Dr. Kate Jarvis’ Post

Want to know one of the biggest secret behind scaling Robonnement to over 40 people in less than 3 years? It wasn’t just innovation, hard work, or luck. It was smart cash flow management. Here’s what most startups and scale-ups overlook: Poor cash flow management kills way more businesses than low profits ever will. The numbers back it up—82% of businesses fail due to cash flow issues, not lack of profitability. In the early days, I learned that even with a great product and motivated team, if you don’t have a firm grip on cash flow, you’re playing a risky game. Smart cash flow management allowed us to: • Stay agile during unexpected challenges. • Fund growth without depending solely on outside investment. • Ensure sustainability even when profits fluctuated. Growth isn’t just about revenue; it’s about how you manage every dollar that flows in and out of your company. Prioritize your cash flow, and you set the foundation for long-term success. Remember, it’s not just about what you earn; it’s about how you manage it.

Let’s talk about the founders who take their time to build. In today’s fast-paced world, everyone seems to be chasing billion-dollar valuations, overnight success, or the next big milestone. But then, there are founders who choose a different path—the intentional path. They’re not in a rush to impress or make headlines. They’re focused on figuring out exactly what they’re doing and why. These are the founders who embrace patience. They spend time understanding their customers, refining their products, and laying the kind of foundation that doesn’t crumble under pressure. To outsiders, it might seem like they’re moving slowly, but what they’re doing is much harder than moving fast. They’re building deliberately, with purpose and precision. And here’s what I admire most about them: when they finally hit their stride, there’s no stopping them. Once the momentum kicks in, there’s no rest, no looking back—just relentless progress. They’re unstoppable. If you’re one of those founders taking your time, hear this: your journey may not fit the usual startup narrative, but the legacy you’re creating will outlast the trends. Keep building, keep pushing, and trust the process. To the world, you might be “taking forever.” But to those who truly see the bigger picture, you’re building something timeless. #TheMediaQueen

Have you ever heard someone talk about struggles that didn’t really feel like struggles to you? Like when your teenager complains about emptying the dishwasher before they go to the school dance, and they're like "my life sucks," and you're like, "that's a first world problem." Ignorance is bliss, right? Before we rebranded as Bloom Growth, we were Traction Tools, a tool built by our founder, Clay Upton, in the matter of six days. Yes—you read that right—six days. 😳 We know it’s hard to take someone seriously or really trust their advice when they haven’t experienced what you’ve experienced in life. That’s fair—why would you? From the inception of Traction Tools to our transformation to Bloom Growth, every contributor has experienced what it means to sacrifice and work our tails off to get what we want. No venture capital or equity firms—just a bunch of scrappy bootstrappers who saw a new possibility and chased it down. So if you find yourself looking for kindred spirits that understand the struggles of founding and growing a business, know that you’ve got that with Bloom. Take a ride down memory lane: https://hubs.ly/Q02pYhPF0 #createnewpossibilities #transformation #bloomgrowth

Preparing for fundraising, speaking to tens of great investors and remembering my past experience of working in VC, I usually have the same comics in my head that shows ultimate difference in founder vs investor vision to the pitching process: 1. Problem Slide • Founder’s Vision: “We’ve identified a huge problem, we are helping millions of people!” • Investor’s Thought: “Where are the numbers?” 2. Solution Slide • Founder’s Vision: “Our groundbreaking solution will change everything!” • Investor’s Thought: “But… where are the numbers?” 3. Market Opportunity Slide • Founder’s Vision: “The market is vast, and we’re poised to capture a significant share!” • Investor’s Thought: “Seriously, where are the numbers?” 4. Traction/Progress Slide • Founder’s Vision: “We’ve had incredible user engagement and glowing feedback!” • Investor’s Thought: “Numbers? Please?” 5. Business Model/Revenue Slide • Founder’s Vision: “Our business model is designed to scale profitably as we grow!” • Investor’s Thought: “Finally, show me the numbers!” 6. Financials Slide (Finally) • Founder’s Vision: “And here are our financial projections for the next 5 years.” • Investor’s Thought: “Ah, numbers! Finally! Now, let’s just divide these by 10 and we might be onto something…” Fundraising is not about great vision (sorry but that true) it’s about great business you can build and grow the capital of the person who decide to invest in you. I’ve seen great projects rising good money without astonishing numbers but with a clear business strategy and good market timing. So instead of sitting and thinking about where to add one more time AI, state of the art and groundbreaking technology to your slide, spend some time defining your business strategy and put it very clear to your potential investors. Thank you for all great people in my network who continuously teach me how to get from techno person to business person 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 The toughest shoes I’ve been so far 😅 #business #enterprenual #startup

🚨 Just raised millions in funding? Hold that champagne. Here's why most startups get fundraising celebrations completely wrong - and what it's costing them: The hard truth: Fundraising isn't success. It's fuel for success. But I've watched countless founders since a decade fall into these traps: 📌 The Validation Trap • Thinking funding = business validation • Mistaking investor belief for product-market fit • Letting external validation drive internal worth 📌 The Focus Shift • Moving from building → celebrating • Losing sight of customer problems • Getting high on PR rather than product 📌 The Pressure Cooker • Setting unrealistic growth expectations • Creating unnecessary competitor attention • Building a "raise or die" culture 📌 The Team Dynamic Killer • Creating false sense of security • Breeding complacency • Risking early employee exits post-vesting Here's what smart founders do instead: → Celebrate privately, execute publicly → Reinforce that funding = responsibility → Double down on customer focus → Maintain operational excellence → Invest in team development The difference? Average founders celebrate the money. Great founders celebrate the opportunity. Stop measuring success by your bank account. Start measuring it by your impact. 🎯 Quick Action Step: Write down 3 core metrics that matter more than your funding round. Focus on those daily. Like & Share if you found this valuable!

