Harish Malhi

We’ve heard from 100+ startup founders over the last 11 business days — across London Tech Week, The AI Summit, and London EdTech Week. Every single one was frustrated about deals being stuck in their pipeline. ⚡ https://lnkd.in/ezQ9EqRe #deals #win #b2b #sales #startups #technology #artificialintelligence #entrepreneurship

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Founder wants out of founder-led sales How long should it take? When the founder has so many important things to do, this is a common question With board pressure, market pressure, fundraising markets and more The speed to transitioning out of founder led sales is often misunderstood You can want it to be done in days or weeks Maybe you can do it Likely not going to be the case The transition done poorly bucks the revenue chart Be careful of the dip

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↗ FOUNDER FRIDAY FREEBIES ↗ Looking for some support to grow your startup, you've come to the right place We've got resources for improving: 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗡 🎤 3 Steps to Winning Customers at Events - https://lnkd.in/eGhZ5NmE 📩 5-Step Repeatable Lead Gen Blueprint - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA ⚗ 19 Killer Marketing Channel Options for Legal Tech Startups Looking to Grow - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✍ Clarify Your Value To Potential Customers in 1 sentence - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 🛠 2 Frameworks to Speed Up Your Copywriting - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 📌 20 Common Pains Your Customer is Feeling - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 🤑 7 Customer Desires That Make Your Product Irresistible - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗦 📈 8 Demo Tips Legal Tech Vendors Must Do To Win More Customers - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 💲 Find Investors in 90 Seconds on LinkedIn - https://lnkd.in/ezTXKNFA + we're always adding more P.S. Let us know your favorites and what you want made next

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With some time on our hands, we’ve launched a little project tooearly with a single and quite simple idea in-mind: personalised help for promising first-time founders. There is an abundance of resources online, but not enough 1:1 feedback, materials revision, as well as hands-on and community support. After working as a first-ticket/pre-seed investor, I’ve noticed how many stellar individuals out there are a little unsure when it comes to navigating the founding and fundraising journey (from ideation, to validating the hypotheses, speaking to the right customers, building your fundraising OS and raising VC funding), especially as first-time founders. If you’re looking to build something game-changing, let’s speak. Besides support, we will invite VCs to Investment Committees whenever we see actual winners inside the community to give them a kick-start on their raising journey. !!P.S. We have a 30% discount for the first 20 people who join. OMG!! Little disclaimer: This platform by no means suggest that everyone should raise from VCs or glorifies it (as it’s a tough journey), but this should help you figure out the best trajectory for your idea, and if the VC trajectory is indeed the right one for you, after some months, you should be ready to go out there and start speaking to investors (not stay with us forever, only if you wish to 😉 ). Martynas Cepas - a partner in crime 🙌

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This guide outlines the funding journey from Pre-Seed to Series C and beyond: - Pre-Seed: Focus on concept, team, and initial validation. - Seed: Prove market fit and scalability. - Series A: Demonstrate revenue growth and user base. - Series B: Scale operations with solid financials. - Series C+: Prepare for major expansion and exit strategies. Insight: Each funding stage builds on the previous one. Early rounds focus on validation and product-market fit, while later stages emphasize scaling and financial stability. The goal is to show continuous growth and potential to attract investors. Subscribe to ‘Siliconnector’ Telegram channel for insights and news from Tech world and Silicon Valley: https://t.me/siliconnector

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Want tailored support to soothe your startup’s growing pains?👇🏽 I'm running complimentary 1:1 consultations drawing from our extensive experience supporting 100+ startups and scaleups. We know it's a wild, and, at times, lonely world out there and we want to help out. So after learning about your business and people needs, I'll offer insights on: 🎯 How to define your cOS (company Operating System) to ensure alignment and increase accountability. 🛠 How to establish effective working methodologies to navigate change and enhance performance. 🚀 How to maximise your cOS components to drive impactful outcomes and increase value, for your people and your business. It’s a private, 30-min call with no strings attached – I’m genuinely looking to help out. I'm opening up 4 slots per month. To participate, simply comment 'Interested' below or reach out via DM, and let's connect to explore how I can support you. #startupgrowth #leadership #employeexperience

