acquisition

18:18 Deal Terms And Earnout

19:59 Diligence Distraction Lessons

21:40 Post Merger Integration

25:10 Selling To Cameo

29:37 Cameo Integration Reality Check

33:33 Why Dan Stepped Away

35:51 Ownership Shift In Creator Economy

38:20 Partnering With Creators

40:57 Risks And Who Should Worry

43:12 Resources And Closing

ABOUT DANIEL ROSENBERG 

Daniel “Dan” Rosenberg is a founder and entrepreneur best known for building Represent.com, a platform that helped creators and celebrities sell merchandise without upfront cost.

He scaled the company to a $100M+ exit, selling it to Custom Ink, and later helped lead another sale to Cameo.

Today, he focuses on the creator economy through Material Group, where he works with creators to build businesses where they have ownership—not just sponsorship deals.

You can reach out to Daniel through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrosenberg1/ 

Website: https://www.materialgroup.co/ 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too much cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

----------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode79&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode79&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – Intro | How to attract influencers to your startup (Gil Eyal’s expert take)

02:15 – The truth about celebrity marketing (Why celebs care about startups)

05:30 – Biggest mistakes startups make with influencer marketing

09:45 – How to get access to celebrities & influencers (Stardust Ventures' insights)

13:20 – The power of storytelling in influencer marketing (Why authenticity wins)

17:05 – How to pitch your startup to influencers (Gil Eyal’s step-by-step strategy)

20:50 – Best platforms to connect with influencers (Where to find the right talent)

25:10 – How to structure influencer & celebrity deals (Equity vs. cash agreements)

29:40 – How celebrity partnerships impact startup valuations (Real success stories)

35:00 – The most effective marketing channels for startups (Gil Eyal’s top picks)

39:00 – B2B vs. B2C influencer marketing (How to make it work in different industries)

43:00 – Final advice from Gil Eyal on startup growth & fundraising

ABOUT GIL EYAL

Gil Eyal is a leading expert in celebrity endorsements and influencer marketing, known for revolutionizing how brands leverage data-driven influencer strategies. As the Founder and former President of HYPR, he built the market leader in influencer marketing automation, which won multiple industry awards before being acquired by Juliusworks in 2020.

A veteran of 200+ celebrity endorsement deals, Gil has worked with Leonardo DiCaprio, Serena Williams, Zendaya, Pitbull, and Stephen Curry, among others. Today, as the Founder of Stardust Ventures, Gil helps consumer startups scale through strategic celebrity partnerships.

You can reach out to Gil through:

Website Stardust Ventures: https://stardustventures.us/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gileyal/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with four multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

In this episode, Penelope details her early challenges, fundraising strategies, and insights into scaling a utilities business sustainably and profitably. She also discusses her decision to step back from Rebel Energy and her vision for entrepreneurship in the UK.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode71&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode71&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

• 00:25 Early Days and Initial Fundraising

• 01:39 Fundraising Strategies and Challenges

• 05:57 Crowdfunding Success and Market Entry

• 09:27 Growth Strategy and Operational Efficiency

• 14:06 Profitability and Future Plans

• 15:49 Stepping Down and Reflecting on the Journey

• 19:09 Advice for Founders and Fundraising Tips

• 22:06 UK Startup Ecosystem and Opportunities

• 32:55 Networking and Access to Investors

• 34:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

ABOUT PENELOPE HOPE

Penelope Hope co-founded Rebel Energy, a UK-based renewable energy supplier with a mission to alleviate fuel poverty. Under her leadership, the company grew from its initial $1.5 million raise to achieving over $100 million in revenue while maintaining profitability from day one. A strong advocate of operational efficiency, Penelope leveraged automation to stay competitive in the fragmented UK energy market.

Penelope has a background as an equity analyst and a deep commitment to social and environmental missions. After stepping back from Rebel Energy, she continues to inspire founders by sharing her experiences and advocating for founder-led innovation.

Connect with PENELOPE:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-hope/

  
  

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Conor Tomkies shares how he leveraged strategic legal and operational efficiencies to save millions during acquisitions. He highlights his founder-first approach with Operator Equity, focused on scaling SaaS businesses using EOS, and discusses the startup shift from venture-backed moonshots to sustainable, profitable growth.

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Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:⁠ https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders⁠

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:⁠ https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101⁠ 

Here's what you'll find in this episode:

• 00:00 Introduction

• 00:37 Dog genetics and the birth of Support Ninja

• 02:54 Bootstrapping vs. raising venture capital

• 05:30 Lessons from selling to private equity

• 10:14 Why EOS is a game-changer for scaling companies

• 18:34 Operator Equity’s focus on SaaS and ecosystem synergy

• 27:00 Common founder mistakes and the value of recurring revenue

• 30:45 The rise of moonshots and the future of venture capital

  
  

ABOUT CONOR TOMKIES

Conor Tomkies is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and post-exit founder with a passion for creating scalable businesses and empowering other entrepreneurs. He founded Support Ninja, a bootstrapped outsourcing company that scaled into a middle eight-figure success story and sold it to private equity. Now leading Operator Equity, Conor focuses on acquiring and scaling SaaS businesses using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), helping founders navigate successful exits with a streamlined 45-day process that prioritizes simplicity and a human touch.

Conor is also the co-founder of Entrepreneur Cooperative (ECo) and host of the Made It Podcast. Through ECo, he has built a community where seasoned founders share experiences, collaborate, and gain insider strategies for navigating business sales and life beyond the exit. It’s the network every entrepreneur wishes they had when starting out, focused on meaningful growth, impactful exits, and supporting the next generation of founders.

Connect with Conor:

• Website: operatorequity.com

• Entrepreneur Cooperative: entrepreneurcooperative.com

• X (formerly Twitter): @conortomkies_

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Jason walks through the critical steps founders should take before, during, and after that crucial first investor meeting. He emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation, setting the right tone, and focusing on relationship-building rather than immediate fundraising.

Here's what you're in for: 00:00 Introduction

00:45 How to Nail Your First Investor Meeting

01:53 Doing your homework before the call

04:31 Setting the agenda and tone for the meeting

09:24 Balancing talking and listening during the call

10:24 The importance of booking the next meeting

12:45 Quick highlights and key takeaways.

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

• Email: jason@thunder.vc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Jon reveals how AI reduces workforce needs, enhances productivity, and even impacts venture capital and startup growth. We also explore Boardy AI, AI-assisted coding, and the rise of Chief AI Officers.

-------------------------------

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: 

https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode74&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: 

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode74&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

If you’re looking to maximize AI output and boost efficiency, this episode is packed with insights. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more!

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:00 - Introduction to Jon Tucker & HelpFlow

01:30 - AI’s impact on customer service & workforce

reduction

04:00 - The importance of Evaluating AI Performance

07:15 - How AI enables business efficiency and scalability

12:45 - AI’s role in startup growth and venture capital trends

18:30 - AI workflow automation & AI-assisted coding

24:00 - Future of AI: Chief AI Officers, automation, and

scaling

28:30 - Boardy AI and next-gen AI-powered networking

ABOUT JON TUCKER

Jon Tucker is the CEO atHelpFlow.com. Over the past decade, he’s managed remote teams and faced the frustrations of micromanaging every detail—an experience that drove him to embrace AI for smarter delegation.

Through HelpFlow’s “smart staff” model and their proprietary GuideLayer AI, Jon transforms traditional virtual assistants into high-value, autonomous team members. His goal? Free founders from busywork so they can scale faster and focus on what truly matters. Ready to see how AI can change the way you work? Try the AI at HelpFlow.com/demo-ai-video

Connect with Jon Tucker: 

Website:HelpFlow.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jontuckerusa/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

His approach, from the initial grind through strategic partnerships to revenue focus, offers a blueprint for strategic fundraising and business growth invaluable to founders at any stage.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE:

02:42 - How Jeremy built Start Left Security

06:56 - Angel investors, accelerators, and making the right connections.

13: 37 - Strategies for hooking investors

36:44 - Jeremy's advice for founders in seed round

37:22 - Overcoming fear and changing mindset

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT JEREMY

Jeremy Vaughan is a finance professional turned tech entrepreneur who saw an opportunity to make the digital world safer. Founding Start Left™ Security, he created foolproof cybersecurity solutions for cloud-based applications. His philosophy is to stay ahead of threats by being proactive, not just reactive.

Start Left™ is revolutionizing SaaS security with its innovative, all-in-one security suite, that covers a business from start to finish, ditching the outdated, scattered approach for something way smarter.

Connect with Jeremy on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyjvaughan/

• Website: www.startleftsecurity.com

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

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What does it take to build, scale, and sell a business—and then do it all over again? David Hauser, the mastermind behind Grasshopper and Vanilla, has done just that. Starting with his very first pitch to his father for a Dell computer, David went on to raise nine figures for Return Path, bootstrap Grasshopper into a $175M success, and disrupt estate planning with Vanilla.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. In this episode, David opens up about the emotional aftermath of exiting a company, the identity struggles that follow, and how he found purpose by taking the leap into a new chapter. Now leading Durable Capital, David is focused on acquiring and scaling profitable companies while mentoring the next generation of founders.

Here's what you'll find in this episode:

• 00:00Trailer/ Introduction

• 01:23 Early days: From a Dell computer to Return Path

• 06:02 Bootstrapping Grasshopper to a $175M exit

• 18:26 Vanilla and the decision to raise $42M in venture capital

• 25:34 Navigating post-exit identity shifts and finding fulfillment

• 39:00 Durable Capital: Buying and scaling profitable businesses

• 41:28 Mentoring the next generation of founders

  
  

ABOUT DAVID HAUSER

David Hauser is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and speaker known for founding and scaling successful companies like Grasshopper (bootstrapped to $30M+ ARR, acquired by Citrix), Chargify (profitable, Mark Cuban-backed, acquired by Battery Ventures), and Vanilla (raised $42M from Venrock and Insight Partners). A founding member of National Entrepreneurs’ Day, he has also invested in over 50 startups, including Intercom and Unbounce. David’s insights have been featured in major outlets like CNN, Fox, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has spoken at renowned events such as SaaSFest and Big Omaha. Now leading Durable Capital from Las Vegas, he focuses on acquiring profitable businesses and mentoring the next generation of founders.

Connect with David on:

• Website: www.davidhauser.com

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Katelyn Donnelly, GP of Avalanche Ventures, unveils her unique investment strategy focusing on "avalanches" – inevitable market trends driven by societal and technological shifts. In this episode, Katelyn shares her insights on what VCs look for in early-stage startups, emphasizing the importance of founders building their life's work and understanding the nuances of early-stage venture capital. 

----------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:

https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode77&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode77&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:10 Avalanche Ventures Thesis

01:13 Identifying Market Trends

04:04 KatelynDonnelly's Background

06:28 Avalanche Ventures Investment Focus

07:28 Examples of Avalanche Investments

11:15 Solo GP Experience

13:03 Evaluating Investment Opportunities

14:41 Cold Emailing Advice for Founders

19:29 Austin's Startup Ecosystem

20:49 Venture Capital Insights

28:17 Future Market Trends

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ABOUT KATELYN DONNELLY

Katelyn Donnelly is the Managing Partner of Avalanche VC, an early-stage venture firm that invests in technology companies transforming how people learn, earn, and own. Her extensive background includes co-founding Delivery Associates, a leading public sector advisory firm, and serving as Managing Director of Pearson Ventures, a global EdTech venture fund. Donnelly's career also features time at McKinsey & Company, and she has been recognized for her achievements, including being named to Forbes 30 Under 30. She is actively involved in shaping the future of education and technology, and is a member of Duke University's Learning Innovation Advisory Council.

Connect with Katelyn:

Katelyn's Website: https://katelyndonnelly.com/

Avalanche VC Website: https://www.avalanche.vc/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: Jason Kirby

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

In this episode,Jason Kirby breaks down theFundraising Quadrants—a framework that helps founders identify where they stand in their startup journey and what type of capital makes the most sense for them. Whether you’re running an AI startup, a SaaS company, or a growing e-commerce brand, this episode will help you avoid common fundraising mistakes and focus on strategies that align with your vision.

------------------------------------------

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode73&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode73&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Fundraising Quadrants

00:32 Speaker's Background and Expertise

01:15  TheNorth Star framework: What do you really want to achieve?

03:42   What are the Fundraising Quadrants? Find out where you stand

05:29   Breaking down the quadrants: Early Growth, Established Growth, Strong but Slow, 

Struggling

06:47  Venture Capital: When and how to attract investors (and when to avoid them!)

09:09  Debt Financing: Leveraging assets, revenue, and strategic borrowing

12:20  Private Equity: What PE firms look for & how to position your startup

15:16  Planning Your Exit: M&A, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships

18:24   The Big Question:Should you use investor money or bootstrap?

18:44   HowThunder VC helps founders navigate fundraising

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ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

We'll delve into the fundraising playbook, where Ryan spills the beans on building relationships with investors.  Ever wondered how to do reference checks on investors without them knowing? Ryan's got your back. We'll also talk about the importance of community building and collaboration in the startup ecosystem.

As we wrap things up, Ryan gives us a sneak peek into the crystal ball, sharing his vision for the future of Arch and the ever-evolving private markets. Spoiler alert: It involves more zeros in the bank account. Get ready to jot down some serious wisdom! This episode is not just about Arch; it's a crash course in navigating the rapids of modern entrepreneurship.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

12:19 - Building Relationships with Investors

21:05 - Manage the Fundraising Process like a Pro

23:03 -  Reference Checks and Evaluating Investors

25:51 - Building a Network and Community

28:49 - Private Markets and Capital Allocation

34:45 - The Future of the Market

Where to Find Ryan

Connect with Ryan on Twitter and LinkedIn:

👉 Ryan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ryeisenman

👉 Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-eisenman-21811246/

You may also explore the wonders of Arch on their website and social media accounts:

https://arch.co/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your free list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Here's what's in store:

• The ins and outs of revenue-based financing and how it pumps cash into companies upfront based on their future earnings.

• Strategy of widening your capital-raising horizons, avoiding the usual dependence on just a handful of top-notch venture capitalists.

• Giving your business a makeover by standing out in global markets and building a strong risk assessment system

  
  

Be inspired by his insights into revenue-based financing, where banking data, accounting details, contracts, and VC funding play critical roles. Kaustav's got your back, highlighting the nuances and fees tied to debt facilities and unraveling the mysteries behind effective interest rates. It's like a finance makeover for your business – and Kaustav's the cool guide leading the way!

Meet Kaustav Das, the mastermind with 21 years in risk management, who propelled ECL to secure $10.5 million in equity and a $100 million debt facility. His goal is to revolutionize global finance, removing geographical barriers on capital costs and offering speedy, efficient, and affordable solutions, particularly transforming the business finance scene in emerging markets such as South Asia.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

09:09 - Understanding Revenue-Based Financing

13:55 - Fundraising Strategy and Lessons Learned

27:19 - Structuring Debt Facilities

32:35 - Downside Protections and Effective Interest Rates

39:42 - Learning More about Efficient Capital

Visit Efficient Capital Labs' website at ecapplabs.com. Kaustav is ready to talk with founders and share more than what you heard in the 45-minute episode. If you're into fintech or want to know about revenue-based financing, go to ecaplabs.com for specific info. You can also contact Kaustav directly at costa.ecablabs.com for a chat that might change how you think and plan.

Where to Find Kaustav Das

• Website/s

https://www.ecaplabs.com/

• Social media link/s

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaustav-das-b6a86166/

About Fundraising Demystified

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Fundraising Demystified is hosted by serial entrepreneur Jason Kirby https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

This episode is powered by ThunderVC

Seeking to raise capital? Get your free list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

We dive into the underrated benefits of QSBS (Qualified Small Business Stock), why consumer startups have it tougher than ever, and the unique marketing challenges of building AI products in today’s crowded landscape. Great watch if you’re curious about any aspect of building and exiting in tech.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode89&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode89&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

We talk:

00:00: From Zero to 50 Million Weekly Rides: Uber China’s Blitzscale Playbook

02:48: Why Market Fit Is Make or Break

06:07: Timing, Relationships & the Hidden Rules of Fundraising

08:58: Forma’s Acquisition by Snap: Behind the Deal

11:57: Luck, Credit, and the Realities of Startup Success

15:00: Negotiating from Leverage vs. Desperation

26:13: Founders vs. Investors: What Changes After an Exit

28:08: QSBS: The Most Underrated Tax Benefit in Startups

30:27: How Stock Market Volatility Affects Founders

32:11: Leaving Snap: Rediscovering Purpose

33:43: The Messy Reality of Building and Marketing AI Products

37:14: Fundraising Now vs. Then: What’s Actually Changed?

