The Neo Club的动态

I always advise founders to "test the fundraise" before going to market.? Here's how to do it: ? Choose 5 investors to meet with a few weeks before you kick off your fundraise. They should be in your sweet spot, but not your top choices. ? Give your pitch. It serves as a practice run for you, but pay close attention to how the VCs respond. If they are leaning in, asking for data rooms and suggesting partner meetings, then your pitch is working. ? If the reaction is more of a lukewarm "let us know when you're raising," then there is likely something missing or not working in the pitch. Pay attention to the questions they ask. Figure out what pieces are missing or not working. Fix them before you go to market. ? Continue testing your pitch with your current investors (and other friendlies) until it clicks. It's like PMF, you'll know it when you see it - and you'll feel pull from VCs. I've seen founders (with incredible businesses!) skip this "testing phase" and go directly to meetings with their top 20 firms. They get strong interest, but no term sheet because the pitch isn't quite there. Then they have to go further down their target investor list, the raise takes longer and they end up with less options. Any other tips for founders on testing or pre-marketing ahead of a fundraise? Please share! ??

Last week, I shared with 80+ founders exactly how to fundraise successfully. DraperU Ventures continues to bring me back because I offer more than the standard pitch and fundraising advice. If you’re not closing your round, there’s a deeper issue. Often, it's due to a fundamental misalignment, miscommunication, or missing element in your business that immediately erodes investor confidence. Before you even touch a pitch deck, you need to resolve these gaps. My approach brings an investor’s lens to help founders refocus and make their businesses more attractive. Having a strong business is only the first step. Most founders lack a structured, streamlined process to actually fundraise. You can have a great company, but without a process to secure meetings, it won’t matter. If you want to close your round with a repeatable process that reduces stress, and decreases your time from open to close, DM me. Let’s work together. Aaliyah Barker Mohammad Mustafa Hassan

My queen of VC Kathryn O'Day hosted a fireside chat with Christine de Wendel this week & I am still trying to process all of the wisdom they both so graciously dropped on us. The biggest take aways for me--- 1. You can be a warm, relatable & * wildly * successful leader without being a jerk. 2. This can seem so cliche (but when someone who has a company approaching 20 million ARR says it you listen!!)---if you don't dream big you don't win big. Get back to the basics of dreaming! 3. Take up space & create a little magic wherever you go. Energy & belief in yourself is everything when building a business!!!! 4. You are never above a cold call or a cold visit when you really want that customer. Also special shout-out to Jacey Cadet (also in photo) who let me practice my really bad investor pitch to her in my early fundraising days & gave me feedback I still use to this day. ATL Ventures really knows how to put an all star team together ?? Happy Friday to all! I hope you spend time putting your Holiday decor out, resting & recharging so you can continue building something great next week! :)

#Entrepreneurs: one of the fundamentals of #fundraising is knowing how to tailor your pitch to different investors. Whether you’re presenting to angels, VCs, or friends and family, crafting multiple versions of your pitch ensures that your message resonates with each audience. A one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t cut it. ??Start by understanding who you’re speaking to, then adjust your tone and content accordingly.

A few months ago, a founder reached out to me with a simple request: “Can you introduce me to your investor network? We’re raising our next round.” On the surface, it seemed like a straightforward ask. But there was something off. This founder was asking for a warm intro without even taking the time to build a relationship. I remember thinking, “This is like asking for a favor from a stranger.” It doesn’t work that way. In the world of fundraising, relationships aren’t just handed out—they’re earned, nurtured, and developed over time. It’s like tending to a plant. You can’t expect it to bloom overnight without consistent care and attention. But here’s where many founders slip up. They think an intro is just a matter of sending a message, without realizing the groundwork that needs to be laid first. The relationship hasn’t been built, the trust hasn’t been established, and yet, they expect results. Think about it. If you were an investor, would you take a meeting with someone who was just a name on a screen? Or would you be more inclined to speak to someone who has consistently shown value, who’s kept you updated on their journey, and who you genuinely believe in? Warm intros aren’t just about knowing the right people—they’re about proving that you’re worth introducing in the first place.

5 Fundraising Hacks That Nobody Tells Founders By Vojta Rocek, Karol Lasota, Andreas Munk Holm and Moi How To Web 2024 ?? Fundraising is a sales process – Build your funnel and get into execution mode. ?? The story matters - VCs have cognitive overload and you have to cut through the noise and be memorable. ?? Signaling matters – VCs have FOMO and they talk (for better or worse). Use it to build momentum, but remember: trust is key. ?? It's a people business – VCs are backing you. ?? Best tip for a fundraising meeting: Be Yourself and Have fun! Let’s keep the tips/truths about fundraising coming! Cocoa ??, Underline Ventures, Inovo.vc and Presto Ventures ?? to Saul Levin

Exciting news! Vestd is proud to introduce?InVestd: Connect, Pitch, Grow?– a unique pitch event designed for founders, by founders. Everything we do at Vestd centres around transparency, purpose, and trust. After listening closely to our founder and investor communities, we’ve developed a pitch experience that prioritises real value over profit. There are no pay-to-play fees here – just an opportunity for founders to gain lasting skills, valuable insights, and actionable feedback to drive success well beyond the pitch. Our first event of the series spotlights underrepresented founders and connects them with a handpicked network of relevant and active investors. Know a founder or startup that should be involved? Tag them in the comments. To be in with a chance, register here -?https://lnkd.in/epHQsH-N

I'm incredibly excited to announce that my new website is up! When you get a minute, please check it out here: jorianhoover.com I had no idea how introspective the process of building a website would be. It forced me to think through what message I wanted to tell my audience, and more importantly, defined the impact the impact I want to create. Now more than ever, it's clear my goal is to help simplify the fundraising process for startup founders, equipping them to effectively navigate investor conversations and empowering them to properly cultivate their network. With the launch of the website, you'll start to see a bit more of me on Linkedin, sharing insights into common fundraising challenges and strategies to simplify the process. Let's build a community that equips and empowers one another. #StartupFundraising #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting

??Join Us for an Exclusive Webinar: "5 Must-Dos Before Meeting a VC"! We are excited to announce our upcoming webinar for anyone looking to navigate the thrilling world of venture capital. Whether you're pondering the idea of fundraising or are in the midst of preparing to meet with VCs, this session is for you! ?? ?? Date: 3 April 2024 ??Time: 2pm ET What you'll learn: - The importance of validating your market needs. - Key questions to ask yourself before raising money. - How to prepare your pitch deck to make a lasting impression. - Doing your homework on VCs: What they invest in and what they care about. - And finally, prepare yourself for the challenging yet rewarding journey of fundraising. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/dJbq6UDZ Looking forward to seeing you there!

?? Are you ready to transform your entrepreneurial aspirations into a thriving business venture? ???? In this post, I’ll video the proven strategies that have fueled my journey toward building a successful business from the ground up.