Tunde Adekeye’s Post

Community rounds give entrepreneurs a chance to raise capital from their earliest supporters, friends, family, and devoted customers. So, how can companies successfully execute a community round? It takes a lot more than your early traction, recurring revenue, product development, and customer satisfaction scores. Community rounds rely on entrepreneurs crafting inspiring stories to show why their earliest supporters should join them in the very difficult journey of building a startup. Because, unlike professional investors, investors in your community round want to support you for more reasons than earning a financial return. Investors want to feel aligned with their investment and understand the impact that your product has on your customers and the market. Entrepreneurs who communicate their stories effectively, have the best chance to raise capital from their communities. If you've tossed around the idea of letting your community invest in your company, but don't know where to start, reach out to us for a complimentary analysis of your company and fundraising options 📝

Too many great coaches are nervous to specify their target market — and yet the most successful coaches have it crystal clear in their mind’s eye exactly who they serve. Why? Think about the last time you bought anything. You purchased it to help with something specific — or to fulfill a specific need. The same is true about you as a coach — you are a solution to a specific set of problems… and that’s why people will pay you money. Ramit Sethi helps people who want to unlock their financial freedom. Russell Brunson helps entrepreneurs who want to build non-funded startups. Who do YOU serve? The easiest way to figure this out is to identify the overlap between… Who you WANT to serve. Who would WANT to be served by you. And who would pay you money to serve them. 

Be prepared to ask for help. Extract from: 15 Ways to Prepare for an Equity Fundraise, a journey with Amelia. In Amelia's fundraising narrative, she grapples with a pivotal truth – the strength of asking for help. Driven by the determination to secure funds for her tech startup, she recognizes the inherent challenge of attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades. Despite the often-praised trait of a founder's robust ego, she discerns that it's equally crucial to acknowledge one's limitations and seek support where needed. As a tech founder, Amelia evaluates her proficiencies. She questions whether she possesses expertise in diverse realms crucial for a successful #fundraising campaign – sales psychology, business #modelling, legal intricacies, networking dynamics, or #publicspeaking. This introspection prompts her to admit areas where she may lack mastery, leading her to be open to seeking help from those who specialize in those fields. Understanding that wearing multiple hats can spread her thin, Amelia learns to delegate tasks beyond her immediate expertise. For her, this isn't a sign of weakness but a pragmatic approach to fortify her startup's foundation. Whether enlisting the expertise of a sales consultant, consulting with a legal advisor, or seeking guidance from a networking #specialist, she ensures that each facet of her fundraising strategy benefits from specialized knowledge. Moreover, Amelia actively seeks mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs who've successfully navigated the complexities of fundraising. Their insights become vital, guiding her through the nuances of investor interactions, pitch refinement, and strategic decision-making. By embracing collaboration and understanding that seeking help is not only acceptable but advantageous. Amelia transforms potential stumbling blocks into stepping stones on her entrepreneurial #journey. This willingness to reach out enhances the resilience and adaptability of her fundraising strategy, underlining the idea that success often emerges from a collective effort. If you would like to be sent a PDF copy of the whitepaper in full, just ask. London Business School Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at London Business School, NATO - Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), Unrest EdenBase , Techstars London Y Combinator, UCL, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Columbia Business School, HKU Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School

🚨 My good friend Adam Marx's workshop, “Networks of Scale: How to Grow and Maintain Relationships,” is up for consideration at SXSW! If you’ve ever benefited from building strong relationships and networks, you understand first-hand the importance of sessions like these. It takes just a few minutes to cast your vote, and your support will help make this workshop a reality. Click the link below to vote, and let’s help Adam bring this impactful content to SXSW! https://lnkd.in/e6Dk3Rd2 #SXSW #Networking #Relationships

As a fellow tech entrepreneur, my 2 biggest takeaways? Yes, I am sharing them today with you all – because we've all faced those common hurdles in the tech industry. #1 You don't need to be a tech wizard yourself. It's about assembling the right team and steering projects in the right direction. And here's a little secret – asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. It's a sign that you're a smart, strategic thinker. The even better part? People are more than willing to help! Fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders have been in your shoes and are ready to offer guidance. It's like having a map through the tech jungle! #2 About raising funds, you don't always need a fortune. Take us, for example – SignaTech started with zero money! It's not just possible; it's doable! Knowledge, collaboration, and a sprinkle of creativity can take you a long way. 🔥 So, here's to breaking barriers, shattering ceilings, and thriving in the tech world! #techentrepreneurs #business 