40:57: Herd Mentality and the Modern VC Landscape

44:07: What It Takes to Enjoy the Founder Journey

47:00: Final Advice: Know What You Want

ABOUT BEN CHIANG

Ben Chiang is a veteran operator and founder best known for launching Uber in China and later founding Forma, a startup acquired by Snap. His experience spans scaling platforms in hypercompetitive markets, navigating complex acquisitions, and now building across multiple AI content ventures.
Get in touch with Ben:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchiang/

Twitter: https://x.com/ben_chiang

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED 

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

08:21 Transitioning from startup to corporate

09:07 Starting Ask-AI

10:50 Defining validation and building relationships with partners

15:11 Raising the seed round

32:53 Series A funding and maximizing valuation

35:50 Advice for founders

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT ASK-AI

ASK-AI is a generative AI answers and insights solution for enterprises specializing in the development of AI SideKicks designed to enhance workplace productivity. Ask AI initially focused on enterprise search solutions targeting customer support and documentation pain points, with Alon Talmor funding the early development before seeking external investment.

ABOUT ALON TALMOR

Alon is a software entrepreneur, AI researcher, and CEO of Ask-AI. He previously worked for an AI company, BlueTail, as a Chief Data Scientist. With a PhD in natural language processing and brain research, Talmor has built a world-class AI product team, including Prof. Jonathan Berant, who leads NLP research at Tel Aviv University. At AllenAI, he spearheaded AI Gamification efforts in Israel, contributing significantly to the advancement of AI technologies.

Alon is known for his expertise, sharing interesting thoughts about the connection between AI and the brain in captivating talks. Beyond the professional sphere, he loves extreme sports, playing the piano, and exploring the world.

Connect with Alon on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alontalmor

• X: https://twitter.com/alontalmor

• Website: https://www.ask-ai.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alon.talmor/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

In this episode of Fundraising Demystified, I sit down with John Rood, an exited founder who scaled a tutoring side hustle into a global edtech business, and sold it for over eight figures to private equity.John also shares the story behind his book Beyond the Exit and why post-exit life is often not what you think it will be.

----------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode86&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode86&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

We talk:

00:00 – The Brutal Truth No One Tells Founders

02:04 – How John Turned Tutoring into SaaS Gold

05:21 – The Finance Hack That Boosted His Valuation

07:10 – What Really Kicks Off an Exit

11:08 – The $10M Mistake Founders Keep Making

13:59 – What’s Actually Enough for You?

17:01 – Why Most Founders Regret Life After Exit

22:52 – Angel Investing: The Ego Trap No One Admits

28:22 – The Weirdly Happy Knife Founder Story

-----------------------------------

About John Rood

John Rood is the author of Beyond the Exit and the founder of one of the world’s leading pre-med test prep businesses. After scaling the company into a content-and-software powerhouse, he exited for over eight figures to a private equity firm. He now advises founders on exit strategy and post-exit reinvention, drawing from both his wins and the emotional landmines no one warns you about.

Connect with John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrood1/

Get the book: https://www.beyondtheexitbook.com/

Thanasis discusses the origin of the opportunity fund and how it evolved into the Proof strategy. He emphasizes building relationships with early-stage funds and Proof's role in facilitating co-investments, while explaining the strategy's economic incentives and addressing fundraising challenges and opportunities. Venture capitalists and fund managers won't want to miss these insights into navigating the competitive landscape and unlocking investment opportunities.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

03:11 - Evolution of Proof from early-stage investing to insider access strategy

04:06 - How opportunity funds started

05:09 - Founding New Atlantic Ventures and innovations in fund structures

12:18 - Launching Proof and building relationships with early-stage funds

14:33 - Evaluation criteria for selecting high-growth startups

16:31 - How funds share profits and incentives align

36:45 - Acquisition of Jackpocket and investment strategy

37:04 - Advice for emerging fund managers

42:59 - Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT THANASIS

Thanasis Delistathis, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Proof, began his career with a passion for engineering but discovered his knack for finance at Princeton University. After gaining experience at Draper Atlantic and co-founding New Atlantic Ventures, he pioneered Proof insider access strategy, revolutionizing venture capital by challenging traditional funding norms. With a focus on innovation and emerging opportunities, Thanasis continues to empower entrepreneurs and investors, reshaping the startup landscape with forward-thinking approaches to investing.

Connect with Thanasis on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdelistathis/

• Website: https://www.proof.vc/

• Email: td@proof.vc

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Carrie reveals her RED (Recurring, Expected, Diversified) revenue framework, discusses the importance of building businesses beyond the founder and provides insights into the challenges women founders face during the acquisition process.

_________________________

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:00 Introduction

00:15 Building Likeable Media and scaling one of the first social media agencies

04:15 The RED framework for making a business a sellable asset

10:10 The exit gap and its impact on women entrepreneurs

15:59 Why recurring revenue is key to a strong exit

22:05 Trends in M&A and the importance of AI in future acquisitions

33:20 Insights into The Whisper Way, Carrie's upcoming book

ABOUT CARRIE KERPEN

Carrie Kerpen is a trailblazing entrepreneur, author, and advocate for female founders. She built Likeable Media, a pioneer in the social media agency space, which scaled rapidly and achieved a major exit in 2021. Carrie now leads The Whisper Group, focusing on exit readiness for women-owned businesses, and is set to release her book The Whisper Way in May 2025.

Through her work, Carrie has empowered countless founders to dream big, execute strategic plans, and confidently navigate the exit process.

Connect with Carrie:

• Website: CarrieKerpen.com

• The Whisper Group: WeAreTheWhisperGroup.com

• LinkedIn: Carrie Kerpen

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

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Alexandria Procter takes center stage on this episode of Fundraising Demystified to share how she transformed a local student housing problem into DigsConnect, now Africa's leading accommodation platform. From her early days tackling University of Cape Town's housing crisis to scaling across 400 cities, she opens up about building a tech company that's reshaping student living across the continent.

For founders eyeing growth in developing markets, Alexandria delivers actionable insights on three key fronts: securing significant funding while operating from Africa (including details of their groundbreaking seed round), scaling effectively across diverse African markets, and building solid operational foundations with limited resources. She tops it off with fresh perspectives from her new role backing the next generation of African startups.

Here's what you'll find in this episode:

• 00:00 Trailer

• 00:55 Introduction to Alexandria Procter and DigsConnect's origin story

• 07:32 Building the first MVP and initial market validation

• 11:20 Navigating South Africa's startup ecosystem challenges

• 13:15 Breaking records: Inside their successful seed round

• 18:31 Scaling across 400 African cities

• 23:21 Building and retaining top talent on a budget

• 24:27 Infrastructure challenges and innovative solutions

• 27:44 The shift from founder to investor

• 33:22 The Power of Story Telling

• 40:01 Future of African tech and advice for emerging market founders

• 48:12 Rapid-fire lessons

  
  

ABOUT ALEXANDRIA PROCTER

Alexandria Procter is the founder of DigsConnect, Africa's largest student housing marketplace, which she launched at age 24 while studying at the University of Cape Town. From building the initial MVP using Python and JavaScript, she's grown the platform to connect over 150,000 landlords and tenants across 400 cities worldwide, listing more than 1.3 million beds and generating tens of millions in lease value.

Beyond entrepreneurship, she's made significant impacts in various spheres - from being appointed by President Ramaphosa as the youngest director of the National Youth Development Agency, where she successfully led the One Million for Democracy initiative, to founding House of Pharos, an SDG-aligned venture capital fund. Her achievements include becoming a published author with her national bestseller "Upstart" (2024), and establishing The Aviation Club, where she writes about tech, startups, and development economics.

Connect with Alexandria on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandriaprocter/?originalSubdomain=za

• Website: https://www.alexandriaprocter.com/

• X: https://x.com/alexprocter101

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01GpaeWH2ab3UQKcQAi5LA

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandriaprocter__/

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

This episode dives deep into startup realities: raising venture capital, overcoming failure, building an unbeatable team, outmaneuvering big competitors like LegalZoom, and scaling ZenBusiness through SEO, affiliate marketing, and obsessive customer focus.

______________________________________________________________

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode80&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode80&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – Intro: JC Glancy’s founder success story begins

02:30 – Credit card debt & early startup struggles

06:15 – Building ZenBusiness into a unicorn startup

09:00 – Giving up the CEO title: The bold move

12:50 – How ZenBusiness outperformed LegalZoom

16:10 – Product market fit: Why the early products failed

19:45 – The SEO and affiliate marketing funnel that scaled

23:30 – Fundraising strategy: From angels to $200M Series C

28:20 – Building a powerful startup team without resources

32:10 – COVID pivot story: How ZenBusiness exploded in growth

37:00 – Recruiting top talent post-Series C

41:30 – Founder exit strategy: Why JC stepped back

45:00 – What JC is building next + advice for future unicorn founders

ABOUT JC GLANCY

JC Glancy is the co-founder of ZenBusiness, a unicorn startup that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. From maxed-out credit cards to a $1B valuation, JC’s journey is a powerful founder success story. As head of product marketing, he built ZenBusiness’s marketing machine—driving explosive growth through SEO, affiliates, and data-driven customer insights. He gave up the CEO title, helped raise a $200M Series C, and led the company to outpace giants like LegalZoom.

Connect with JC:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcglancy 

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/



ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

-----------------------------------------------------

What do a career coaching platform, a French-American football team, and a fraud prevention startup have in common? Meet Patrick Butler, the mind behind all three. Talk about a guy who doesn't do boring. One minute he's running a career coaching platform, the next he's starting a football team in Paris, and now he's crushing it with a fraud prevention startup called BizDefender.

In this episode, Patrick shares the details of how he's jumped between totally different worlds. We're talking crazy fundraising tricks, buying up companies most people would run from, and basically rewriting the rulebook on how startups actually work.

Seriously, who starts a pro football team as a side hustle? This guy. And he makes it sound like it's no big deal. It's the kind of story that makes you wonder: Are some people just wired differently? Patrick seems to turn wild ideas into businesses while most of us are still planning our next move.

Want to hear about breaking every conventional rule in entrepreneurship? This is your episode.

Here's what you'll find in this episode:

• 00:00 The Unlikely Pitch: Starting an American Football Team in France

• 00:48 Meet Patrick Butler: From Startup Success to Private Equity Exit

• 01:24 The Journey of Talent Inc.: From Struggles to Success

• 02:11 The Power of a Great Co-Founder: Meeting Jeff

• 03:29 Building Talent Inc.: The Resume Revolution

• 05:51 Scaling Up: Acquisitions and Growth Strategies

• 09:46 Navigating Fundraising: Debt, Equity, and Private Investors

• 19:59 Post-Exit Reflections: Life After Talent Inc.

• 21:30 A New Venture: Launching an American Football Team in Paris

• 25:51 Meeting a Nike Executive and Defining Our Vision

• 26:40 The Importance of a Brand Book

• 28:09 Convincing the French with American Football Culture

• 30:30 Economics of Starting a Football Team in France

• 31:51 Revenue Drivers and Merchandise

• 36:07 Launching BizDefender: A New Venture

• 41:13 Preventing Small Business Fraud with BizDefender

• 43:40 The Journey and Future of BizDefender

• 47:59 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

  
  

ABOUT PATRICK BUTLER

Patrick Butler is a serial entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of BizDefender, a first-of-its-kind fraud prevention tool for SMBs. His entrepreneurial achievements include leading Talent Inc. to a successful exit and co-founding a professional American football team in France. Patrick is passionate about creating impactful businesses while fostering innovation across industries.

Connect with Patrick on:

• Website: www.pbutler.com

• Biz Defender: www.bizdefender.com

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

David shares his journey as a successful founder and provides valuable insights into the world of fundraising & bootstrapping, having taken both approaches to finance his past & present ventures. So, what did we discuss in this episode? Let me give you a sneak peek: Topics Discussed: - David's transition from professional poker player to raising venture capital for his previous startup BloomNation and then starting a bootstrap business. - The challenges faced by BloomNation and the lessons they learned. - David's exit journey from BloomNation and the recapitalization process they went through. - The power of bootstrapping and making the right decisions for your business. - David's role at Whippy and how the platform is revolutionizing communication through automation and AI. - Tips and advice on raising venture capital and the importance of finding out early if your business idea is viable. Key Takeaways: - Quick decision-making skills gained from David's poker background have been instrumental in his entrepreneurial journey. - Strategic investments can be a viable alternative to traditional fundraising methods. - Keeping an open mind and exploring different approaches can lead to more opportunities as a founder. If you're eager to dive deeper into these topics and learn from David's experiences, make sure to listen to the full episode on our podcast platform. Trust me, you don't want to miss it! Links mentioned: Whippy website - https://whippy.ai Reach out to them - info@hellowhippy.com Follow David on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-daneshgar-a47474b/ Follow David on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ddaneshgar Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OMEcQ3xYrs2K8RFIB4A3U Email Jason at jason@thunder.vc Thank you for tuning in to Fundraising Demystified. Stay tuned for more episodes featuring founders and investors sharing their stories and insights.

Jess dives into how she's building a tech company rooted in culture, purpose, and innovation, while navigating the fundraising landscape as a female CEO. We talk about generative AI in media, managing a startup as a mom, building a tech community, and how to use AI to boost productivity.

A great story about leadership, innovation, and startup resilience.

—-------------------------------------

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode83&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

00:35 – Raising Capital as a Female Founder: Intro to Jess Loren & Global Objects

03:06 – Building a Tech Community in LA

06:05 – Balancing Life as a Female CEO

08:42 – Digital Twins Technology for Culture & Innovation

13:16 – Using AI to Boost Productivity in Creative Industries

16:34 – Generative AI in Media & Entertainment

22:18 – Jess Loren’s Journey: From 2X Exit Founder to Building Global Objects

25:47 – Funding Strategies & Investor Alignment

28:16 – Global Objects' Mission and Growth Plan

31:30 – Startup Leadership as a Female CEO

34:05 – Jess Loren on Persistence, Boards & Building Visibility

ABOUT JESS LOREN

Jess Loren is a 2X exited founder and the CEO of Global Objects, a cutting-edge startup at the intersection of digital twins technology, cultural preservation, and generative AI. With a background in community building, immersive experiences, and Web3 innovation, Jess is known for her bold leadership, fundraising acumen, and vision for reshaping how we digitally capture and interact with the world. Her journey includes turning down a $20M term sheet to stay mission-aligned, proving that purpose and persistence can coexist at scale.

You can reach out to Jess through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessloren/

Global Objects' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalobjects/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED 

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Most founders dream of a big exit but few talk about what happens after.

Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at thunder.vc.

Key Takeaways:The emotional and mental cost behind selling Crosswise to Oracle.How burnout nearly ended Ron’s startup journey—and what pulled him back.

The surprising truth about life inside a big corporation after acquisition.Why Sentra’s $100M+ raise was more about mission than money.

Ron’s lessons on cofounder chemistry, resilience, and building without losing yourself.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode97&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Here's what you're in for:

01:28 - Mental Health in Entrepreneurship

02:55 - Starting the Podcast: Oracle Acquisition Journey

03:32 - The Decision to Sell Crosswise

09:29 - Navigating the Acquisition Process

22:27 - Post-Acquisition Reflections and Retention

28:26 - Market Dynamics and Strategic Decisions

30:29 - Navigating Competitive Markets

31:23 - The Catalyst for Starting Anew

32:45 - Building with Friends and Finding Happiness

35:25 - Defining the Right Role

37:31 - Raising a Monster Seed Round

42:25 - The FOMO Round and Series B Success

49:28 - Investing in Founding Teams

54:54 - Advice for Founders on Raising Money and Selling Companies

58:06 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

ABOUT RON REITER

Ron is a serial entrepreneur and cloud security expert known for turning complex technical challenges into scalable, real-world solutions. As the Co-founder and CTO of Sentra, he leads innovation in data security helping organizations regain visibility and control over their cloud environments.

Before Sentra, Ron co-founded Crosswise, a cross-device identification company that bridged digital identities across devices and was later acquired by Oracle for $50 million.With over two decades in software development and more than six years as an Engineering Director at Oracle Data Cloud, Ron managed the Tel Aviv R&D branch and led initiatives across ID graph, DMP, audience, and contextual data products. His career reflects a deep commitment to building secure, intelligent systems that power the future of data-driven organizations.

You can reach out to Ron through:

Website:https://www.sentra.io/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronreiter/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A.

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A and business development.

He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it.

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast.

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Our conversation with Ari covers the potential pitfalls of SAFE agreements and the importance of proper company structure, his journey from founder to investor, and the dynamics of board relationships. Ari shares valuable insights on the crucial role of trust and communication between founders and investors, drawing from his extensive experience on both sides of the table.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:49 The impact of SAFEs on founders and potential pitfalls

• 05:55 Stacking SAFEs and the challenges it creates for fundraising

• 12:01 The importance of proper company structure and governance

• 19:35 Ari's experience investing in Chainalysis during the early days of blockchain

• 22:06 Comparing fundraising as a founder vs. as a VC

• 29:54 The importance of trust and communication in board relationships

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT ARI NEWMAN

Ari Newman is the co-founder and managing director at Massive VC and Partner at The Fund Rockies. Ari brings a wealth of experience as a 2x founder with 15 years on the operating side, and has been in venture capital since 2012. He's also a mentor, advisor, and board member, having previously served as a partner at Techstars. Ari brings his background both as an entrepreneur and investor to help founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling technology companies.