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Numbers & insights from a deep tech venture studio that launched 11 companies (all are active) in the last 7 years, reaching £85M valuation across the portfolio: 1. Post Urban, initially bootstrapped by Luke Robinson, an academic with a PhD in physics from Cambridge, now operates with external funding from a UK-based fund. 2. Launched 5 companies during the first 5 years and 6 companies during the last 2 years. 3. All 11 completed pre-seed rounds; 1 of them got Series A, 2 of them are approaching their Series A. 4. The startups have collectively raised ~£25M in venture capital, in addition to receiving grants. The total valuation of the 11 companies is ~£85M, half of which have not yet undergone subsequent funding rounds. 5. Initial equity splits: the venture builder 20%, CEOs of startups 35% (vests over 4 years), CTOs – 20-25%, employees 10-15%. 6. The initial valuation of startups was £2 million, with £300K invested by the venture builder. The last 2 startups were at £3.5-4M initial valuation. 7. Building deep tech ventures requires significantly higher initial funding because these projects need more time to develop demonstrable products. Two portfolio companies hit £1M in ARR. 8. The venture builder has increased the capital for the last 2 startups to ensure they reach meaningful milestones. The CEOs of the startups were able to secure additional funding through their networks, £350K and £450K, respectively. 9. The deep tech investor pool is smaller than that for sectors like SaaS, which requires a stronger proof of concept and market readiness to attract funding. 10. 3-4 times, potential customers became investors in Post Urban Ventures. This is a great approach because it secures investment and validates the concept by gauging whether these potential customers truly believe in the solution and its market necessity. 11. They don't start with a technology or an idea; instead, they integrate insights about global problems and, by actively engaging with advisory boards, founders, and industry experts, identify pain points and align them with technological solutions. 12. They do not bring universities in as co-founders but source scientists or professors to contribute to research and development. This involves leveraging academic expertise to support the technical aspects of startup projects until a prototype is developed. 13. The studio maintains strong connections with major academic institutions, including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, and UCL, supporting its deep tech focus and facilitating access to new technologies and potential founders. 14. Areas of focus in deep tech: AI (Knowledge Graphs, NLP, DNNs, Computer Vision, Edge AI, Active Learning), Quantum Technologies, Biotech, AgTech, Enterprise SaaS. Watch the full interview to gain insights into the portfolio companies, handling IP collaborations with universities, key challenges, and team construction: https://lnkd.in/dCi7fZ7G

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"You can go a lot quicker, cheaper. But as it scales, free becomes a problem for that business." - Dixon Jones ✅, inLinks Want to kickstart your product's growth? Start by offering it to people who would genuinely love it! Having advocates for your product isn't just a great strategy—it's a cost-effective one. Think about it: it's cheaper than selling, cheaper than PPC ads, and definitely cheaper than setting up shop at conferences. Plus, with the right advocates, you can get your product out there faster and with less expense. But here's the thing—while starting with a free model can be a game-changer, scaling up is where the challenges come in. Free isn't always sustainable, especially when there's a real cost to keeping those free customers on board. Whether it's cloud services or maintaining your own infrastructure, there are costs that every SaaS company needs to consider. In our latest episode, we dive deep into the pros and cons of this approach, sharing insights that could help you make smarter decisions for your business. Tune in now to get the full scoop and hear more about how to scale your product without breaking the bank. 🎙️ 👉 Listen and subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/grUEreTj #ProductLedGrowthLeaders #SaaS #MarketingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #PodcastEpisode #StartupTips

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📢 Today marks the start of the Business Rebels & Renegades Scaling Bootcamp hosted by FuDog Group! It's not too late for entrepreneurs to join and gain invaluable insights into scaling their businesses. Visit https://lnkd.in/eA2D2Zjb for more information. #BusinessBootcamp #Entrepreneurship #GrowthHacking #LastChance

