Brad Hollister’s Post

If we ever plan on growing our startup, we're going to have to start saying "yes" to a whole bunch of stuff that terrifies us. You see, startups thrive by committing to new challenges, even if the path isn't immediately clear. Let's discuss the importance of saying yes to growth opportunities in this episode of Startup Therapy: https://hubs.ly/Q02DhYNw0

Validating before raising. Selling before building your product. Those are some of the tips shared on the Meet.Capital Startup Podcast this week, with 🌈 Mike 🦴 Bank. Mike is a co-founder at Underdog Accelerator and at Founder15, and has experience in the startup world from almost every angle, it seems. He shared some of his best ideas and tips for startup founders just getting started. I'll share the link to the full episode in the comments.

If we ever plan on growing our startup, we're going to have to start saying "yes" to a whole bunch of stuff that terrifies us. You see, startups thrive by committing to new challenges, even if the path isn't immediately clear. Let's discuss the importance of saying yes to growth opportunities in this episode of Startup Therapy: https://hubs.ly/Q02DhSmX0

Running a startup is virtually impossible. According to Startup Genome, 90% of them fail. 90%. That's insanity. Yet we still plod along. You'd think that after decades of data on startup best practices, we'd have a blueprint at this point. Some people do. I had the distinct pleasure of having the great Dan Hurwitz, as a recent guest on the CRO Spotlight Podcast. Dan shared about his venture: 'How to Un F@$%&k your Startup'. He shared his 8 points that all startups need to work on to make it through the morass and survive. We got into a whole thing about culture and leadership and focus - and the conversation was great. Please take the time to listen. I learned a lot.

Should your startup raise venture capital? Probably not. The truth is, most startups don’t have the economics to raise from a VC. Even if they do, raising capital comes at a cost. Rob Walling, founder of TinySeed and host of the fantastic Startups For The Rest Of Us podcast, joined me and Chris Saad on the latest episode of The Startup Podcast to talk about bootstrapping, VC, and all the options in between. The decision to raise outside capital is irreversible. Listen to this episode to understand the consequences of this decision.

Who assists startups in taking flight when they're just starting out? Angel investors🪽 Named for their otherworldly ability to turn startup dreams into reality, angel investors are often an integral part of the startup ecosystem. In our latest Pioneers Podcast, we sat down with one: Sandy Wollman, founder of Westchester Angels, a downstate New York investor group 👼 Listen in to learn about Sandy's journey to becoming an angel investor and how he assists startups in accessing valuable angel resources: time, wisdom, and, of course, funds. https://sie.ag/7F4L9o #Startup #Investment #Podcast

How do you filter legitimate businesses from risky startups? 🧐 A snippet of Episode 3 of @thebusinessforge podcast where Joe Milam shares how you can measure legitimacy of a startup CEO and business over time to analyze what startups are worth investing in - and how startups can be more transparent and appealing to potential investors.

Understanding the worries and concerns that investors have about your startup/idea (and addressing them) can be the difference between a successful pitch and a missed opportunity. Dive into episode 108 of The Sure Shot Entrepreneur Podcast, where Richard Kerby, co-founder and general partner at Equal Ventures, breaks down the VC investment decision-making process. Gain invaluable insights into the process and propel your startup forward. Tune in now: https://lnkd.in/grjJ2RmG Gopi Rangan #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Startups

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about startups? In the world of angel investing, there’s always something new to learn. Whether it's a surprising stat on startup survival, an inspiring founder story, or the latest trend in sustainable investing, insights from the angel community are full of surprises! In The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into stories and lessons that every aspiring angel and entrepreneur can learn from. So, we want to hear from YOU—what’s the most eye-opening thing you’ve discovered in this space? Drop a comment below, share this post to help others learn, and tune into our latest episode for more incredible insights. #AngelInvesting #StartupInsights #TheAngelNextDoor #FundingJourney #Entrepreneurship

I had an insightful conversation where Anthony Ronga about his expertise in crafting the perfect pitch deck. My Key Learnings: -- TAM, SAM, SOM are crucial for a strong go-to-market strategy. Avoid relying on generic market data; tailor your research to your product and pricing. -- Three Micro Stories in a Pitch Deck: • Opportunity Story: Highlight the problem and the market size. • Financial Story: Outline your TAM, SAM, SOM, pricing, and projections. • Credibility Story: Showcase your team, traction, and go-to-market plan. -- Pitch Like Your Phone is About to Die: Keep it concise. Your deck should grab attention quickly with clear, powerful statements. -- Adjust your pitch to fit the stage of your startup (Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B), focusing on the traction relevant to that phase. -- Design and Content Balance: Avoid overloading with text and complex designs. Use a simple, clean layout with a clear font hierarchy. -- Be ready with all supporting documents like financials. Understand that raising capital is about creating a compelling narrative that resonates with investors. -- Human Touch Over AI: While AI tools can help, the human element in extracting and presenting information is irreplaceable. -- Surround yourself with other founders for support and feedback. Get specific feedback on your deck to avoid turning it into a “Frankenstein deck.” -- Patience and Persistence: Raising capital and growing a startup is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay patient, adaptable, and resilient.