Connect with Ari on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arinewman/

• Email: ari@massive.vc

• Website: https://www.massive.vc/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

• Email: jason@thunder.vc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Jeff shares his experience raising and transacting over $100M across his own companies, investing over $100M through his fund, and leading more than $500M in total deal flow. The conversation dives deep into why the U.S. public markets have evolved into a “mega-cap only” game, why secondary markets create hidden risks, and why global listings are becoming a strategic advantage—not an alternative.

The discussion also unpacks how founders should think about IPOs not as exits, but as long-term capital infrastructure. Jeff explains how public markets unlock talent, revenue, acquisition flexibility, and investor access in ways private markets increasingly cannot match.

Key insights include:

• Why the VC model incentivizes longer private cycles—but not always founder outcomes

• The rise (and risks) of secondary markets and SPV structures

• Why transparency and liquidity drive better capital allocation

• How global investors are reshaping IPO strategy

• Why “unit economics clarity” is the real IPO readiness test

• The difference between a “funding event” and a “capital system.”

This is a sharp, sometimes contrarian look at where capital markets are heading—and how founders can position themselves to win in a global IPO landscape.

-------------------------------------

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+117&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

ABOUT JEFFREY STEWART

Jeffrey Stewart is an inventor, entrepreneur, investor, and author focused on technology-enabled businesses and global capital markets. He is the author of Global IPO – The Great Rewiring of Capital Markets and works with GPO Fund, where he backs growth-stage tech founders building globally scalable companies.

Through the GPO Fund, Jeffrey invests in companies across emerging markets, B2B SaaS, clean-tech, education, blockchain, big data, and financial services, with a focus on improving how venture capital and global capital markets operate.

You can reach out to Jeff through:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartjeffrey 

Website: https://www.youtube.com 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Nick walks us through his fundraising journey, detailing how he attracted investors by optimizing user growth and engagement metrics. He also discusses the importance of building strategic connections and staying adaptable to market shifts, while offering practical advice for maintaining resilience during the fundraising process.

Here's what you're in for:

00:31 Nick's Journey into gaming and entrepreneurship

10:50 Fundraising journey and initial challenges

21:11 The fundraising process

26:25 Adapting to market shifts and raising Series A

35:37 Metrics and benchmarks that attracted investors

39:47 Advice for founders

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT GUEST

Nick Cuomo is a former professional gamer and viral gaming video creator. With over 15 years of experience in technology, marketing, software, sales, and digital media, Nick's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Allstar in 2019. Their mission is to empower gamers to become creators by simplifying the process of sharing gameplay through innovative technology.

Connect with Nick on:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuomon/

X: https://twitter.com/nickcuomo?lang=en

Website: www.nickcuomo.com

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Mel also talks about navigating investor relationships, launching new products, and the future of AI in wellness. Her story highlights resilience, strategic thinking, and the importance of understanding the investor landscape.

----------------------------------------------------

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode91&utm_id=%24100M+Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:32 Mel’s Background & Vision

02:25 Building Body Collective Group

09:02 Fundraising Lessons

21:24 Product Development & Expansion

22:30 Navigating Investors

31:25 AI Wellness Coach Vision

35:39 Negotiating Buyouts & Reclaiming Ownership

51:11 Future Plans

55:26 How to Connect with Mel

ABOUT MELINDA NICCI

With more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of technology and global health, she has built AI-driven platforms that have reached over 6 million people in 130 countries. As the Founder & CEO of Body Collective Group, she created Bella AI, the world’s most advanced women’s health assistant, and pioneered digital wellness platforms including Baby2Body and MBODY.

Consistently recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Technology, she is known for translating AI research into real-world health applications, forging global partnerships, and scaling businesses to successful exits. Her board leadership spans high-performance sports and technology, with expertise in audit, risk, and strategy.

She is passionate about advancing women’s health, scaling AI for global health, and driving purpose-led innovation that balances commercial success with social impact.

You can reach out to Melinda through:

Website: https://www.baby2body.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindanicci/?originalSubdomain=uk

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

As an investor, he looks for game-changing ideas and founders who don't necessarily need the money. Neman provides tips for founders on standing out in a crowded market, getting in front of investors, making good impressions, growing their businesses and raising money. 

He also covers the challenges of getting out of deals and generating returns. This story can inspire founders to look beyond traditional paths and explore how their unique capabilities can address unmet needs in diverse sectors.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Intro

00:42 Shane Neman's entrepreneurial background

09:08 Transitioning to investing

12:15 Writing the book 'Nightly Lessons'

15:32 Struggles with fundraising and capital

23:03 Investing in early-stage ventures

31:30 Asking questions to test founders

35:28 Getting in front of investors

36:07 Making a good first impression

42:13 Getting out of deals and generating returns

47:54 Advice for founders chasing capital

51:40 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT SHANE NEMAN

Shane Neman is a serial entrepreneur and investor. As the CIO and General Partner of Neman Ventures, Shane dedicates himself to uncovering unique and often overlooked investment opportunities that offer significant potential for growth and innovation with a robust portfolio that includes over 50 startups. His expertise spans various asset classes, including venture capital, private equity, and real estate.

A graduate of NYU with a degree in Computer Science, Shane's entrepreneurial journey began in the tech sector, where he founded three startups, two of which—EZ Texting and JoonBug—achieved successful acquisitions.

He was also recognized as a recipient of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater scholarship and membership in the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

Shane authored NightLife Lessons: How I Conquered the Business of Partying with Tech and a Glimpse Into its Future, manages various property types, and oversees a portfolio of over 20 properties in major metropolitan cities across the U.S.

Connect with Shane Neman on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneneman/

• Website: https://www.shaneneman.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaneneman/reels/

• X: https://twitter.com/shaneneman

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nemanshane

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

If you're a founder eyeing the public markets, this is your roadmap. We dive into shifting investor sentiment, the surge in the secondary market, and strategic insights on when to go public, build public company credibility, and leverage equity in IPOs to your advantage.

______________________________________________________________

Raising capital?

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode81&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – The 2025 IPO market

02:15 – Investor sentiment in the current IPO climate

04:40 – Why IPO timing is critical: the best time to IPO

07:25 – IPO valuation expectations and market sensitivities

10:05 – IPO readiness checklist for founders

12:50 – What happens after IPO: risks and surprises

16:15 – IPO performance in 2024 vs 2025

19:30 – Market cap requirements for IPO explained

22:10 – How equity in IPO impacts control and growth

25:20 – Benefits of going public beyond capital

28:05 – Public company credibility and strategic advantages

31:15 – The rise of the secondary market and investor access

34:30 – Private stock trading trends and access to liquidity

37:20 – When should you go public?

40:10 – Employee stock incentive strategies in public companies

43:30 – Parting shot from Peter Goldstein

ABOUT PETER GOLDSTEIN

Peter Goldstein is a leading expert in the IPO market, founder of Exchange Listing LLC, and author of The Entrepreneur’s IPO. With decades of experience guiding small and micro-cap companies through public offerings, Peter is known for helping founders navigate the complexities of going public. His deep understanding of IPO readiness, valuation, and investor strategy makes him one of the most trusted voices in the space.

You can reach out to Peter through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-goldstein-exchangelisting/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

In this episode, Eric breaks down how he built a profitable SaaS business with no outside funding, ran three separate sales processes, and closed a deal with private equity in 2024. He shares what founders should know about earnouts, how to choose the right investment bank, and the red flags he learned to spot during M&A negotiations.

If you’re a founder thinking about selling a bootstrapped company, this episode is packed with real lessons on timing, valuation, and life after the exit.

⚡ What You'll Learn:

• Why most earnouts never get paid — and how to protect yourself.

• The hidden risks behind LOIs, retrades, and exclusivity windows.

• How a dev-shop equity arrangement fueled 20 years of bootstrapped growth… until it didn’t.

• How interest rate spikes in 2022 instantly destroyed a great LOI.

• Why Eric ran three processes before landing the final buyer.

• How to evaluate PE buyers and spot red flags during diligence.

  
  

Raising capital?

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode100&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Introduction

03:40 Choosing an Investment Bank

06:22 Running the Sale Process

15:42 Finalizing the Deal and Advice for Founders

19:59 Evaluating Potential Bosses and Partners

20:25 The Importance of Thorough Due Diligence

21:34 Transparency in Negotiations

23:22 Understanding and Negotiating Earnouts

24:47 Post-Acquisition Transition

35:39 Life After the Exit

37:21 Final Advice for Founders

ABOUT ERIC FRIEDMAN

Eric Friedman is an accomplished startup CEO with over two decades of experience leading and scaling SaaS companies. As the founder and CEO of eSkill Corporation, he built the company from concept to successful exit—achieving 20 consecutive years of revenue growth without outside funding. Under his leadership, eSkill became a leader in the HR technology space, serving global clients such as PepsiCo, GE, Deloitte, Stanford University, Zappos, the United Nations, and the U.S. State Department.

He brings deep expertise in lean operations, sustainable growth strategy, and product-market adaptation. His ability to lead through both stable and volatile market conditions has made him a trusted operator in the SaaS space. His approach blends strategic discipline with operational agility—adapting go-to-market models and product fit in response to shifting customer and market needs.

You can reach out to Eric through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-friedman-604258/ 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it.

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

• Why Shay Levi left NoName Security after its $500M sale to Akamai
  

• How he built Unframe AI and raised millions at a massive valuation
  

• The mindset shift from cybersecurity to AI innovation
  

• What founders get wrong about timing their exits
  

• Lessons on capital efficiency and founder evolution after a big win
  

----------------------------------------------------

Looking for capital or to sell?

Get a list of vetted investors and buyers for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode92&utm_id=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode92&utm_id=%24100M+Exits

Here’s what you’re in for:00:00 – Intro: From $500M exit to new beginnings

02:15 – The Akamai acquisition story: what really happened

05:40 – Why Shay left at the peak

08:20 – The “LLM moment” that sparked Unframe AI

11:10 – Founder reinvention: starting again after massive success

14:50 – Raising at a huge valuation from day one

18:30 – Cybersecurity vs AI: mindset and market lessons

22:00 – What $500M taught Shay about building the next one

25:10 – Advice to founders chasing their second act

28:00 – Jason’s recap and founder takeaways

About $100M Exits

$100M Exits is where founders and investors who’ve achieved $100M+ outcomes share raw, unfiltered lessons. Hosted by Jason Kirby, each episode dives deep into the psychology, strategy, and playbook behind 9-figure exits and the next wave of category-defining startups.

About the Guest – Shay Levi

Shay Levi is the co-founder and former CTO of NoName Security, which was acquired by Akamai for nearly $500M. After scaling one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity startups of the decade, Shay left to found Unframe AI, a new venture pushing the boundaries of AI infrastructure and reasoning systems. Known for his product-first mindset and calm precision as a technical founder, Shay is now building in one of the most competitive spaces of the decade.

You can reach out to Shay through:

Website: https://www.unframe.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylevi2/?originalSubdomain=il

Email: leave a comment to get an intro

About the Host – Jason Kirby

Jason Kirby is the Managing Partner at Thunder and host of $100M Exits, where he shares stories and lessons from founders who’ve raised, sold, or scaled to 9-figure outcomes. He’s an active investor and advisor to high-growth startups navigating capital and acquisition strategies.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Colby talks about the grueling fundraising process, navigating the complexities of a strategic acquisition, and the importance of understanding key legal considerations throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 - Intro

• 00:45 - Colby's transition from corporate law to entrepreneurship

• 02:25 - Challenges of being a first-time founder and raising capital

• 05:50 - Navigating the fundraising process and courting investors

• 10:05 - Raising over $12 million across two rounds for Enlightened

• 13:22 - Strategic acquisition of Enlightened by Weedmaps

• 18:06 - Leveraging legal expertise to drive a successful exit

• 24:19 - Joining Weedmaps and public companies post-exit

• 28:58 - Launching Transition Point Law to guide other founders

• 50:08 - Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

Get the fundraising guide to sharing your data room - https://lp.thunder.vc/download-the-fundraising-guide-to-sharing-data-rooms

ABOUT COLBY MCKENZIE

Colby Mckenzie is a business-minded attorney and M&A expert. From practicing law at one of the top firms in the world to being a seasoned entrepreneur with numerous successful exits as both a founder/operator and private equity investor, Colby marries his legal and business careers to bring an unrivaled viewpoint to unique and unconventional transactions.

McKenzie founded Transition Point Law to give business owners and funds the experience that he was looking for while operating companies himself.

Prior to founding Transition Point Law, he was the co-founder of venture-backed startup Enlighten, a leading canntech company, which had a successful exit in 2022 to Weedmaps (Nasdaq: MAPS). And, thereafter, spent two years as part of senior management and the c-suite of multiple public companies.

He has helped companies in a wide array of businesses including digital media, ad tech, mobile apps, IoT, health & wellness, cannabis, food/service, financial services, professional services, construction and commercial real estate.

Connect with Colby on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-mckenzie-08423372/

• Website: https://www.transitionpointlaw.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

With real-world lessons from the Tuft & Needle journey and his advisory platform Supernova, Barry dives deep into sourcing the right advisors, setting success metrics, avoiding red flags, and aligning compensation with performance.

—------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode82&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for: 

00:00 – Introduction

00:08 – Meet Barry Stamos: Founder of Supernova

00:43 – Barry’s startup journey and lessons from past exits

03:10 – Why startup advisors and mentors are critical

03:29 – Finding and managing startup advisors effectively

05:29 – Startup advisor success story: learning from experience

08:56 – The right time for early stage startup support

12:26 – Tuft & Needle case study: startup advisor success story

16:04 – The real role of startup advisors in startup growth

20:33 – Managing advisor relationships for success

21:27 – How to compensate startup advisors effectively

23:53 – How to find startup advisors and sourcing advisors for startups

25:55 – Making aggressive advisor requests

29:16 – Startup advisor horror stories and startup advisor red flags

33:05 – Introducing Supernova: the startup advisor platform

35:44 – How Supernova matches advisors with founders

37:51 – Advice for founders seeking advisors and building a startup advisory board

40:00 – How to connect with Barry Stamos and Supernova

—---------------------------

ABOUT BARRY STAMOS

Barry Stamos is a 3x exited founder, startup advisor, and CEO of Supernova—a platform that connects high-growth startups with a curated network of successfully exited founders. With a track record that includes advising breakout companies like Tuft & Needle, Barry specializes in helping startups scale smarter through strategic advisory boards, hands-on mentorship, and performance-driven advisor relationships.

You can reach out to Barry through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bstamos/

Supernova's Website: https://1supernova.com/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

We discuss the latest trends in VC funding and the types of fund managers that are currently securing funding. He points out common pitfalls that new fund managers should avoid. Winter also explains the cohort model used by Coolwater to support fund managers, emphasizing the importance of information sharing and strong networks.

Here's what you're in for:

• (00:00) - Intro

• (00:40) - Transition from working as a limited partner to founding Coolwater

• (03:03) - The challenges of starting Coolwater

• (09:06) - How Coolwater evaluates and supports fund managers

• (15:05) - Differences in fundraising for startups vs funds

• (23:22) - Trends in VC funding

• (31:51) - Common mistakes emerging fund managers make

• (47:05) - Profiles of fund managers in Coolwater

• (52:23) - Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT WINTER MEAD

Winter Mead is the founder and managing member of Coolwater Capital, specializing in emerging managers and technology investments. He authored "How To Raise A Venture Capital Fund" and operates Coolwater, an academy dedicated to training and scaling emerging fund managers. With a history of building an evergreen fund at SAP and working in private equity and venture capital in San Francisco, Winter has made significant contributions to the venture capital community, including founding the LP transparency movement, #OpenLP. He also served as junior faculty at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and holds advanced degrees from the University of Oxford and Harvard University. Winter lives in Utah with his family and is deeply committed to enhancing the capabilities of new managers in the venture capital industry through his work at Coolwater.

Connect with Winter on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wintermead/

• X: https://x.com/wintmead?lang=en

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 exits and 15 years of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

----------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode78&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode78&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Check out Chore: https://www.hirechore.com/partner/fundraising-demystified?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Thunder_VC&utm_campaign=Fundraising+Demystified

What to expect from this episode:

00:00 – Why Founders Waste Time on the Wrong Things (and How to Fix It) 

05:30 – The Brutal Truth About Startup Productivity Hacks 

12:45 – How to Outsource Like a Pro and Scale Faster 

18:20 – The Best Tools and Services to Automate Your Startup Ops 

22:10 – The Harsh Reality of Starting a Business (What No One Tells You) 

28:50 – The Biggest Mistakes That Lead to Founder Burnout and Failure 

35:40 – The Ultimate Playbook for Making a Startup Successful

ABOUT ADAM SPECTOR

Adam Spector is a 4-time founder, startup advisor, and investor with experience in scaling companies and optimizing startup operations. As the CEO of Chore, he helps founders and teams focus on what matters by providing fractional chief-of-staff services to streamline back-office work. Adam has invested in over 200 startups, giving him unique insights into why startups fail and what it truly takes to succeed.

Chore Webiste: https://www.hirechore.com/

Adam Spector LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamspector2/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

From AI infrastructure and application-layer valuations, to proprietary data, recursive learning loops, and the growing importance of domain expertise, Itamar shares how he thinks about AI moats, venture-scale businesses, and where founders should be careful about taking too much capital too early.