🚀 The Founder Growth Journey At The New Wave Venture, we encourage founders to prioritize personal growth over the relentless pursuit of profits. It's about fostering meaningful connections, unleashing creativity, and embracing risks while navigating uncertainty and setbacks. Building a business isn't just about scaling—it’s also a journey of self-discovery, reflection, and becoming the creator you’re meant to be. Our briefs equip founders with tools and insights to balance personal growth & business growth. Feeling inspired to take your next step? Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dnm5SgBM #growthmindset #founderjourney #newwave

This might be one of the most important posts I’ve ever made pitch decks I've crafted over 200 pitch decks for tech founders. These decks have helped secure $126 million in funding. I've also worked with various real estate and private equity funds that have raised over $300 million. Now here's the deal I NEVER follow a template. 🚫 Whether it's the renowned Sequoia template, the tried-and-tested Y Combinator format, or even the template made famous by Airbnb. Why, you ask? Because following a template is a surefire way to blend in with the crowd And trust me, that's the last thing you want when trying to stand out to investors. Instead, my approach is simple yet powerful I engage in deep, meaningful conversations with founders. I dig deep to uncover the essence of their story -> How the business was originated ->What do customers say about their product? -> What makes them passionate about their business -> What their ultimate vision is These conversations serve as the bedrock for crafting not just a pitch deck, but a compelling narrative that resonates with investors Because here's the truth.. Every startup, every business is unique. And your pitch deck should reflect that uniqueness. So, if you're still relying on cookie-cutter templates to convey the essence of your business.. It's time to hit pause and reassess. Dare to do something different. Dare to break free from the mold and showcase the true essence of your vision. Because in a sea of conformity, authenticity is your greatest asset. 🌟 Drop a comment if you're against using a "template"

Few people talk about the emotional phases founders go through when their business is failing. In my experience, this emotional journey often mirrors the 5 stages of grief (and more): 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance We talk about outstanding debt and meeting payroll—but rarely the burden on founders and their teams when things fall apart. Many founders form a deeply personal relationship with their company and come to self-identify with its success. When they can’t raise capital or are running out of runway, some experience what might feel like an “ego death.” At Palm Venture Studios we see founders grieve their original visions in real time. It’s the raw and vulnerable side of trying, building, failing, and starting over that we don’t often see posted on LinkedIn. That’s when Palm steps in. We provide startup leaders with the resources needed to pivot and grow—and we help them navigate the transformation of their business. It’s more than a fresh start: It’s a strong start with lessons learned and the right support to move forward. – Does this resonate with you? DM me. We’re here to talk.

Every successful founder has a story. Here’s one I’m proud of. From sleepless nights to the thrill of success, this is the journey of how I helped a startup founder close a $3M funding deal. I remember the first meeting with this founder—a driven individual with a brilliant idea but facing the daunting task of convincing investors. It wasn’t easy. The competition was fierce, and the market was skeptical. Together, we worked through countless drafts of the pitch deck, refining the business plan to highlight the real value, crafting the perfect narrative, and digging deep into the financials. Every revision brought us closer, but also uncovered new challenges. We faced rejections, tough questions, and moments of self-doubt. But we didn’t stop. We pivoted, strategized, and kept pushing forward with resilience and determination. And then came that pivotal moment—the investor call where everything finally clicked. The passion, the data, the vision—it all aligned. The $3M deal was signed, and the journey to scaling began. The emotional highs and lows were intense, but the victory was sweet. Being a part of this startup’s story was truly rewarding. What’s your biggest challenge in securing funding? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story. #startupsuccess #fundingjourney #pitchdeck #investmentstrategy #businessgrowth

Please STOP chasing funding without a plan. Credit to: Chris Tottman Original post below ⬇️⬇️⬇️ "Please STOP chasing funding without a plan. I see too many founders with big dreams but no fundamentals. If you want to raise capital, do this at each stage: 1. Pre-Seed: Focus on developing your MVP and proving technical feasibility 2. Seed: Validate product-market fit and establish early traction 3. Series A: Implement a scalable go-to-market strategy and grow your customer base 4. Series B: Expand your addressable market and optimize operations For example: → Conduct user testing to refine your MVP → Survey customers to identify key pain points → Hire experienced sales leaders to scale revenue → Invest in infrastructure to support rapid growth You will build a fundable startup by methodically decreasing risk at each stage rather than just chasing the next round. Do that consistently and watch your valuation soar. -- ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost it so your network can learn from it, too. And follow me, Chris Tottman, for more content like this. #BrainDumps 🧠 💩 // Brain Dump #40" _________ Streamline your hustle, scale with purpose. ⚙️ Follow Systems For Business for more content like this.