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The best part of my business... → Stripe/wise notification 😅 The 2nd best part... → A happy client leaving us a glowing testimonial 🫡 Today's post is brought to you by an amazing mobile app founder from Italy... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Muhammad's work has been an enlightening and incredibly valuable for my project. His in-depth analysis of my onboarding process, customer retention, and paywall has highlighted numerous improvement opportunities that I hadn't previously considered. One of the turning points was the review of my homepage. The audit revealed how I was underutilizing this crucial initial touchpoint with my users. His recommendations provided to optimize the layout, messaging, and call-to-actions promise to significantly increase user engagement and conversions. Particularly valuable was the identification of some critical errors in my user flow that were unknowingly hindering growth. His insights have allowed me to redesign key interface elements for a better user experience. Muhammad also pointed out that I wasn't tracking many crucial pieces of information within the app, which are essential for proper analysis. This revelation was eye-opening, as it made me realize how much valuable data I was missing out on for making informed decisions. The detailed report & clear implementation guidelines have provided me with a practical roadmap for changes. Now it's time for modifications, and I'm filled with anticipation to see how these changes will translate into tangible results for my app. This audit has proven to be a valuable investment, providing me with a new perspective and the necessary tools to take my application to the next level. I can't wait to measure the positive impact these changes will have on my key performance indicators" Shoutout to Carlo Terracciano for being a great sport. Wishing the best for all your education apps. ------ When you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you... 1. Wallet-opening onboarding playbook — Roast My App's robust swipe file of mobile onboarding & paywall teardowns. Gain exclusive access to our figjam file [while it's free] → https://lnkd.in/gqGc-7s7 2. The app roast OS — My quick one-off actionable feedback of your mobile app to up your subscription game. 3. The in-app funnel fix OS — Product experimentation program to fix your leaking onboarding, paywalls & frustrating UX Tap "Visit my website" for more details.

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A top FIVE trend in #startup ecosystems right now

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Techies, Founders, Leaders, lend me your ears You might just love what’s coming 👇 The next month of Pain in the SaaS is packed with value just for you. Here’s a teaser of what’s to come: - Tom Pennings turning a server off even when could fix it. - Richard Russell explaining why the Google way isn't always the best way. - Nadia Pace’s office that was literally falling down. - Nikos Kryvossidis trying to change the culture and building bridges across departments. I’m dedicated to bringing you the best advice and information from VCs, founders, and sales leaders about how to scale your startup, become a better leader, and hear the real stories of experience. 🚀 It all starts tomorrow at 9am Berlin Time. Be sure to follow #PainInTheSaaS so you’ll get notifications of all the episodes as they drop and won’t miss a thing. #podcast

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Last chance to join the NextUp/Ne互tUp live pitch event happening next week! Tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eGgjAvak This year, I'm delighted to welcome 5 outstanding startups who will showcase their technologies in front of a panel of esteemed jury members. Winners will win a 1 week business immersion trip to Singapore to help them expand their businesses to Asia, using Singapore as a launchpad. Here are the 5 finalists for 2024: 📊 YData: A data quality solution for Responsible AI, focusing on dataset optimization over models, enabling efficient team collaboration while preserving data security, privacy, and integrity. 🔋 GreenCoat: Next-gen plasma-coating for smart windows, adapting opacity to environmental conditions, reducing unwanted heat transfer, and maximizing energy efficiency. ♿ laddroller: A mobility device combining the benefits of an exoskeleton and a wheelchair, with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and IoT connectivity for enhanced support and mobility. 🌿 Green Spot Technologies: Pioneering solid-state fermentation and upcycling to reimagine food ingredient solutions, promoting sustainability from the ground up. 📝 InclusivitEasy: An AI-driven tool for inclusive writing, using advanced algorithms to instantly identify non-inclusive language, with real-time feedback from a diverse dataset.