What You'll Learn:

• Why Itamar believes we're in an AI infrastructure bubble — and where he sees the real opportunity

• What makes an AI company defensible when building software is easier than ever

• Why founders should question whether their business is actually venture scale before taking VC money

• How "seed strapping" can help founders build toward cash flow positive growth

• Why AI founders need a Plan B for unit economics as today's token costs are heavily subsidized

ABOUT ITAMAR NOVICK

Itamar Novick is the Founder of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund backing AI startups from day one. He has backed 100+ startups, including Deel, HoneyBook, Life360, and Tile, and was part of the early teams at Life360, which scaled from seed to IPO, and Gigya, which was acquired by SAP for $350M. Business Insider has named him a Top 100 global seed investor every year since 2022. 

You can reach out to Itamar through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarnovick/overlay/contact-info/

Website: https://www.recursiveventures.com/ - Company               

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

─────────────────────────────

The question you can't ask your board — you can ask https://exitboard.ai.

Should I take the LOI? Is this term sheet a trap? Am I underpricing the round?

ExitBoard gives you 100+ founders behind $10B in exits, on call, before you walk it into the boardroom.

Free. No sign-up. Ask anything → https://exitboard.ai

─────────────────────────────

Most bankers have never built a company. We have been in your shoes and exited.

Thunder was built by exited founders. 6,000+ post-exit founders in our network. $1B+ transacted. We work with VC-backed founders on debt, equity, recaps, and exits.

If you're exploring a transaction in 6-24 months, start a conversation with us → https://thunder.vc 

David breaks down the challenges and opportunities he encountered during multiple rounds of fundraising and acquisitions, offering real insights in agency growth and M&A transactions.

For entrepreneurs eyeing the exit, David's story is a wake-up call. He emphasizes that building and selling a service-based business is far from straightforward, and there's more to consider than just the financial windfall. Drawing from his experience, David provides invaluable advice for founders contemplating a sale, making this episode a must-listen for anyone in the professional services space looking to scale or sell their business.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:33 The founding and growth of 3Q Digital

• 08:31 First sale and the challenges of earn-outs

• 15:51 Buying back the company and subsequent sale

• 21:38 What makes a marketing agency attractive for acquisition

• 25:34 Common deal structures in agency acquisitions

• 33:14 Factors that can derail a deal

• 39:08 Advice for founders considering selling their business

• 42:12 David's book: "Selling Your Marketing Agency"

• 48:45 Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT DAVID RODNITZKY

David Rodnitzky is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing expert with over two decades of experience in the digital marketing industry. His journey began in 2000 at Rentals.com, where he pioneered the shift toward search engine marketing (SEM), setting a precedent for success in the field.

As the founder of 3Q Digital, David built the agency from the ground up, leading it through exceptional growth and multiple successful transactions. His expertise has been recognized by Google, naming 3Q Digital a top agency partner, and his insights have been featured in prestigious publications. David's contributions to the industry earned him the University of Iowa's 2021 Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year award.

David also wrote a book called "Selling Your Marketing Agency" which aims to level the playing field for agency owners looking to sell their businesses by sharing insights from his own experiences with multiple transactions. The book provides valuable guidance for professional services business owners on navigating the complexities of selling their companies

Currently, David runs a consulting firm dedicated to helping marketing agency founders grow their businesses and navigate the complexities of selling. Drawing from his experience in agency growth and M&A transactions, he's passionate about creating equal opportunities for founders in the agency sale process.

Connect with David on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrodnitzky/

• Website: https://davidrodnitzky.com/

David's book "Selling Your Marketing Agency" provides valuable guidance for professional services business owners on navigating the complexities of selling their companies and is now available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Your-Marketing-Agency-Important/dp/B0CGHNMFL2

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

In this episode, Jennifer Henderson, founder of Colorado-based HR tech startup Tilt, breaks down exactly what it took to raise over $30 million in venture capital while balancing motherhood, market crashes, and investor whiplash.

Jen shares how Tilt was born out of personal trauma, why she built a leave management platform with empathy at its core, and what every founder, especially women, needs to know before walking into their next pitch.

From Techstars to term sheet disasters, this is the real story behind startup success in today’s market.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode88&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode88&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:
00:00 – “I don’t come from money”: Why Jen chose venture

04:21 – Building Tilt from personal pain

06:08 – Sales tactics that worked

09:07 – How Techstars changed the fundraising game

11:53 – Raising Series A: Saying no to ‘cute’ term sheets

18:03 – Series B nightmares: exclusivity traps, errors & resilience

33:07 – The truth about AI in HR tech

39:02 – Advice to female founders: “Be successful. We need you.”

42:56 – Surviving the current startup market

ABOUT JENNIFER HENDERSON

Jennifer Henderson is the founder & CEO of Tilt, a Colorado-based HR tech platform that simplifies and humanizes leave of absence management for modern teams. After two traumatic parental leave experiences, she turned her frustration into a mission. From Starbucks barista to corporate leader to raising $30M+ across five rounds, Jen's journey is a masterclass in resilience, grit, and founder-first leadership. Tilt is now a trusted solution for teams across the U.S., navigating complex leave policies with care.

Connect with Jennifer on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferhendersonjctcjcdcEmail: hello@tilt.com

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED 

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Michael offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, having transitioned from a direct-to-consumer apparel brand to a material science company serving consumer, commercial, and government sectors. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur in the DeepTech space, Michael's practical advice and real-world experiences offer valuable lessons on building and scaling a hardware-based startup.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:19 Michael's Journey from Apparel to Material Science

• 01:30 Discovering the Insulation Problem

• 03:36 Breakthrough with Aerogel

• 05:26 Commercializing the Technology

• 07:42 Fundraising and Early Challenges

• 17:26 Market strategy contract manufacturing vs. In-house production

• 25:51 Entering government contracts and assembling teams

• 21:58 Applications of SolarCore foam and market positioning

• 28:41 Series B funding insights and choosing investors

• 31:14 Engaging with prospective investors

• 35:45 Tips for deep tech founders

• 41:45 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT MICHAEL MARKESBERY

Michael Markesbery is the co-founder and CEO of Oros Labs, a pioneering material science company that has revolutionized insulation technology. His journey began as a college student when a backpacking trip in the Swiss Alps inspired him to solve the problem of bulky cold-weather gear.

In 2014, Michael was awarded the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship, which proved to be a pivotal moment in his career. He has successfully navigated OROS Labs (A material technology company focused on creating the most scientifically advanced thermal solutions on the planet) through multiple funding rounds, raising over $50 million in venture capital to date. The company's innovative approach has also caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense, resulting in a multi-million dollar contract.

In 2019, Michael spearheaded Oros Labs' growth and relocated its headquarters to Portland, Oregon. He secured partnerships with innovative entities such as Ad Astra, Elon Musk and Josh Dahn's school, underscoring his dedication to STEM education. Michael epitomizes the new wave of entrepreneurs propelling sustainable, high-performance material advancements.

Connect with Michael Markesbery on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-markesbery-32169088/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelmarkesbery/?hl=en

• Website: https://oroslabs.com/

• Email: michael@solarcore.tech

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

He opens up about the mindset shifts required to bounce back from failure and contrasts his experiences raising VC for HireMe versus his subsequent startup ResetButton, where he quickly raised $2 million on just an idea and PowerPoint deck. Rob also talks about the acquisition process - valuation expectations, legal due diligence, deal structuring with earn-outs and seller notes, and ultimately deciding when an exit makes sense for founders and investors.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:08 Challenges of scaling a brick-and-mortar business

• 07:08 Lessons from failures

• 32:18 Strategic talks and potential acquisition

• 34:39 Cutting a deal and transitioning the business

• 39:21 Contrasting fundraising experiences

• 46:44 Creativity in deal structures

• 50:04 Realistic expectations and understanding investor preferences

• 1:00:51 Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT ROB HUNTER

Rob Hunter has been an entrepreneur from a young age. By the age of 12, he had an eBay account and was selling Japanese professional wrestling VHS tapes and DVDs to finance his education at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

His success on eBay enabled him to establish a mini-student real estate empire. After graduating, he sold his properties and ventured into the ice cream business, opening seven Marble Slab ice cream stores by the age of 25. As a multi-unit franchisee, Rob experienced many highs and lows, gaining valuable lessons along the way.

In 2012, Rob received a prestigious scholarship to pursue his MBA at Babson College, the #1 school in the world for entrepreneurship. Since relocating to Boston, he has met a co-founder, a wife, and immersed himself in the city's vibrant technology startup culture.

Over several years, Rob built and eventually sold HigherMe, an HR tech solution for the restaurant industry. He also tackled the US student debt crisis with Reset Button/Lexria. Currently, Rob focuses on investing in real estate, startups, and small businesses, while spending as much time as possible with his family.

Connect with Rob on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhunter7/

• Website: https://www.speakerventures.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt?

Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101

We're thrilled to have Nick Telson-Sillett in the hot seat taking us through his remarkable journey, from bootstrapping Design My Night to a £30+ million exit, to raising venture capital for his SaaS venture, Trumpet, and building Sequel, an investment fund for professional athletes.

His unique perspective offers a practical guide on when to bootstrap, when to seek VC funding, and how to execute an exit strategy effectively. This episode is a must-listen for founders at any stage, offering a blend of strategic advice and real-life stories for building and scaling successful startups.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 - Trailer / Introduction

• 05:34 - The story behind Design My Night and bootstrapping to a £30+ million exit

• 18:15 - Raising venture capital for Trumpet

• 19:15 - Strategies for creating traction without a product

• 26:45 - Current seed funding landscape

• 30:07 - Introduction to Sequel, a unique investment platform for professional athletes

• 36:03 - Angel investing and what Nick looks for in founders

• 38:10 - The importance of non-ego founders and realistic growth projections

  
  

ABOUT NICK TELSON-SILLETT

Nick Telson-Sillett is a seasoned entrepreneur with success in both bootstrapped and VC-backed startups. He co-founded Design My Night, which he bootstrapped to a £30+ million exit, and is currently leading Trumpet, a venture-backed B2B SaaS company. Nick is also involved with Sequel, an innovative platform connecting professional athletes with startup investment opportunities.

With his diverse experience, Nick offers a unique and valuable perspective on the startup ecosystem. He's active on LinkedIn, regularly sharing insights and lessons from his entrepreneurial journey.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

• Email: jason@thunder.vc

• LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here:https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips -https://join.thunder.vc

----------------------

In this eye-opening episode of Fundraising Demystified, host Jason Kirby sits down with Mark Peter Davis, Managing Partner at Interplay Ventures, about the realities of venture capital and smart fundraising strategies for founders.

Mark challenges the "VC or bust" mentality, offering founders a fresh perspective on building sustainable businesses. He shares practical advice from his book "The Fundraising Rules" and reveals what Interplay looks for in potential investments. Don't miss Mark's parting words of wisdom – a powerful reminder that while fundraising is a crucial skill, it's ultimately about building a great company that can stand on its own merits.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Trailer

• 01:10 Introduction to Mark Peter Davis and Interplay Ventures

• 06:30 The mission and structure of Interplay's startup ecosystem

• 09:03 Notable successes and exits from Interplay's portfolio

• 13:35 What Interplay looks for in potential investments

• 14:40 Insights from Mark's book "The Fundraising Rules"

• 22:38 Why most companies shouldn't raise venture capital

• 25:59 Differences between raising capital as a founder vs. a GP

• 28:23 Interplay's investment criteria and portfolio construction

• 30:50 How founders can get Interplay's attention and the investment process

• 35:34 Interplay's unique approach to due diligence

• 40:35 Mark's parting advice for founders raising venture capital

ABOUT MARK PETER DAVIS

⁠Mark Peter Davis⁠ ("MPD") is a veteran venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, and author with a track record of success across multiple facets of the startup ecosystem. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Interplay Ventures, a unique venture capital and incubation firm that has invested in unicorns like ⁠Coinbase⁠ and ⁠Warby Parker⁠.

MPD co-founded several startups, including ⁠Kohort⁠ and Zotspot, and has invested in over 40 companies. His book, "The Fundraising Rules," is a go-to guide for entrepreneurs navigating the capital-raising process. Mark is also the founder of influential networking groups like the NY Venture Community and Columbia Venture Community.

Mark is active on social media, sharing insights from his extensive experience in venture capital and entrepreneurship. His unique perspective, shaped by both successes and challenges, makes him a valuable voice in the startup community.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

—---------------------------------------------------

Starting off December with a recap from the podcast's biggest fundraisers of 2024... Ever wondered how the most successful founders raise millions? 💡

Discover the strategies and stories behind some of the biggest fundraising wins from top founders who’ve raised millions and scaled rapidly.

In Season 2 of the Fundraising Demystified Podcast, we break down how these entrepreneurs secured game-changing investments, navigated challenges, and built thriving companies.

Here’s a recap of our top 5 episodes:

Paul Kromidas (Episode 27):

The mastermind behind Summer, a vacation home company that raised over $11M in seed funding, $18M in Series A, and a $50M debt facility. Learn how strategic partnerships fueled this massive growth.

Edrizio De La Cruz (Episode 58):

From Air Force mechanic to raising $25M for his fintech startup. Edrizio shares how leadership and grit helped him scale quickly in the competitive fintech space.

Michael Markesbery (Episode 53):

Michael went from solving a personal problem to raising $50M for his deep-tech material science company. He reveals how OROS Labs turned NASA-grade insulation into cutting-edge outdoor gear and secured funding through Kickstarter, seed rounds, and Series B with Airbus Ventures.

Chris Gladwin (Episode 49):

A serial entrepreneur who raised hundreds of millions. Chris shares his journey from Cleversafe’s $1.4B acquisition by IBM to building Ocient. He talks about navigating market cycles, fundraising strategies, and building resilient companies.

Diana Heldfond (Episode 43):

A solo female founder who raised $29M for Parallel, a platform transforming how children with learning and thinking challenges like dyslexia and ADHD receive support. Diana discusses how she built this innovative solution and secured funding without a co-founder.

Each episode offers valuable insights for founders and startups, including:

• How to navigate high-stakes fundraising rounds

• Leveraging partnerships and unique skills for growth

• Building investor confidence for long-term success

Your next big round starts here. Tune in to the Fundraising Demystified Podcast for actionable advice and inspiring stories from entrepreneurs who’ve been there.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms!

#StartupFunding #VCJourney #Entrepreneurship #FundraisingDemystified

Andrew breaks down why warm intros no longer work, how Boardy.ai sparked investor interest before he was even fundraising, and why real-time AI conversations may become the future of dealmaking.

He also shares ideas on founder psychology, network effects, and the next chapter of AI-driven relationship building.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Andrew D’Souza raised $8M using an AI agent (Bordy.ai)

• Why the “warm intro” is dead — and what replaces it

• How Clearco scaled to a $2.5B unicorn

• Why investors chase the same 50 deals (and what founders should do instead)

• A breakdown of what’s actually broken in fundraising today

• The mechanics of AI-driven dealflow, investor matching, and credibility building

  
  

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode101&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode101&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:16 Using AI to Raise Funds

01:11 The Evolution of Fundraising

05:02 Clear Co: Building a FinTech Unicorn

08:56 Transitioning from Clearco to AI

18:37 The Birth of Boardy

25:45 The Initial Growth Strategy

26:23 Defining Bordy's Vision and Purpose

27:23 Building a Horizontal AI Platform

27:55 Achieving Network Effects and User Success Stories

28:57 Experimenting with Investor-Founders Matching

30:12 The Importance of Trust in Business Introductions

31:41 Boardy's Unique Onboarding Process

36:23 Future Plans: Monetization and Expansion

47:54 The Role of AI in Human Relationships

53:17  How to Connect with Andrew

ABOUT Andrew D’Souza

Andrew D’Souza is a veteran founder and tech operator best known for co-founding and leading Clearco, the company that transformed non-dilutive capital and funded 10,000+ startups with over $2.5B deployed. With a background in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Andrew now invests, advises, and serves as a visiting partner at HF0, helping high-potential founders scale faster and build category-defining companies.

You can reach out to Andrew through:

X:       https://x.com/andrewdsouza

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/andrewdsouza 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/andrewdsouza/ 

Website:https://www.boardy.ai/ 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

We talk about how George switched from being a professional race car driver to starting his own company, how they timed the fundraise with only 2-3 months runway left, the fundraising process that helped them book 100 investor meetings & close the round in just 3 months. George is based out of the UK and shares some incredible stories and advice with founders seeking capital. Here are some of the main topics we covered: 1. The inspiration behind Aerocloud and its appeal in the market 2. Strategies for finding and attracting investors 3. Building a successful fundraising process 4. The importance of networking and connections in the fundraising world Now, let's dive into the key takeaways and lessons from this incredible conversation: - Business is a process: George emphasizes that hitting your numbers and having the right intention are crucial for success. - Network, network, network: George highlights the power of your network and how it can help you find seed investors and expand your reach. - Co-investing and teamwork: The importance of having co-investors and lead investors lined up to create a strong team dynamic. - Factor in legal processes: Founders need to consider that legal processes can take longer than expected, so it's important to plan accordingly. - Selecting the right investors: George shares his criteria for accepting investors into their cap table, such as operator experience and a long-term mindset. These are just a few highlights from the episode, and there's so much more to discover. I highly recommend giving it a listen to gain valuable insights into the world of fundraising and entrepreneurship. You can listen to the full episode on our website or your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget, George Richardson is also offering 30 minutes of his time per week for advice on running a company or raising a seed round. Links mentioned: AeroCloud website - https://aerocloud.com/ Follow George on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-richardson-a7520615a/ On Block / Off Block Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5b7PiXHek6FypzYIafb4Y5 Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OMEcQ3xYrs2K8RFIB4A3U Email Jason at jason@thunder.vc Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

He also discusses growth equity, the risks of relying solely on VC funding, generative AI, clickbait, micro-influencers, and the benefits of bootstrapping. He emphasizes the importance of building a community around your audience and defining personal success as an entrepreneur. Tune in for valuable insights on fundraising and growth strategies.

