Charlie Wehan’s Post

How to Ask Investors for Intros When you get a new investor and you're still fundraising, you'll want to ask your new investor for intros to other investors in their network. Here's how to do it right: 1. Ask who they suggest. Once their money hits your bank account and not before, ask your new investor for a list of the investors they suggest you meet. This is the easy part. 2. Go through their network. You also need to review all their online networks for investors who might be a fit and ask for an intro to each one. No investor will remember everyone in their network, so doing the legwork will get you more meetings. 3. Return with Momentum. Later in your process, if you suddenly find momentum, e.g. via a term sheet, it's a good idea to go back to your existing investors and ask again. The excitement might just get you a few more meetings. #fundraising #startups

Here’s how you can ask investors for intros ⬇️

**The Critical Role of Friends & Family Rounds in Fundraising** 🚀 As founders, the journey of building a startup is both exhilarating and challenging. One of the earliest and most pivotal steps in this journey is the friends and family round of fundraising. Why is this stage so important? 1. **Building Accountability:** Raising funds from those close to you isn’t just about securing capital. It’s about establishing a sense of responsibility. When friends and family invest in your vision, it pushes you to deliver because you’re accountable to people who believe in you on a personal level. 2. **Laying the Foundation for Future Rounds:** This accountability becomes a cornerstone as you approach angel investors. When you’ve shown that you can manage funds responsibly and drive results with your initial backing, it demonstrates to angels that you’re not just an entrepreneur with a dream—you’re a founder who can execute and steward resources wisely. 3. **Confidence Boost:** The vote of confidence from your inner circle can be the fuel that propels you into the next phase with renewed determination and focus. Knowing that others believe in your idea enough to invest is a powerful motivator. The friends and family round is more than just a stepping stone—it’s a foundation of trust, accountability, and belief that sets the tone for your startup’s success. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #Fundraising #AngelInvestors

How do you keep your pitch deck out of an investor's trash folder? 🗑️ Often founders are making simple mistakes that are easy to fix but aren’t aware of how. I’ve helped hundreds of founders do this with my pitch deck reviews, coaching sessions and course. When I first started teaching this stuff, the improvement was so dramatic and fast that I got tapped on the shoulder to lead accelerators and investment funds. This video will cover sections on: 🎯 Target Market 📈 Traction 💰 Business Model & Revenue Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to show traction! Here's more tips in this video - https://lnkd.in/gPM8yyt3 This is part 2 on “10 ways to instantly improve your pitch deck”. ICYMI, here’s Part 1 - https://lnkd.in/gfT7hp93 Make sure you’re subscribed for the final part 3 next! https://lnkd.in/gvvqJS39 #pitching #venturecapital #fundraising #startup #womenintech

A Guide on Raising Money the Right Way: The Dos and Don'ts of VC Fundraising Don't Be a Rookie When Fundraising: - Connect on a personal level to make VCs fall in love with your idea. - Skip the NDAs, as VCs respect your uniqueness and avoid conflicts of interest. - Avoid mass emails and spam, opt for thoughtful and personalized outreach. - Accept the final "no" from VCs, it usually means it's a "no." - Don't ask for referrals after a rejection, it puts them in an uncomfortable position. - Surround yourself with a team, solo founders face challenges in fundraising. - Don't over-rely on patents, especially in software businesses. #startups #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #investing #caovaisshah

How do you keep your pitch deck out of an investor's trash folder? 🗑️ Often founders are making simple mistakes that are easy to fix but aren’t aware of how. I’ve helped hundreds of founders do this with my pitch deck reviews, coaching sessions and course. When I first started teaching this stuff, the improvement was so dramatic and fast that I got tapped on the shoulder to lead accelerators and investment funds. This video will cover sections on: 🎯 Target Market 📈 Traction 💰 Business Model & Revenue Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to show traction! Here's more tips in this video - https://lnkd.in/gvrtThpk This is part 2 on “10 ways to instantly improve your pitch deck”. ICYMI, here’s Part 1 - https://lnkd.in/gxFAatas Make sure you’re subscribed for the final part 3 next! https://lnkd.in/g8iTs4nQ #pitching #venturecapital #fundraising #startup #womenintech

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽? It’s easier than you think! Many founders, in their zeal to secure capital, often stumble into pitfalls that can derail their fundraising efforts. A lack of preparation and overvaluation are just the beginning of the potential issues. Ignoring valuable feedback from potential investors can close doors to opportunities you didn’t even know existed. Pitching your idea poorly or at the wrong time can lead to missed chances.  Networking isn’t just a buzzword; it’s essential. Failing to build and nurture relationships with investors can leave you stranded. Moreover, a superficial understanding of your market, unresolved team issues, and ignoring legalities can be detrimental. Overextending your resources and burning out during the process are real dangers. Always keep in mind: the following mistakes can cost you your next round of funding. Refer to our infographic for a quick overview on what to avoid and how to unlock the fundraising landscape successfully. #startupintel #fundraisingstrategies #startupfunding

Friday repeated rant: 'Explore synergies' should be deleted from the World's vocabulary. It's a horrible way to explore partnerships (happy simple word). It's a TERRIBLE way to ask for funding. As is 'collaboration', 'work together' and a 100 other euphamisms (that could work for partnerships). Yes, investing in a company is a long term partnership, however it's also a financial investment first. Simple hack format, shared once again. Hi, my name is X, (co-)founder of Y, We're solving X for Y // or // We're building X, that does Y for businesses, current clients include Z. We're at $MRR, growing at ~30% every quarter, with a pipeline of ABC (optional) We are raising ₹500 at ₹2500 // or // We are raising ~$1mn, looking to dilute 15-20%. This fundraise will give us 24 months of runway, taking us to $$MRR and breakeven. (Commitments if any // prior investors if any) I'd love to chat this week, please find attached a short brief on us Sign off..... #venturecapital #funding #fundraising #startups #founders

🚨 ATTN #Founders: How do you raise real money 💰 in a tight market? 🌟 Five basic tactics: 1) Nurture your relationships with investors 💼 (even when you’re not raising) 🌱. 2) Plan to raise with conviction for a short season; don’t drag it out ⏳. 3) Craft a great story 📖 and great numbers 🔢, but only prioritize one 🎯. 4) Choose the investors that can help the most 🚀, not the ones that say your company is worth the most 💵. 5) Go where the grace is 🙏. You probably only need a few people to say yes 👍. (And if they say no 👎, ask them who they know who might be interested 🤝). Plus, this article shares real stories 📚 and strategies from successful fundraisers. (The real gem 💎 is that the best way to raise money is to NOT need money, i.e., get profitable as quickly as possible 📈.) Check it out: 📘✨: The Founder's Guide to Optimizing Your Fundraise #venturecapital #startups #Founders #Scaleup

Navigating the complexities of multi-round #fundraising can be daunting for startup founders. Foundercrate simplifies this journey by offering a comprehensive suite of innovative tools designed to optimize investor relations, streamline operations, and foster growth. 💼 With access to a global investor database and AI-powered tools, embracing multiple rounds of funding has never been easier. Discover how Foundercrate can become your ultimate fundraising ally. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEZY48KN #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship #Investment