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🔴 Many founders think a VC investor will write them a cheque after the first meeting. The reality is quite different. It takes months for an investor to: ▪ Fully grasp your business and the market you're in ▪ Build trust in you as a founder ▪ Develop conviction in your deal A powerful way to nurture this relationship is by sending a monthly email update to the investors you're most keen on. 🔥 Here are a few tips on how to make your updates more effective: 1. Keep it text only, short in length and scannable. Don’t record a video, investors won’t watch it. 2. Start the email with a summary that highlights the challenges, breakthroughs, and key learnings from the past month. 3. Emphasize on KPIs and metrics. Limit to the most important 5 metrics, including month-on-month growth. This is the most important section of your email. 4. Ask for help. Include a section where you ask for introductions, strategic advice or any kind of help that you need to overcome a challenge. 5. Ensure your email is well-written. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the clarity and sharpness of your thinking. 6. Be selective with your recipients. Only send updates to investors you’ve met and are seriously considering. 7. Address challenges candidly. Don’t sugar coat anything. Investors appreciate transparency and problem-solving capabilities. 8. Make it memorable. Add a unique insight, story, or achievement that leaves an impression. Every update should have a theme. 💯 Investors are not just looking for the next big idea - they're investing in people and the journey they are on. The chemistry between you and your investors is crucial. Regular updates are a great way to lay the foundation and build that connection over time. 🤔 What do you think? What other tips would you add to the list? What other fundraising strategies have worked for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #venturecapital #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #fundraising

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Are Parents in the Dark About the Startup Founder Journey? Has anyone truly explained to parents what it's like to be a startup founder? It seems we have a generation of parents who don't fully understand the unique challenges and experiences their children face. I've been pondering how we can bridge this gap - but after searching for articles and books, I found surprisingly little. This led me to prompt ChatGPT to outline a report. But then I realized, this can't just be my perspective. Imagine if founders everywhere contributed to this. A comprehensive guide that we could hand to our parents, explaining our journey. Want to help make this a reality? Open Access Shared Google Drive 👈 I'll add to it periodically, but to truly make this impactful, we need contributions from founders worldwide. Think about it: in 10 years, we could all have contributed to the go-to guide for parents of startup founders. 📜 Guide: Jump in wherever you can or start a new topic. Your contribution can be as small or large as you want. ✍ Contributors: Add your name to the contribution sheet if you'd like. ❔ Name Ideas: What should we call this guide? 🤝 Share: Spread the word to other founders. This file will remain open and accessible. Maybe one day it will be published with all founding contributors listed. Kind of excited to see if this becomes a comedy skit about the founder journey or a real connecting tool. https://lnkd.in/euHn_xWR Alex Pattis Matthew Cristaldi Matthew Jaeh Techstars Nate Schmidt Deborah Awoyemi Rachel Gannon Aaron Slodov Clifford Lerner Abi Odugbesan chris trinetti Sara Continenza, MPA Melissa Z. Tino Go, ASID, IIDA Ian Hoppe Olalekan Ogundairo, Ph.D, PMP. Niccolò Ferrari Ravid Chowdhury Kyle Maggard Jeff Kirschner Madison Mikhail Bush Mack Myers Will Blackburn Jeffrey Stern Andrew Yeung Scott Colosimo Dawn Mayes, M.Arch, NOMA, Assoc. AIA Jack Policar Uche C. Isiugo Jr., PhD Sophie Schaffer Nathan Goldstein Yadira Diaz Adeo Ressi Greg Tran Stephanie Ridgely, MBA Genevieve (Ginny) Herron Clara Oromendia Anna Hu Ellie Bahrmasel

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Most early founders will overlook customer experience UNTIL they realise what they're loosing out on. 1/ Once your customer experience drastically improves, you will have an increase in conversion rate from the increased perception of value. 2/ When people experience something that blows their expectations, more often than not they will go and tell other people about it. You should receive an increase in referrals from the improved customer experience. 3/ A customer experience which head and shoulders above everyone else's shows increased care, expertise and attentiveness. People are willing to pay premiums on what they perceive as better.

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