Here are some keypoints in this episode:

03:35 The importance of sales in Lloyed's journey.

06:20 Started their business through bootstrapping as a services company.

09:39 Shifting outreach strategies.

15:05 Growth equity in investing.

19:43 Focusing on building a great business.

25:22 Evaporating Fortune 500 companies.

25:20 Government cashback for R&D.

28:40 Community-led growth.

33:50 Personal definition of success.

About Lloyed Lobo

Lloyed Lobo is the co-founder of Boast.ai. He has a background in engineering and has worked at various startups throughout his career. He is also involved in building communities and has a strong belief in the power of community-led growth. Lloyd is currently working on a book about community-led growth and is actively engaged in the Traction community.

Links Mentioned: 

You can reach Lloyed Lobo on his LinkedIn account here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo/

To know more about his book,check this out: https://www.lloyedlobo.com/

To join his community: https://www.tractionconf.io/

To learn more about Boast.ai go to: https://boast.ai/

Check out Lloyed’s  podcast here https://www.youtube.com/@StartupTraction

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ 

Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc

For two decades, Eric Wiklendt has bought manufacturing businesses most PE firms avoid—and turned them into massively more valuable companies. Eric Wicklendt, Partner and Managing Director at Speyside Equity, has built a career around acquiring underloved, underperforming manufacturing businesses and transforming them into platforms worth exponentially more than what they paid.

In this episode, Eric breaks down the real story behind Speyside's origin, their signature "fix and build" strategy, and the Opta deal that became a masterclass in manufacturing transformation. He shares why most PE firms rely on hope as a strategy, how free cash flow tells the truth EBITDA can hide, and what it actually takes to turn around a business with 26 manufacturing plants in 18 months.

If you're a founder, operator, or investor in the manufacturing space, this episode is packed with hard-earned, battle-tested insight.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How Speyside turned a $300K 401(k) bet into a manufacturing PE firm

• Why other PE firms avoided Opta—and why Speyside leaned in

• How operational improvements alone drove a 10X EBITDA increase

• Why free cash flow reveals what adjusted EBITDA hides

• What founders should know before choosing PE over a strategic buyer

  
  

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+115&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits 

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+115&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits 

ABOUT ERIC WIKLENDT 

Eric Wiklendt is a Managing Director and Partner at Speyside Equity, where he leads the sourcing, execution, management, and exit of investments while serving on the boards of several portfolio companies. Before joining Speyside, he held senior operational and leadership roles, including President & CEO of Kelix Heat Transfer Systems, as well as leadership positions at Eaton and Hilti Corporation, overseeing M&A, manufacturing, marketing, and industrial sales operations. 

You can reach out to Eric through:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwiklendt 

Website: https://speysideequity.com/ 

Email: eric.wiklendt@speysideequity.com 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Sherry didn't just look for money; she also worked on making real connections beyond the context of fundraising. Amidst pivots in the company's direction and changes in co-founder dynamics, she stayed focused on being careful with money and keeping things simple. She made sure they didn't spend too much and always looked for ways to make revenue. She offers tips for founders dealing with pivots, focusing on key metrics, communicating effectively, and having a nuanced perspective on the process.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Intro

03:45 Leaving Google and starting Peek.Money

09:47 The conception of Peek.Money

22:10 Raising funds for the stablecoin idea

27:01 Raising capital and networking

29:05 Pivoting and communicating with investors

34:23 Co-founder dynamics and transition

39:39 Managing burn and cashflow

44:24 Advice for founders dealing with pivots

51:26 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT SHERRY JIANG

Sherry Jiang, Co-founder and CEO of Bluejay Finance, mixes a strong entrepreneurial drive with smart strategy in the blockchain world. Before starting Bluejay Finance, Sherry sharpened her skills at Google. There, she learned a lot about creating products and understanding markets. Using what she knows, Sherry set out to make private market investments open to more people through Bluejay Finance. At Bluejay Finance, she leads a team working to change how people invest in private markets. She has since pivoted to focusing on helping investors track real world assets. Sherry's way of leading focuses on being the best, always learning, and pushing the industry forward.

Connect with Sherry Jiang on:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-jiang-12557332/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SherryYanJiang

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

----------------------------------

In this episode of Fundraising Demystified, Jason Kirby talks with Dori Yona, founder of Simple Closure, about the tough but crucial process of shutting down a startup. Dori shares his journey from building companies to facing the challenges that inspired Simple Closure, a service that helps founders close their businesses smoothly.

Dori opens up about the emotional and logistical hurdles founders face when shutting down, stressing the importance of having a clear plan to protect relationships and ease the transition. He provides practical advice for founders on preparing for closure and using the experience as a stepping stone to their next venture. Happy watching!

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Trailer

• 01:07 Introduction to Dori Yona and Simple Closure

• 02:27 Dori’s entrepreneurial journey and founding Simple Closure

• 04:00 The challenges founders face when considering a shutdown

• 07:12 The financial and logistical complexities of winding down

• 09:31 Why founders need a plan B (and how to create one)

• 19:38 How Dori’s experience inspired Simple Closure’s unique approach

• 28:13 How Simple Closure assists with legal and tax requirements

• 37:45 Common mistakes founders make when shutting down

• 42:25 The emotional journey of letting go and moving on

• 45:14 Advice for founders to maintain investor relationships during closure

  
  

ABOUT DORI YONA

Dori Yona is an experienced founder and CEO with a decade of experience in the entrepreneurial world. After successfully building and exiting multiple companies, Dori encountered the hidden complexities of closing down a business, an experience that inspired him to launch Simple Closure. Simple Closure offers founders a streamlined solution to wind down their companies, ensuring they can protect their reputation, maintain investor relationships, and transition smoothly to their next ventures. Dori is passionate about supporting founders through difficult times and providing them with the tools they need to move forward confidently.

Connect with Dori on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dori-yona-b8369877/

• X : https://x.com/doriyona

• Website: https://simpleclosure.com/

• Email: dori@simpleclosure.com

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Brian scaled his family's liquor business from $30M to $100M in revenue, sold to PE, then built and sold BevStrat for $20M+ in just four years. Today he manages over $300M in AUM through InvestBev, one of the few firms exclusively focused on the alcohol beverage category — including a unique bet on bourbon barrel inventory that now holds roughly 10% of the country's supply.

What You'll Learn:

• Why selling too much equity early cost Brian ~$10M and what to do differently

• How a strategic buyer will always outpay a financial buyer

• Why celebrity brand deals are a trap and what actually drives brand success

• The real reason 95% of beverage brands fail — and how to be in the 5%

• Why alcohol is one of the most non-correlated asset classes available to investors

  
  

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+119&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+119&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

----------------------------------------------

ABOUT BRIAN ROSEN

Brian Rosen is the CEO and General Partner of InvestBev Capital, the largest private equity platform in the U.S. dedicated to the spirits, wine, and beverage CPG sectors. He has scaled the firm to $350M AUM and $100M in private credit, supporting brands across all stages of growth while delivering first-quartile returns.

With deep roots in the beverage industry across three generations, Brian has led M&A transactions, structured innovative financing solutions, and partnered with global leaders like Beam Suntory and BlackRock. He is recognized as a leading voice in alcohol beverage investing and a key builder of the modern global spirits investment ecosystem.

You can reach out to Brian through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandavidrosen  

Website: https://www.investbev.com - Company

Email: brian@investbev.com 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

In this episode of $100M Exits, Kris walks through what it was actually like pitching Masayoshi Son over Zoom, deploying nine figures into aggressive hiring, then quickly pivoting when the zero-interest-rate era ended. He breaks down the hard decisions around efficiency, acquisitions, AI-driven sales automation, international expansion, and why building a 100-person advisory network became his secret weapon.

This isn’t just a fundraising story. It’s a lesson in adapting fast, evolving as a leader, and making bold moves when the market shifts.

If you're building toward nine figures in revenue — or trying to survive the jump from hypergrowth to operational discipline — this episode is packed with real-world insight.

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+106&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+106&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Welcome and Kris from Sendoso

00:36 How SoftBank found Sendoso

02:07 The call with Masayoshi Son

04:46 What Kris did after the $100M landed

09:20 Using AI to scale sales without more headcount

12:11 Switching from hypergrowth to efficiency

16:32 Why Sendoso bought competitors

25:58 Making the merger work day one

27:18 The integration plan that kept it on track

28:03 Who they kept and who they didn’t

28:46 The tech migration and what took longer

29:47 M&A advice for founders

31:00 Talking to competitors before you need to

33:15 Why Kris chose a co-CEO setup

38:49 How Sendoso expanded internationally

44:17 How Kris changed as a leader

49:24 The advisor network that became a cheat code

51:42 Wrap up and how to connect

ABOUT KRIS RUDEEGRAAP

Kris Rudeegraap is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sendoso, an AI-powered sending platform helping B2B companies create meaningful engagement through personalized gifts, swag, and eGifts. He founded the company after recognizing a gap in how sales and marketing teams build real connections, drawing from over a decade in software sales.

Under his leadership, Sendoso has scaled globally with strong venture backing, driven by his belief that authentic, personalized experiences win in a digital-first world.

You can reach out to Kris through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap/ 

Website: https://www.sendoso.com/ 

Email: kris@sendoso.com

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Brad Harrison, Founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures, shares how fast defense technology is evolving—and why selling into this space is harder than most expect.

He explains how AI, drones, and autonomous systems are reshaping warfare, and why success requires more than a strong product—founders need the right networks, industry insight, and an understanding of government buyers.

The conversation also covers how deals work in defense tech, what investors look for, and why choosing the right capital matters—especially when navigating government contracts.

If you’re a founder, investor, or operator in AI, defense, or emerging tech, this episode offers a clear view on how to build and fund in this space.

What you’ll learn:

• How operator experience shapes investment decisions
• Why defense tech innovation is accelerating
• How AI and autonomous systems are changing warfare
• Why startups struggle with defense procurement
• What gets funded in defense tech today
• How to align with real government demand
• Why networks and relationships matter
• What drives successful outcomes and exits
• Why understanding the end buyer is critical
• How capital strategy impacts growth

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+111&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+111&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Entrepreneur Journey

01:55 Founder Support at Scout

03:46 Army Futures Command Shift

05:17 Ukraine Drone Autonomy Leap

08:12 Why US Procurement Lags

10:53 Key Defense Tech Domains

12:43 GPS Denied Navigation

15:17 Next Gen Wireless 6G

18:44 Founder Goals and Focus

20:43 Red Flags and Hard Calls

23:57 What Gets Funded Now

28:19 Vendor Lock Risks

29:11 AI Security Threats

30:31 Autonomy Changes Warfare

31:50 Selling to the Pentagon

32:27 RFPs, TRLs, and SBIRs

35:48 Lobbying and Budgets

38:28 Founder Insight Advantage

41:16 Tomahawk Robotics Exit

44:32 Defense Tech M&A Drivers

49:39 Scout Fund Strategy

51:53 Space Deterrence Vision

56:32 Founder Upside and Wrap

ABOUT BRAD HARRISON 

Brad Harrison is the Founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures, backing companies like ID.me, Voyager Space, and Tomahawk Robotics.

A former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and West Point graduate, he later studied at MIT Sloan, focusing on building new ventures.

He has advised leaders at the White House and Pentagon on defense and innovation, and is now based in Austin, Texas.

You can reach out to Brad through:

LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradharrison ⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.scout.vc/⁠ 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Melissa discovered that success is not solely defined by raising external investment, but rather by the ability to maintain control over critical business decisions. She shares valuable insights on how steering clear of venture capital allowed her to align her business with her personal definition of success, empowering her to live a fulfilling and sustainable entrepreneurial life.

Tune in to this inspiring episode as Melissa encourages founders to consider alternative approaches to fundraising. 

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

05:09 - The Challenges of Bootstrapping and Survival Mode

07:17 - Why Bootstrapping is Preferred over Venture Capital

13:23 - The Ease of Selling a Company

15:50 - Considering More Than Just Price in an Acquisition

23:15 - The Importance of Shareholder Agreements

27:11 - Keeping a Clean Cap Table for Investors

34:18 - Choosing Investors Wisely and Considering Their Impact

37:52 - The Importance of Making Payroll and Financial Stability

ABOUT MELISSA KWAN

Melissa Kwan is the Co-founder and CEO of eWebinar, a SaaS solution that automates webinars and eliminates the repetitive tasks of running and onboarding in sales webinars.  Melissa is a strong advocate for bootstrapping and building businesses without relying on venture capital funding. Her entrepreneurial journey began without even knowing there were other options available. She was eager to start her own business but didn't even realize it was called a "startup." Her first company began as a product-focused business but later transformed into an agency to generate much-needed revenue. As a bootstrapped business, they accepted any project that came their way to sustain and grow. Now, with eWebinar, Melissa is embarking on her third Bootstrap startup, leveraging her extensive experience and knowledge gained from her previous ventures.

LINKS MENTIONED: 

You can reach Melissa on her LinkedIn account here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakwan/

To learn more about her  eWebinar: https://ewebinar.com/

Check out Melissa’s Profitled podcast here: https://ewebinar.com/podcast

Hosted by Jason Kirby -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc

 Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101 

------------------------------------------------

Think debt is a trap? Think again. Learn how the right kind of debt can fuel your growth without sacrificing control of your startup. In this insightful episode, Jason Kirby welcomes Kyle Rector, co-founder and president of Boundless, to shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of startup funding: debt financing. If equity raises are the headlines, debt is the subplot that drives growth for countless businesses—but only if founders understand how to wield it wisely.

Kyle shares hard-earned wisdom from a decade of navigating the debt financing space, offering practical advice for founders at all stages. Kyle walks us through the spectrum of non-dilutive funding options, from the basics of debt vs. equity to the complexities of venture debt, revenue-based financing, and more. Whether you’re looking to extend runway, fuel expansion, or build sustainable operations, this episode equips you with the knowledge to make informed capital decisions.

Here's what you'll find in this episode:

• 00:00 Introduction to Debt Financing

• 00:08 Meet Kyle Rector: Debt Financing Expert

• 00:55 Understanding Debt vs Equity

• 03:41 Types of Debt for Businesses

• 08:27 Term Loans Explained

• 09:59 Lines of Credit: Flexible Financing

• 11:42 Secured vs Unsecured Financing

• 16:48 Venture Debt: A Strategic Option

• 22:23 Revenue-Based Financing: Pros and Cons

• 29:49 Exploring Different Types of Debt Financing

• 30:07 Valuing Contracts and Lines of Credit

• 32:56 Preparing to Secure Debt: Key Considerations

• 37:14 Understanding Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

• 40:35 Benchmarking Debt Options for Different Business Profiles

• 51:47 Building Relationships and Trust with Lenders

• 54:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  
  

ABOUT KYLE RECTOR

Kyle Rector is the co-founder and president of Boundless, a capital marketplace connecting businesses with lenders through tailored solutions. With over 10 years of experience in debt financing, Kyle has facilitated billions in capital requests, spanning industries and geographies. His mission with Boundless is to simplify the capital application process, enabling founders to focus on scaling their businesses.

Connect with Kyle on:

• Webiste: www.getboundless.ai

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

He raised $76M in two years—without ever working in defense tech.

Nelson Mills, co-founder and CEO of a fast-growing underwater defense startup. Shares how he went from a VC intern to leading a company building autonomous undersea vehicles and why the maritime defense space became the perfect opportunity.

He breaks down how he validated the market, assembled a world-class team, and raised more than $76M across multiple rounds.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Nelson raised $3.5M pre-seed, $13M seed, and a $60M Series A as a first-time founder

• Why fundraising looks easy from the outside—and why it isn’t the biggest mindset shift Nelson made going from VC to founder
• What he’d do differently if he had to raise again tomorrow
• Why raising capital ≠ success (and what actually matters)

Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at thunder.vc.