A pro VDR is a fundraising MUST! and here's 5 reasons why: First of all, a VDR (virtual data room) is an online platform where you save all the due diligence documents for potential investors to examine. 📃 Think Google Docs, SharePoint, etc... I've seen a lot of founders put this off until investors start asking for it... No bueno! 💀❌ A professional VDR that's already in place will show potential investors: 1. You are professional ✅ 2. You are proactive. ✅ 3. You are organized. ✅ 4. You know what you are doing. ✅ 5. They can TRUST you with their hard-earned cash. ✅ ⁉ Have you ever made a VDR before? 📢 Comment "funding" to hear more from me about raising money for your startup. 💵 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔁 Repost to your network if you enjoyed it and follow Travis James Mathers, for more about fundraising, entrepreneurship, high performance, and reaching your full potential. #business #entrepreneurship #fundraising #coaching

Most founders think they have to choose: Make money Or make an impact When the pressure to scale kicks in, many start making trade-offs that chip away at their mission. For purpose-driven entrepreneurs, it’s even worse. They feel guilty—like chasing profits means abandoning their values. The real problem isn’t balancing profit and impact. It’s sustaining both at the same time. Too many mission-driven founders focus on the impact and let cash flow suffer. They rely on donations, grants, or models that grow way too slow. And over time? Their impact shrinks because they don’t have the resources to scale. Profit is necessary for impact. Without it, your mission becomes unsustainable, and your vision fades. So what’s the solution? Build a regenerative revenue model where profit and impact fuel each other. Think of it like a flywheel: Every dollar you make amplifies your ability to make a difference. Don’t separate profit and impact. Embed your mission into your business model. With purpose and impact, Mario

Making real money is way harder (and cooler) than spending someone else's. I spoke to five bootstrappers this morning. All five run service-based businesses. All five became profitable within 60 days of inception. Startup media barely speaks on service-based businesses because they don’t fit the mold of flashy, unprofitable tech plays. They get overlooked because they're actually sustainable. Thrive will not overlook them. I'm betting on these companies every day of the week. Because they've been solely focused on getting it right for the customer—and only that—since day one. That's what makes them different. John Kennelly and I are breaking down why we're bullish on the future of bootstrapping at 1 pm EST this Friday. If you think building a profitable company is as cool as we think it is—register below and join us. https://lnkd.in/eNje8XJm P.s: there's nothing wrong with raising capital, you can build your business however you want. I'll just always stand by the idea that bootstrapping is more impressive—those are the people I'm rocking with. 🙂

Most founders mistime their fundraising process And come across as needy and desperate to investors Sometimes it hurts me to hear stories from founders who get on a call with me Take a recent founder I spoke with. After years of pouring money into their startup.. And now with time running out, he finally decides to seek funding. But he's not ready to raise funding He has not derisked his business model His story is confusing and a complete mess And the data room is not even there And then the founder says "I'll continue this startup for 2-3 more months and either sell off the technology or completely close it" It's a scenario that plays out all too often.. A founder pours months or even years of their life into a startup.. They burn through cash like there's no tomorrow. Then, something unexpected happens.. Perhaps a flip of events in their personal life.. An accident, a newborn baby, revised mortgage payments And all of a sudden they don't have sufficient cash to keep the business running By the time they start the fundraising process, they're already on the back foot. They come across as needy and greedy Too desperate for money Here's the thing... Investors can spot desperation a mile away. And when you're desperate for cash, you lose all your bargaining power. It's a lose-lose situation. So, what's the solution? Start early. I can't stress this enough!! By taking a proactive approach to fundraising, you'll not only improve your chances of success but also regain control of the power dynamics. Investors want to back winners, not desperate pleas for cash. Fundraising starts from Day 1!

Here’s how Simon Squibb helps people grow their business! (and how you can grow yours too) What Simon does differently to help people turn their dreams into reality Instead of just investing, Simon uses this 3 step framework that makes his content standout from the rest! 1) A Powerful Video Format: Simon asks people → about their dreams → what they do → what’s holding them back. He then provides creative ideas, a step-by-step plan, and even startup funds to help bring their business to life. 2) Community > Views: Despite being homeless at 15, Simon focuses on giving back. He believes that helping others and sharing knowledge for free is invaluable, and it’s something that pays off no matter where you go in life. 3) Sustainable business funnel: Simon offers startup money to get projects going but funnels a percentage back into his company to keep his mission of helping 10 million people kickstart their businesses sustainable. The lesson? → Building a business is about more than just making money. →Focus on building a community. → Create a sustainable system that supports both growth and impact. ♻️ Share this with your network to inspire others. Follow me (Faizan Siddiqui) for more.