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode102&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode102&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Intro

00:06 From VC intern to founder

01:18 Finding the opportunity in underwater defense

02:56 Technical challenges & innovations

07:23 Building investor relationships

10:57 Inside the seed round

23:17 Hiring & talent strategy

26:31 Competing in defense tech

28:24 Customer-driven product thinking

29:29 Why lobbying starts on day one

32:49 Navigating government sales

34:23 Capital strategy & funding options

37:28 Scaling hardware & supply chain

44:18 Building a company with family

46:00 Nelson’s advice for defense-tech founders

48:38 Final thoughts

ABOUT NELSON MILLS

Nelson Mills is the founder and CEO of Vatn Systems, an underwater vehicle startup building some of the world’s lowest-cost, high-production UUVs. In just 15 months, he led the company from concept to TRL 7, raising more than $3.5M in venture capital and assembling a team pushing the boundaries of maritime tech.Before launching Vatn, Nelson led hull development at Pure Watercraft, a marine electrification company backed by over $170M in funding.

He later moved into venture capital, with roles at Link Ventures, Lux Capital, and Global Founders Capital, giving him a unique lens on product development, capital strategy, and scaling deep-tech companies.Nelson holds both a BA and an MBA from Columbia University and brings a blend of engineering insight, founder grit, and investor perspective to everything he builds.

You can reach out to Nelson Wills through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millsn/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:Email: jason@thunder.vcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

From structuring 100% earn-out deals with no upfront cash, to betting on founders over ideas, Erik shares a no-filter look at how he thinks about buying companies, writing checks, and building infrastructure that lets others grow faster than they could alone.

What You'll Learn:

• Why Erik pays zero cash upfront on acquisitions — and why founders still prefer his deals

• What he looks for before writing a check (hint: it's not the idea)

• The biggest mistake founders make on the sell side: ego over realism

• Why early-stage software is now one of the riskiest bets in venture

• When a founder should actually consider inorganic growth — and when it's too soon

  
  

Here’s what you’re in for:

00:00 – Intro & Erik's Background

01:00 – Why Hawke Media Buys Companies

05:00 – What Makes an Agency Worth Acquiring

07:00 – How Deals Are Valued & Structured

11:00 – The 100% Earn-Out Model Explained

13:00 – Sell-Side Mistakes Founders Make

20:00 – When Deals Fall Apart Post-Close

22:00 – From Angel Investing to Running a Fund

26:00 – Best Investments: Postscript, Klaviyo & Telly

31:00 – What Erik Looks for in Early-Stage Founders

40:00 – Advice for Founders at $5M–$50M

44:00 – Markets Erik Is Avoiding Right Now

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+120&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+120&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

ABOUT ERIK HUBERMAN

Erik Huberman is the Founder and CEO of Hawke Media, a marketing consultancy built on the idea that every business deserves access to CMO-level expertise without the overhead of a traditional agency. After founding and selling two e-commerce companies before age 26, he bootstrapped Hawke Media into a nationally recognized firm that has helped more than 5,000 brands scale.

Beyond Hawke Media, Erik leads Hawke Ventures and Hawke.AI, investing in startups and building data-driven tools that help businesses make smarter marketing decisions.

You can reach out to Erik through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman/

Website: https://www.hawkemedia.com - Company               https://www.erikhuberman.com - Personal

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

• How Max Buchan helped take CoinShares from $0 to $50M revenue to $1.5B IPO —without VC money.
  

• The insider story behind founding Valarian, the UK’s answer to Palantir.
  

• Raising $20M in seed funding to build dual-use infrastructure for governments and enterprises.
  

• The shift from crypto to defense tech and why “digital sovereignty” is the next trillion-dollar opportunity.
  

• How Valarian attracted elite talent from Palantir, Darktrace, and top U.S. defense innovators.
  

• Lessons for founders raising capital in deep tech and dual-use markets.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode93&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode93&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Here’s what you’re in for:

00:00 – How CoinShares hit $50M revenue with no VC

03:30 – The problem that sparked Valarian: cross-border data control

06:00 – Pivoting from secure messaging to compliance infrastructure

08:30 – Raising $11M pre-product and landing IQ Capital & Molten Ventures

10:20 – Expanding to $20M total seed and U.S. strategic backers

13:40 – How defense tech funding evolved post-Ukraine

16:00 – Defining product-market fit for dual-use infrastructure

18:00 – Recruiting Palantir and Darktrace execs to Valarian

23:30 – Why the UK talent system lags behind the U.S.

32:00 – Operating in stealth: why Valarian waited to go public

35:30 – The hardware Pelican Case: Valarian’s deployable defense tech

37:00 – Consolidation and M&A in Europe’s defense tech ecosystem

39:00 – Advice for founders building category-defining companies

----------------------------------------------------

ABOUT MAX BUCHAN

Max Buchan is the Founder and CEO of Valerian, a company building next-generation digital infrastructure to solve global data sovereignty challenges.

Before launching Valerian, Max was the first employee at CoinShares, where he worked directly with the co-founder and CEO. In just 18 months, CoinShares grew from an idea to over $55 million in revenue and nearly $2 billion in assets under management, expanding to almost 200 employees and later going public on the Nasdaq with a $1B+ valuation.

His experience scaling CoinShares across London, New York, Paris, Stockholm, and Jersey revealed a growing problem—how international companies manage data across borders. That insight inspired him to start Valerian, focused on digital sovereignty and secure global infrastructure.

Max holds a degree in History and Economics from the University of London and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for Technology.

You can reach out to Max through:

Website: https://www.valarian.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxbuchan

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the Managing Partner at Thunder.VC and host of $100M Exits. He’s helped thousands of founders navigate capital raises, M&A, and exits, with a focus on tactical, data-backed strategies.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Whether you’re curious about launching a search fund, leveling up in VC, or simply hungry for insights, this episode will equip you with the tools and the mindset to raise your game.

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode90&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode90&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

We explore:

• 0:00 – Intro & Meet Jon Staenberg of Agate Hound Fund

• 4:50 – “Microsoft was way beyond my expectations…”

• 10:30 – “Don’t go into venture until you’ve actually got a skill”

• 16:15 – Search Funds 101: “5% net annual return

• 22:00 – “Buying a company is hard… it’s messy”

• 28:05 – Why grit, curiosity & critical thinking win

• 33:40 – The “retire early” myth vs. 60‑hour workweeks

• 38:20 – AI & the comprehensiveness of change today

• 42:10 – How to connect with Jon

  
  

ABOUT JON STAENBERG

Jon Staenberg is the founding partner of Agate Hound Fund, a search‑fund vehicle focused on acquiring and scaling founder‑owned companies. Before launching Agate Hound, Jon spent over a decade at Microsoft, where he led product strategy and saw firsthand how engagement and inspiration fuel innovation. A veteran operator turned investor, he’s passionate about teaching entrepreneurs that “buying a company is hard,” but also demonstrating how a disciplined, skill‑based approach can generate 35% net annual returns. Jon holds an MBA from Stanford and advises several high‑growth startups on go‑to‑market and capital strategy.

Get in touch with Jon:

Website: https://www.agatehound.fund/

Email: jon@agatehound.fund

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED 

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

------------------------------------------

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: 

https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode75&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: 

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode75&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:19 How Swag.com got to $40 Million in Sales

05:41 Wildest orders taken by Swag.com

06:47 How Swag.com started

15:35 Raising $3 Million in Venture Capital for Swag.com

21:38 Getting Acquired by Custom Ink

34:39 Advice for Founders

36:55 Connect with Jeremy Parker

ABOUT JEREMY PARKER

Jeremy Parker is the co-founder of Swag.com, a prominent e-commerce platform specializing in high-quality promotional products for businesses. His entrepreneurial journey began after graduating from Boston University, where he initially pursued film production. Parker's business background includes establishing a creative promotional product division and co-founding an e-commerce platform focused on social media influencer marketing, which was later acquired. 

He then focused his efforts on Swag.com, which has seen rapid growth and attracted major clients like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Notably, Swag.com was acquired by Custom Ink in 2021. Parker has also been recognized for his achievements, including being named to Crain's NY 40 under 40, and Swag.com has appeared on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies.

Connect with Jeremy:

Email:  jeremy.ian.parker@gmail.com

LinkedIn: Jeremy Parker

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

In this episode of $100M Exits, Jason Kirby sits down with Aram Attar, founder of The VC Factory, to unpack the hidden psychology shaping fundraising outcomes, VC decisions, and why smart founders keep repeating the same mistakes.

With 15+ years advising founders, sitting on boards, and training venture capitalists, Aram shares a clear conclusion: most failures aren’t about intelligence, strategy, or effort—they’re about how decisions are made under uncertainty.

They explore the difference between trying to win versus trying not to lose, how VC psychology impacts fundraising more than your pitch, the hidden risks in earnouts and partial exits, and why the strongest teams balance promotion- and prevention-focused thinkers.

Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at https://thunder.vc

Key Takeaways

Why founders repeat mistakes—even after seeing others fail

Trying to win vs trying not to lose

How VC psychology shapes fundraising outcomes

Risks in earnouts, partial exits, and misalignment

Why balanced thinking drives better decisions

What you’ll learn in this episode

Why a “5-year plan” often turns into a 20-year journey

How VCs avoid the sunk-cost trap in bridge financing

The mindset frameworks behind outlier investment betsHow to spot “what can go right?” vs “how do I not lose?” investors

The #1 mistake first-time fund managers make with fund size

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE:https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode104&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode104&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:39 A 20-year journey to a $2.2B exit

01:57 How VCs make decisions

03:50 Investing in a Mexican retail company

06:20 What mindset-based investing really means

10:04 Behavioral insights every founder should know

15:34 Research behind successful VC thinking

23:43 Missed deals and costly VC mistakes

24:20 How investment committees really work

24:51 The champion rule in venture capital

26:06 Inside the investment committee process

29:37 Why founder empathy matters

33:04 The power of honest communication

36:28 How to evaluate emerging fund managers

43:01 Advice for new fund managers

46:29 Final thoughts and key resources

ABOUT ARAM

Aram Attar is a venture capitalist and founder of The VC Factory, focused on improving venture outcomes by shaping how investors and founders think, decide, and align. His work spans advising VC funds, CEOs, governments, and accelerator programs, with an emphasis on psychology, character, and long-term performance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-attar/

Website: https://thevcfactory.com/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders navigate capital strategy and M&A. A serial entrepreneur with four exits, Jason has coached hundreds of founders and led transactions totaling $200M+ through Thunder.

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

$100M Exits equips founders with the insight and guidance needed to navigate capital strategy through conversations with founders and investors who’ve already done it. Best suited for founders doing $5M+ in revenue.

Be sure to subscribe and let us know who you want us to interview next.

Get your free list of AI-matched VCs: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://join.thunder.vc/

Edrizio shares his journey from Air Force mechanic to Wall Street, and ultimately to successful tech entrepreneur. He offers candid insights into founding, funding, and selling a startup.A real underdog to man-on-top story.

Edrizio emphasizes the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and maintaining conviction in your vision, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Drawing from his experience, Edrizio provides great advice for founders at various stages of their journey, making this episode a must-listen for any tech entrepreneurs out there.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:54 Edrizio's background and the genesis of Arcus
• 06:28 The Y Combinator experience and early funding challenges
• 11:34 Pivoting the business model and subsequent growth
• 16:22 Navigating the Series A fundraising process
• 24:54 The decision to sell to Mastercard
• 29:17 Behind-the-scenes of the acquisition process
• 31:19 Edrizio's post-acquisition journey and new ventures
• 32:30 The Founder School and supporting diverse tech founders
• 37:36 Common mistakes early-stage founders make
• 39:37 Edrizio's unique approach to pitch deck

ABOUT EDRIZIO DE LA CRUZ

Edrizio De La Cruz is a Dominican-born entrepreneur and fintech innovator. After immigrating to the US at age 12, he served in the Air Force as an airplane mechanic before transitioning to Wall Street and then pursuing his MBA at Wharton. Edrizio founded Regalii (later rebranded as Arcus) to address inefficiencies in cross-border money transfers and bill payments in Latin America.

Under Edrizio's leadership, Arcus raised over $25 million in funding and was ultimately acquired by Mastercard. His journey from immigrant to successful tech founder has been documented in his book, "The Underdog Founder."

Currently, Edrizio runs The Founder School, a 12-week program dedicated to helping diverse tech professionals launch successful startups. Drawing from his experience in founding, scaling, and selling a tech company, he's passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented founders in the tech ecosystem.

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

• Email: jason@thunder.vc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Join us as Julia shares her personal experiences and valuable lessons learned along the way. With no prior business background, she faced numerous challenges and overcame them with the help of mentors, ultimately securing over $6 million in funding for her venture, Little Pim.

But Julia's story goes far beyond her own success. She recognized the gender disparities in fundraising and decided to take action. Through the creation of Million Dollar Women, she empowers female entrepreneurs with coaching, mentorship, and essential business skills.

Ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level? Subscribe to Fundraising Demystified now and unlock a world of invaluable insights and expert advice from trailblazers like Julia Pimsleur.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

00:28 - From 400 Pitches to Building Lasting Relationships: Julia's Fundraising Journey

04:12 - Breaking Stigmas: Exploring How Men and Women Approach Fundraising

09:45 - Making Change Happen: Empowering Women to Seek Investment from their   Networks

14:57 - The Key to Success: Building Long-Term Relationships and Being Coachable in Fundraising

18:35 - Selling a Company: Unleashing the Excitement and Value Beyond Day-to-Day Operations

24:11 - Million Dollar Women: A Powerful Update on the Book, Coaching, and Mentorship Programs

31:45 - Empowering the "Invisible Majority": Building a Tech Platform for Women Entrepreneurs

ABOUT JULIA PIMSLEUR

Julia Pimsleur is the founder and CEO of Million Dollar Women, an organization that aims to empower women entrepreneurs to reach the million-dollar revenue mark. With a background in documentary filmmaking and a passion for language teaching, Julia started her first venture-backed business, Little Pim, which focused on teaching young children a second language. She successfully raised venture capital for her business and grew it to generate millions in revenue.

Julia's experience in fundraising and building a successful company led her to create Million Dollar Women, where she provides coaching, mentorship, and resources to help women business owners achieve their business goals. She is dedicated to closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship and helping women access the support and opportunities they need to thrive in the business world.

Links Mentioned:

You can reach Julia Pimsleur  on her LinkedIn account here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliapimsleur-coach-entrepreneur-author

 And on her website here:   http://www.juliapimsleur.com/

To learn more about Million Dollar Women  : http://www.millionwomen.com/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Aakash talks about creative capital strategies, demonstrating how startups can thrive by thinking outside the VC box. From leveraging customer relationships to learning finance lessons from restaurant owners, Akash's approach offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs in any industry.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:33 From personal struggle to startup solution

• 07:58 Y Combinator experience and its impact on fundraising

• 17:42 Creative capital strategies: Beyond traditional VC funding

• 33:16 Lessons from other industries

• 36:42 Understanding and optimizing cash conversion cycles

• 40:13 The importance of founder networks and peer support

• 46:09 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT AAKASH SHAH

Aakash Shah is the co-founder and CEO of Wyndly, a healthcare startup dedicated to fixing allergies forever. With a background in software and growth product, Aakash leveraged his personal experience with severe allergies to create an innovative, accessible solution for allergy sufferers.

After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a dual major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Aakash joined small technology companies, knowing that technology would continue to change the world. Now, as a Wyndly patient and founder, he's dedicated himself to fixing people's allergies with personalized treatment and phenomenal care.

His journey from Y Combinator to exploring alternative funding strategies offers a fresh perspective on startup growth and capital acquisition in the healthcare sector. Aakash's approach combines his tech background with a deep understanding of healthcare needs, creating a unique blend of innovation and practicality in the allergy treatment space.

Connect with Aakash Shah on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mraakashshah/

• X : https://x.com/aakashdotio

• Website: https://www.wyndly.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

We're talking practical empathy, perfect timing, and a killer structured process.  Paul shares his insights and advice for founders on how to craft tailored narratives that speak directly to different investors and the importance of hiring the right experts. 

A quick tip: If you're considering debt capital, Paul is the person you should listen to, as he has secured a $50 million debt facility for Summer Inc. 

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

00:16 Intro

Where to Find Paul

• Paul Kromidas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kromidas-a8343519/

• Paul Kromidas on X: https://twitter.com/PaulKromidas

Learn more about Summer Inc.

• Website: https://www.gosummer.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summer-inc/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startsummering/ 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startsummering

• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startsummering

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@startsummering

About Fundraising Demystified

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Fundraising Demystified is hosted by serial entrepreneur Jason Kirby https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

This episode is powered by ThunderVC

Seeking to raise capital? Get your free list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Here are some of the main topics discussed in the episode:

- The strategic decision to delay the fundraising announcement

- Building a company with his father

- Tips for fundraising success, including the importance of warm introductions and establishing a strong network

- Balancing fundraising and execution during the company's growth

- Key lessons learned about navigating a seed round

And here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion:

- Mental preparation is crucial when navigating the fundraising process

- Delaying funding announcements can be strategic for startups

- Valuations are a vanity metric; focus on creating a coherent story and strategy around the amount of capital needed to survive

- Investors are now looking for capital-efficient and financially responsible businesses

The podcast equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge and inspiration to conquer the fundraising landscape. So, whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen.

If you're interested in learning more about Romil's experience or want to connect with him directly, he encourages you to reach out to him on LinkedIn, or email.

Links mentioned:

Outdefine website: https://outdefine.com

Write to Romil at romil@outdefine.com

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Thunder website - https://thunder.vc

Email Jason at jason@thunder.vc

Thank you for tuning in to Fundraising Demystified. Stay tuned for more episodes featuring founders and investors sharing their stories and insights.

Pratik talks about his experiences writing 13 technical books on AI and machine learning, building and exiting a venture-backed startup, and transitioning to the world of venture capital. He offers valuable insights on fundraising, product development, and what he looks for as an investor in early-stage startups.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 03:17 Writing 13 books on AI and machine learning

• 06:16 Founding Plutoshift and raising venture capital

• 14:59 Metrics and milestones for Series A funding

• 22:27 Transitioning from founder to VC

• 32:58 Advice for AI founders on product development and fundraising

• 37:38 How startups can differentiate in a crowded AI market

• 39:50 Key lessons learned as an entrepreneur and investor

• 44:30 Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT PRATEEK JOSHI

Prateek Joshi is a Venture Capitalist at Moxxie Ventures, focusing on seed-stage investments in AI, robotics, climate tech, and healthcare. He is the former founder and CEO of Plutoshift, an AI company for physical infrastructure that raised over $16 million in venture funding before being acquired. Pratik is also the author of 13 technical books on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

With a background in software engineering and AI from his time at NVIDIA, Pratik brings a unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial experience to his role as an investor. He is passionate about helping early-stage founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling technology startups.

Connect with Prateek on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-joshi-91047b19/

• Website: https://www.prateekj.com/

• X: https://x.com/prateekvjoshi

• Email: prateek@moxie.vc

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Managing over $1.8B in growth equity, Jim explains how the market has shifted from easy capital and inflated SaaS multiples to a brutal divide between the “haves and have-nots.” He breaks down why investment committees are stalling deals, why founders are being forced to rethink exits, and how AI is rapidly becoming the deciding factor between survival and irrelevance.

The conversation dives deep into what growth equity firms actually look for, how deal structures work behind the scenes, and why many founders misunderstand the moment they’re truly ready to scale. Jim also shares lessons from contrarian bets in ad tech, failed hyper-local rollouts, and the hidden dynamics that kill M&A deals in the final hour.

They also explore:

• Why every company now needs to become AI-native

• The dangerous gap between public and private market valuations

• How PE firms think during market corrections

• What causes acquisition deals to collapse mid-process

• Why missing projections is a “death sentence” in M&A

• The new reality of SaaS valuations and AI premiums

• How great founders pivot before disruption kills the business

This is a candid look inside the boardroom conversations shaping the next generation of exits, acquisitions, and AI-native companies.

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+118&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+118&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

ABOUT JIM FERRY

Jim Ferry joined Volition Capital in 2014 and focuses on evaluating and supporting investment opportunities across internet and consumer businesses, including marketplaces, ad tech, consolidation platforms, and transactional companies. He works closely with founders and portfolio companies, serving on the boards of several high-growth businesses, including Aditude, Doing Things, Keynes, Linkby, Revi, and Rounds.

Jim is known for his partnership-driven approach to investing, spending much of his time working directly with entrepreneurs to help them navigate growth and scale their businesses.

You can reach out to Jim through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-ferry-91b33375 

Twitter: https://www.jimferryvc

Website: https://www.volitioncapital.com/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Ali spills the deets on productizing, fundraising, and everything in between. Trust us, you don't want to miss this episode!

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

00:35 - Ali and the beginning of Micro1 Tech

04:13 - The "Rolling Pre-seed"

13:46 - The Forseable Path to $100 Annual Revenue

15:49 - A Reason to Build in Public

26:52 - Building Momentum Organically

36:43 - Getting Help from other Founders

Where to Find Ali

Connect with Ali on Twitter and LinkedIn for some tech talk:

👉 Ali Ansari's Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliniikk/

👉 Ali Ansari's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-ansari-7b240a18b/

You may also explore the wonders of Micro1 on their website and social media accounts:

Get 240 Hours of Free Engineering Here https://www.micro1.ai/partners/fundraising-demystified 

🚀 Micro1 Website: https://www.micro1.ai/ 

🔗 Micro1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micro1/ 

🐦 Micro1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/micro1_ai

 📸 Micro1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micro1.ai/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc 

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Here are some of the main topics discussed in the episode:

- Challenges faced by female founders in securing funding in the cannabis industry

- Importance of diligence for entrepreneurs in deal-making

- Strategies for juggling work, family, and personal health as a founder

- Understanding the growth trajectory of a company before and after raising capital

- Factors to consider when investing in a company operating in the cannabis industry

- Valuation and negotiation process for a Series A term sheet

- Overcoming hurdles from investors who don't understand or agree with a company's approach

Here are some key takeaways and lessons from the discussion:

- Entrepreneurs should focus on finding investors who are fully committed and believe in their vision, rather than wasting time on those who do not have capital or are not upfront about their intentions.

- Persistence and maintaining good rapport with investors are crucial for founders who receive rejections. Successful outcomes by diverse founders will set new patterns for investors to follow.

- Entrepreneurs should be prepared for the due diligence process that comes after the term sheet. Keeping in touch with VCs, even if they are not funding the company at that point in time, can lead to future funding opportunities.

- Being capital efficient is one of the core strategies of a business. Founders should be aware of the size of the company before and after raising capital to understand the growth trajectory of the team around them.

- Credibility and trustworthiness of the team, differentiation, and leveraging team members from other industries are important factors for VCs when investing in a company operating in the cannabis industry.

- Founders should focus on the capital that will allow them to operate and reach milestones, rather than worrying too much about dilution. It is crucial to make sure that you truly like and trust the investors before committing to the deal.

- Persistence and grit are key qualities for success in the entrepreneurial world. Despite the challenges, it's essential to stay persistent and have the grit to keep going.

Links mentioned:

Follow Caitlyn on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlynkrebs/

Nalu Bio: https://www.nalubio.com/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Email Jason at jason@thunder.vc

Don't forget to hit subscribe for more episodes!

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

00:00:27 Rapid antibiotic sensitivity test development.

00:05:53 Investors invest in a line.

00:12:46 Government grants can provide valuable funding for startups.

00:18:50 Surround yourself with experienced advisors.

00:23:19 Overcome obstacles and keep trying.

00:31:28 Investors value belief and assistance.

00:34:06 Ask for advice, believe in yourself.

ABOUT MUSTAFA Al-Adhami

Mustafa Al-Adhami is the co-founder and CEO of Aztek Diagnostics. He has a PhD in mechanical engineering with a focus on blood hemodynamics. Mustafa's background in research and his personal experience with his grandfather's illness inspired him to develop a rapid antibiotic sensitivity test. He is passionate about addressing the problem of antibiotic resistance and improving patient outcomes. Mustafa has navigated the challenges of building a healthcare startup, including raising funding, conducting clinical trials, and navigating regulatory processes. He believes in surrounding himself with experienced advisors and investors who can provide guidance and support.

LINKS MENTIONED

You can connect with Mustafa via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maladhami/.

To know more about the company and their product you can visit Aztec Diagnostics' website at https://astekdx.com/.

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc

In this episode of $100M Exits, she explains why even unicorn founders are under pressure in the AI era, where success is no longer about headcount, hype, or old playbooks. AI is compressing execution timelines, raising the bar for traction, and making many traditional founder skills feel outdated.

Jess breaks down why relevance, speed, and adaptability now matter more than funding or past wins—and why many experienced founders are struggling to adjust. She also shares how to build lean, AI-first companies, protect your edge, use relationships as market intelligence, and why micro-teams may outperform bloated organizations.

If you’re a founder navigating AI disruption, fundraising pressure, and shifting rules of company building, this conversation is a sharp reality check.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How AI is creating pressure even among unicorn founders
• Why relevance and speed now matter more than money or status
• What founders must unlearn to stay competitive
• Why lean teams and micro-teams can outperform larger organizations
• How to use side projects to rebuild your AI instincts and leadership edge
• Why protecting your information edge matters more than ever

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:
https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+109&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:
https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+109&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Here's what you're in for:
00:00 Meet Jess Mah
01:21 Silicon Valley Stress
04:03 Money Versus Relevance
06:12 AI is changing the game
11:06 Founders React Poorly
14:17 Lean Teams And Traction
16:37 Funding Bar Keeps Rising
19:33 Differentiation And Wedges
22:15 Bias In Venture Funding
28:43 AI As Equalizer
31:30 Multi-Project Mindset
33:56 Building Quietly In Public
38:17 Networking As Market Radar
42:19 Protecting Your Information Edge
50:07 Side Hustles For Legacy Founders
56:40 Micro Teams And Reorg Reality
59:22 Leadership Reset And Farewell

ABOUT JESS MAH

Jessica Ma is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and venture builder known for launching and scaling multiple technology companies in Silicon Valley. She founded her first startup while still in college and scaled it to a nine-figure valuation after Y Combinator. Since then, she has founded and incubated more than 10 companies with combined valuations exceeding $1 billion. Today, she focuses on AI-driven ventures and shares insights on how AI is reshaping company building.

You can reach out to Jess through:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamah/
Website: https://www.mahway.com/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A.

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+.

You can reach out to Jason through:
Email: jason@thunder.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it.

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast.

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Juan's story showcases the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and successfully pivot a business. He shares the process of designing, building, funding, branding, and launching a product. Tune in to hear about the pivot that Juan and his team made along the way.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE 

06:11-  Unique ski and snowboard helmet.

10:57 -  Communicating with stakeholders.

15:03 - Designing and launching FARO.

16:50 - Revenue growth and product market fit.

21:21 - VC introduction at the worst moment.

25:15 - Focusing on product market fit.

28:24 - Traumatic due diligence process.

32:31 - Starting on the right side.

37:16 - Getting in front of investors.

39:49 - Too many rounds hurt cap table.

44:07 -  Morale and dilution in fundraising.

ABOUT JUAN GARCIA MANSILLA 

Juan Garcia Mansilla is the founder of Unit One, a company that designs and builds safety accessories for urban mobility, with a focus on cycling. He started his career as a product designer in Argentina and partnered with his boss to build their own product and company. After a pivot from the snow industry to urban mobility, Juan and his team successfully launched a new product called FARO, which received great reception and sold out quickly. They recently closed a $3.5 million Series A round with investors including Slingshot Ventures and PANUK. Juan's journey showcases his resilience, adaptability, and ability to build strong relationships with investors.

LINKS MENTIONED: 

You can learn more about Unit One's products here at unit1gear.com

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ 

Thunder website - https://web.thunder.vc

The team was small. The product was rough. The future? Uncertain.

Then came the moment that would define everything:

👉 The company was out of cash.

👉 Investors were skeptical.

👉 Itamar had a choice — walk away or double down.

He chose to bet his entire net worth on the company.

That all-in moment eventually led to one of the most unique IPO journeys in tech — first in Australia, then on the NASDAQ. The risk paid off. Life360 became an $8B household name.

In our new $100M Exits episode, Itamar shares:

• What it really takes to bet on yourself at scale

• How he managed acquisitions and integration while prepping for IPO

• Why the hardest part of raising $200M wasn’t the money
  

For founders thinking about scaling beyond survival, this story hits hard.

Here’s what you’re in for:

01:41 From employee to cofounder and the leap that changed everything

05:37 Raising capital when everyone says no

06:21 Why big risky swings are the only way to win

08:21 Scaling Life360 from idea to household name

22:17 Acquiring startups and merging top talent

37:48 Behind the IPO curtain and the tough calls nobody talks about

40:41 Taking the leap to go public

43:06 Why they chose Australia for the IPO

44:47 Making the move to NASDAQ

48:18 Founding Recursive Ventures and the next chapter

52:02 Investing in the future with AI and founder-first thinking

59:52 Hard-earned wisdom every founder should hear

01:01:15 Getting funded with Recursive Ventures

01:07:14 Final reflections and where to connect

Looking for capital or to sell your company?

Get a list of vetted & relevant Investors for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode94&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode94&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

ABOUT ITAMAR NOVICK

Itamar Novick is the founder and solo GP of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund backing startups in fintech, AI, and emerging tech. With experience as a founder, operator, institutional VC, and angel investor, he’s seen the startup journey from every angle.

Itamar has invested in and supported 50+ successful startups, including Deel, Honeybook, Placer, Credible (IPO), MileIQ (acquired by Microsoft), Automatic Labs (acquired by SiriusXM), Tile (acquired by Life360), SafeGraph, and Armory. He was named one of Business Insider’s Top 100 global seed investors.

As an operator, Itamar helped scale Life360 from Seed to IPO, growing revenue to over $250M. Earlier, he was a founding team member and Head of Product at Gigya (acquired by SAP). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarnovick/

Website: https://www.itamarnovick.com/

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Gain invaluable wisdom from Zach as he emphasizes the significance of securing a strong lead investor and maintaining open lines of communication with investors throughout the fundraising process. Reflect on the insights he shares about the evolving market and the indispensable nature of a well-orchestrated fundraising approach, including the value of face-to-face interactions.

Tune in to unravel the power of fostering meaningful connections, finding the ideal investors, and adapting to the ever-changing fundraising climate.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

02:12 - Starting MyPlace.co and Raising $6 Million

05:34 - Business Model and Revenue Plans

08:01 - The Importance of Having a Strong Lead Investor

11:21 - Raising Capital in a Challenging Market

18:44 - Leveraging Influential Angels and Strategic Investors

22:00 - Trendy fundraising strategies.

23:55 - The Value of Regular Communication with Investors.

ABOUT THE ZACH BELL
Zach Bell is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of MyPlace.co, a social network for sharing places and assets with trusted friends. With a love for travel and an affinity for bringing people together, Zach has developed a vast network of friends spread across different locations. In his blog titled "I Could Never Afford My Lifestyle," he delved into the concept of connecting with others and the impact it has had on his life.

He has a background in community building and has traveled around the world fostering communities. Prior to starting MyPlace.co, he was involved in building Habitas, a luxury hotel brand focused on redefining luxury through connections with oneself, nature, and fellow human beings. Zach’s mission is clear – to redefine luxury by prioritizing genuine connections and shared experiences.

Zach's journey with MyPlace.co began when he created a simple website on Squarespace to share his own house with friends. The idea quickly gained traction, and he realized the potential for a larger platform. He raised a pre-seed round of $100,000 from a friend who believed in the concept. This initial investment allowed him to start building the product and attract early investors, including individuals with experience in building social networks.

LINKS MENTIONED

You can reach Zach Bell on his LinkedIn account here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmbell/

To learn more about MyPlace.co : https://myplace.co/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

In this podcast, we uncover the untold stories of founders who have weathered the highs and lows of raising capital. We go beyond the headlines and Techcrunch funding news articles to explore the uncharted territories of the fundraising landscape.

In each episode, we'll sit down with successful founders from various industries, who have raised substantial capital to bring their visions to life. They'll open up about their personal journeys, revealing the pivotal moments that shaped their fundraising experience.

Together, we'll unravel the strategies, tactics, and innovative approaches that these founders employed to capture the attention of investors and secure the funding they needed. While also diving into the moments of vulnerability, the unexpected roadblocks, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Do hit subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they arrive!!

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Write to me at jason@thunder.vc

In this episode, Andrew Ackerman, former Managing Director at DreamIt Ventures and author of The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey, joins Jason to discuss what he has learned backing more than 70 startups across ed-tech, prop-tech, and beyond.

Andrew shares how he went from writing angel checks that disappeared to running one of the top accelerators in the U.S. He breaks down what founders get wrong about “value-add” programs, how he built a deal-flow system that attracted over 1,000 startups for just 12 spots, and what separates truly scalable founders from the rest.

He also breaks down how to spot real accelerator ROI, why most programs aren’t worth it, and how experienced founders think differently about equity, advisors, and long-term value creation.

Here’s what you’re in for:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:04 Andrew's Transition from Founder to Investor

00:52 Early Angel Investment Experiences

02:43 Joining DreamIt Ventures

07:18 The Evolution of Startup Accelerators

13:43 Selecting Startups for DreamIt

26:15 Evaluating Startup Teams

27:10 Switching Focus: From EdTech to PropTech

32:17 Challenges in Accelerator Programs

42:56 The Entrepreneur's Odyssey: A Novel Approach

50:52 Connecting with Andrew Ackerman

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode98&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode98&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

ABOUT ANDREW ACKERMAN

Andrew Ackerman is a VC, SPV syndicate sponsor, and former Managing Director at DreamIt Ventures, with over a decade of startup investing and 70+ portfolio companies. A former founder turned investor, he’s built and scaled verticals in EdTech, PropTech, and ConstructionTech, creating DreamIt’s Customer and Investor Sprint programs to help startups raise capital and close enterprise deals faster. Andrew has advised CVCs, developers, and corporate innovation teams worldwide and published 60+ articles in Forbes, Fortune, AlleyWatch, and Propmodo.

You can reach out to Andrew through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbackerman/ 

Website: https://www.andrewbackerman.com/ 

Email: andrewbackerman@gmail.com  (Subject line: “Fundraising Demystified Listener”)

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Brady shares how Till, which started as a simple idea to help renters manage cash flow, grew into a significant player in the FinTech space. He also shares the acquisition process, highlighting the crucial role of strong investor relationships and the integration hurdles they faced post-acquisition, providing invaluable insights for startups navigating the financial landscape.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Intro

00:32 Brady's property development background and Till's founding

03:19 Till's progression from idea to tackling real issues through rent payment solutions

07:33 Till's early fundraising efforts and deployment of capital

13:14 The explosive demand for Till’s services during the pandemic

15:04 The acquisition of Till by Best Egg

27:00 Cutting partnerships and focusing on new growth avenues

32:47 Integration and impact on the team/product post-acquisition

33:13 Mistakes and Lessons Learned

38:51 Advice for founders

44:42 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT BRADY NOLAN

Brady Nolan, a seasoned real estate investor and innovative entrepreneur, co-founded Till to transform the rent payment experience for middle-class Americans. With a focus on aligning rent payments with renters' cash flows, Brady has led Till to significant growth, culminating in a strategic acquisition by Best Egg. His career spans over 15 years in real estate, where he developed and invested in large multi-unit apartment communities across the U.S. Prior to founding Till, Brady worked on the institutional side of the market, managing big real estate projects and working with major property management companies.

Connect with Brady Nolan on:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-nolan/

Website: https://www.bestegg.com/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Diana discusses the unique challenges and strategies of fundraising as a solo founder. She talks about how she cultivated early relationships with investors, crafted compelling narratives to manage fundraising timelines effectively, and faced investor rejections head-on. Her strategy shows how crucial it is to be resilient and plan ahead when getting funding alone, without a co-founder.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

00:29 - The mission and vision behind Parallel

02:06 - Diana’s personal motivation for founding Parallel

06:10 - Challenges and triumphs of being a solo founder

09:03 - The strategic decision not to wait for a co-founder

16:03 - Managing both fundraising and company leadership

24:35 - Key performance indicators that attract investors

40:47 - Understanding the process of fundraising and handling rejection

47:59 - Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT DIANA HELDFOND

Diana Heldfond is the visionary founder and CEO of Parallel, an innovative virtual care platform transforming the delivery of educational and healthcare services. With a background in business and finance, Diana combines her personal experiences and professional expertise to lead Parallel in enhancing educational outcomes for children across America. Her leadership and persistence have not only propelled the company through significant growth phases but also positioned it as a leader in the intersection of tech, education, and healthcare.

Connect with Diana on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-heldfond/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dheldfond/?hl=en

• X: https://twitter.com/dheldfond?lang=en

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Sim also talks about his switch from a career in private equity brokerage to changing how people trade private company secondary shares with his platform, Hiive. He wants to make trading easier and clearer for everyone by using automation and transparency. Hiive works to improve the buying and selling experience in a market that's usually not very transparent.

Sim explains the regulatory hoops you’ve got to jump through to list your shares and how Hiive adds value and streamlines processes in the secondary market. He also shares his initial fundraising adventure and the strategic thinking behind it while discussing the ups and downs of Hiive’s fundraising journey and what they learned along the way.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 Intro

00:37  Sim's background in private equity and Hiive's creation

04:38  Typical companies in the secondary market

07:05  Who are the typical buyers in secondary markets?

12:53  How Hive reduces transaction fees

14:39  How to list in the secondary market

17:42  How Hive optimizes secondary market transactions.

21:16  Raising capital for Hiive

26:48  Challenges and outcomes of Hive’s fundraising journey

32:53  Market overview and predictions for the secondary

36:40  Advice to founders

41:12 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT SIM DESAI

Sim Desai combines extensive industry experience with a forward-thinking approach to reshape the secondary market. His background in private equity brokerage at Setter Capital laid the groundwork for Hiive, which simplifies transactions and increases transparency for private company shares. At Hiive, Sim leads initiatives that challenge traditional market processes, emphasizing the importance of technology in providing liquidity and fair pricing.

Connect with Sim Desai on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sim-desai-89835a1a4/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/simdesaihivе

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

• Email: jason@thunder.vc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

But stepping into a family business isn’t just a continuation. It’s pressure: legacy, expectations, and the challenge of evolving something that already works without breaking it.

In this episode, Drew shares what it’s really like taking over as CEO of a family-founded industrial tech company, and the mindset shift required when preservation meets reinvention.

From international experience in Hong Kong to leading a U.S. Midwest manufacturing and safety tech business, he breaks down how Grace Technologies evolved from a traditional engineering firm into a full-stack industrial innovation platform.

At the core of it all is a bigger question: How do you make a “boring business” not boring, and why does that transformation matter more than it seems?

Why It Matters:

This isn’t just a family business story; it’s about turning inherited structure into a system that can innovate.

Drew shows that scale isn’t only driven by capital or speed, but by control of technology, clarity of vision, and building systems that evolve faster than the market.

In industrial sectors — safety, manufacturing, infrastructure — most people overlook that adaptability can be the difference between downtime and danger.

----------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+116&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=EP+116&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits  

ABOUT DREW ALLEN 

Drew Allen is the CEO of Grace Technologies, where he leads the development and global distribution of innovative industrial technologies. A recipient of the National Association of Manufacturers’ 2020 Next-Generation Leadership Award, Drew has built his career around business development, international sales, product innovation, and family business leadership.

Beyond Grace Technologies, Drew also serves as CEO of Percev, LLC and sits on the advisory board of Atom Power, bringing a strong passion for technology, product design, and scaling impactful businesses worldwide.

You can reach out to Drew through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allendrew 

Website: https://www.graceport.com 

ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M, and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others, it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

04:18 - Starting a new company.

06:41 - NFT drops with Pokemon cards.

08:52 - Starting a company takeaway.

12:33 - Revenue growth and capitalizing the business.

18:51 - Merging Web2 and Web3 worlds.

20:27 - The power of blockchain.

23:05 - Pitching your deck in a meeting.

27:33 - NFTs bringing back the fun.

30:21 - Building the best team.

33:53 - Every meeting counts as well.

36:54 - Collectible space and Pokemon cards.

ABOUT NICOLAS LE JEUNE 

Nicolas le Jeune is the founder of Courtyard.io, a company that focuses on the intersection of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and physical collectibles. Nicolas has a background working at Google and YouTube, where he managed music labels for YouTube and worked in sales for Google's cloud services. He left his job at Google to start Courtyard.io and has since raised funding and built a team to pursue his vision in the collectibles market.

Explore how Nick’s wealth of experience and fundraising success unlocks valuable insights with a particular focus on the pivotal role of professional investors. He also emphasizes that while valuation may be important, finding the right investor who can provide expertise, contacts, and assistance in hiring is crucial for growth and success. Tune in to uncover real-life strategic approaches that Nick shared, equipping entrepreneurs at all stages with the knowledge to master fundraising.

HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE

01:23 – Founder’s Dilemma: Balancing Shareholder Interests with the Risk of Short Selling

06:40 – Capitalizing on Market Strength: Timing and Regrets in Fundraising

12:15 – Beyond Valuation: Why the Right Investor Takes Precedence

19:41 – Valuation Risks Unveiled. The Perils of Overestimating in a Shifting Market

25:03 – The Power of Investor Terms, Conflict, and Reputation

32:19 – The Unpredictable Challenges of Dealing with Strategic Partners

37:53 – Facing the Unforeseen: Personal Insights into Management Changes and Deal Challenges

ABOUT NICK DESAI

Nick Desai, the seasoned serial entrepreneur and visionary CEO of Together by Renee, cutting-edge generative AI-driven healthcare app, has been a trailblazer in the startup industry. Nick has always aspired to be an entrepreneur, inspired by his father and grandfather's business ventures. After completing his graduate degree in electrical engineering at UCLA, he gained experience as an engineer and in management consulting. He then took the leap and started his first startup, learning the ins and outs of venture pitching along the way. Among his notable achievements include Heal, a groundbreaking venture focused on on-demand healthcare services. Heal's outstanding success has played a pivotal role in Nick's impressive total of $250 million raised throughout his outstanding career.

 LINKS MENTIONED

You can reach Nick Desai on his LinkedIn account here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdesaiai/

To know more about his business, check out this: https://together.renee.com/

Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc

Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc 

Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc

📣 Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at https://web.thunder.vc/vc-investor-list

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Forget the unicorn dream. This is how real founders achieve life-changing exits. Jason Kirby and Oliver Low — partners at Thunder — break down how to navigate the M&A process from both sides of the table: when to sell, how to structure a deal, and what to avoid when your future is on the line.

🔥 3-6 Tactical Takeaways:

• Why timing your exit matters more than valuation

• How to avoid the #1 killer of founder wealth: earnouts

• The rise of private equity buyers and what it means for startups

• How “venture orphans” can still create massive outcomes

• What Thunder looks for before taking founders to market

  
  

When Oliver Low sold his startup, it wasn’t a clean, overnight success story.

It was years of building, negotiating, and learning the hard way how M&A really works.

His company, Platform 360, eventually became part of a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange but the journey there was anything but straightforward.

There were earnouts that didn’t go as planned.

Buyers who vanished mid-deal.

And market conditions that turned every negotiation into a gamble.

For founders considering an exit or just trying to understand how real M&A unfolds — this conversation is a masterclass in playing the long game.

Want more insights? Check out the full shownotes for Episode 95! HERE

Would you rather grind for years bootstrapping, take VC money with strings attached, or sell and move on? That’s the exact crossroads Laurits Just faced as the co-founder of BitsForDigits.

In this episode, Laurits breaks down how he built and sold his startup, a marketplace for partial business acquisitions, and why he ultimately chose to exit instead of raising venture capital. He shares the highs and lows of bootstrapping, the challenge of getting a two-sided marketplace off the ground, and the inside story of negotiating his sale to Flippa.

Now leading Flippa Invest, Laurits is on a mission to help founders secure funding—without the pressure of chasing unicorn status. If you’re a founder weighing your options, this episode will open your eyes to paths beyond traditional VC.

---------------------------------------

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:

https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode72&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode72&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

• 24:19: The types of businesses that fit the Flippa Invest model

• 28:12: Understanding valuation and fundraising expectations

• 36:45: How founders can explore funding through Flippa Invest

  
  

ABOUT LAURITS JUST

Laurits Just is the co-founder and co-CEO of BitsForDigits, a marketplace for partial and full business acquisitions. With a background in finance, he worked at BlackRock and Rocket Internet in London before launching his startup. Holding three degrees—including a Master of Science from the London School of Economics—Laurits specialized in digital innovation, AI applications, and distributed ledger platforms.

After leaving BlackRock, he co-founded BitsForDigits with a mission to provide liquidity solutions for self-funded business owners. Inspired by a blog post on Jeff Bezos' investment in Basecamp, he and his co-founder built a platform that made secondary transactions more accessible. After scaling the business to profitability, they ultimately exited to Flippa, where Laurits now leads Flippa Invest, helping founders secure funding beyond traditional VC.

Connect with Laurits:

• Website: Flippa Invest

• LinkedIn: Laurits Just

  
  

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

In our conversation, Dan talks about the intricacies of startups, fundraising strategies, and the art of pivoting. He shares candid reflections on his experiences with ventures like Spinback, Tula Skincare, and Troops.ai, each representing different industries and fundraising approaches. Whether you're a first-time founder or a veteran entrepreneur, Dan's story and insights offer valuable lessons for navigating the complex world of startups and venture capital.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 05:19 Choosing the right business partners

• 08:38 The power of the internet and social media

• 12:58 Pivoting from beauty to tech

• 31:17 Building on top of Slack and the acquisition by Salesforce

• 37:07 Post-Acquisition experience and building new ventures

• 43:03 Lessons on fundraising and capital allocation

• 53:40 Angel investing and giving back to the startup ecosystem

• 58:14 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT DAN REICH

Dan Reich is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a track record of building and exiting successful companies across tech and beauty industries. His notable ventures include TULA Skincare (acquired by Procter & Gamble), Troops.ai (acquired by Salesforce), and Spinback (acquired by Buddy Media, later Salesforce). Dan's entrepreneurial journey, which began in his teens, has earned him recognition as one of the "coolest people in New York tech" by Business Insider.

Beyond his business acumen, Dan is an active angel investor, advisor, and philanthropist. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has contributed to publications like Forbes and Harvard Business Review. When not building companies, Dan can be found at New York Giants games, on the golf course, or volunteering for rescue operations at Mount Snow, Vermont. His life philosophy is simple: "I am, and will forever be, a student."

Connect with Dan Reich on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danreich/

• X : https://x.com/DanReich

• Website: https://danreich.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

She covers strategies for scaling ClassTag's user base to 5 million teachers and parents, convincing investors who initially said no, and selling the company smoothly after raising $12 million in venture capital.
HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS IN THIS EPISODE: 03:04 - Challenges of scaling an EdTech company

05:37 - Fundraising strategy into raising $12 million in venture capital

17: 10 - Lessons learned in funding options

20:39 - Selling ClassTag

26:55 - Vlada's advice for new founders

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT VLADA

Vlada Lotkina is an immigrant entrepreneur from Ukraine who was raised in an entrepreneurial family. Coming to the US, she chose to have a corporate career and rose the ranks before she founded ClassTag.

ClassTag is a FREE app that enhances parent-teacher communication. It brings everyone together through messages, announcements, videos, pictures, a library, a calendar, parent-teacher conferences, actionable engagement stats, and much more in one place.

Connect with Vlada on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklicea/

• X: https://twitter.com/vlotkina?lang=en

  
  

Her podcast, CEO Unboxed, is available on:

• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ceo-unboxed/episodes/Welcome-to-CEO-Unboxed-e2ckena

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vladalotkina

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc⁠

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

David discusses the philosophy behind Founders Pledge, the challenges of creating a global philanthropic network, and the strategies for ensuring every dollar donated achieves measurable results.

Raising capital? 

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips: https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101

Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

00:02 Introduction

00:16 David Goldberg’s journey from founder to philanthropist

03:50 The origins of Founders Pledge and its mission

08:00 How pledging future earnings fosters impact-driven giving

12:15 Deploying $1.3B: How Founders Pledge maximizes impact

20:30 The importance of trust and transparency in philanthropy

33:08 Scaling Founders Pledge: Challenges and aspirations

ABOUT DAVID GOLDBERG

David Goldberg is the co-founder and CEO of Founders Pledge, a global nonprofit that empowers entrepreneurs to commit a portion of their exits to high-impact philanthropy. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to over 2,000 members across 40 countries, with nearly $11 billion pledged and $1.3 billion deployed to transformative causes. Driven by a mission to simplify and amplify meaningful change, David transitioned from a diverse commercial background to the nonprofit sector, blending his expertise in finance, startups, and academia.

Before Founders Pledge, David gained experience as a mortgage and investment banker and launched the secondary marketing department at Mortgage Capital Associates. A serial entrepreneur, he founded a boutique real estate firm in Germany and managed Urban Motion. He is a graduate of UCLA and the University of Cambridge, where he deepened his understanding of systems driving impactful change. Inspired by the desire to make philanthropy accessible, David has built a community where founders can harness their success to improve the world.

Connect with DAVID:

Website: www.founderspledge.com

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

Brian Ree built DailyLook into a premium AI-powered personal styling brand, nearly lost it in 2014, rebuilt it around ruthless unit economics and LTV, merged with Adore Me, and ultimately exited to Victoria’s Secret in a $700 million transaction.

In this episode, Brian breaks down the real story behind the pivot that almost killed the company, the $40 styling fee gamble that saved it, how focusing obsessively on lifetime value created a defensible moat, and why relationships drive major exits.

He also shares how DailyLook scaled from $30M to $140M post-acquisition, what it’s really like operating inside a public company, and why building a fashion brand is a decade-long grind, not a hype cycle.

If you’re building in DTC, fashion, subscription, or thinking about a strategic exit, this is a masterclass in resilience, economics, and timing.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How DailyLook built a premium styling subscription powered by AI + human stylists

• Why negative unit economics nearly killed the company in 2014

• The $40 pricing decision that turned the business around

• How obsessing over LTV created a long-term competitive moat

• Why most DTC brands fail to control CAC and retention

• How relationships led to the Adore Me merger and Victoria’s Secret acquisition

• What it’s like scaling from $50M to $140M inside a public company

• Why building a fashion brand is a 10+ year commitment
  

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+107&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+107&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits

For full episode shownotes and resources, view them here.

James Rose built and scaled an online furniture company during a massive property boom in Eastern Europe—only to see it nearly collapse during the global financial crisis. After years as an entrepreneur, he was forced to swallow his pride, re-enter the job market, and rebuild through sales and leadership roles.

In this episode, James shares the unfiltered reality of going from founder to employee—and back again. He breaks down how sales became his lifeline, why founders delay exit planning, and how those lessons led him to build Inflectiv Group, a platform acquiring and rolling up profitable, founder-led agencies.

If you’re a founder thinking about scale, resilience, or engineering a meaningful exit, this conversation delivers clarity without the hype.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why most founders avoid the reality check needed to plan a real exit

• How losing a business reshapes your view of risk, pride, and employability

• Why sales is one of the fastest paths to rebuilding after a setback

• The biggest mistakes founders make when fundraising or delaying M&A

• How minority roll-ups unlock value for founder-led service businesses

• What acquirers actually look for in profitable agencies today