The Eardlier Bird Newsletter

Weekly Tips & Insights for Professional Business Leaders Looking to Grow Their Organisation

Have you ever thought about going through a funding round? Maybe you're considering it, or even in the middle of one right now. I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have a clue where to start. But Andreea Daly, with her experience founding Money Squirrel, has been through it and knows what works. In this week’s episode of The Eardley Bird Business Podcast, she shares the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Andreea spoke with real intent and had some brilliant insights. Let’s dive into them together.

Who are Money Squirrel?

The best way I’d describe Money Squirrel is that it’s like your own finance sidekick, scurrying through the chaos of small business cash flow to stash away funds for VAT, taxes, and savings. This clever little birdy (or critter) will take care of any money mess so you can focus on building your business. The mix of her open-banking tech and down-to-earth approach is a winning combination and a worthy asset to invest in.

Key Takeaways

“Start by tapping into your network! ask for warm intros or connections to people who might help, even if they’re a few degrees away. You never know who someone you know might be connected to. This approach opens doors far faster than relying on a polished pitch deck for cold outreach.” - Andreea

Never assume who can or can’t help you on your journey. Andreea told me she met one of her investors by accident—at a cheese evening, of all places! It’s a perfect example of why you need to stay open to opportunities. The more proactive you are, the more doors you’ll open. Say yes to events, start conversations, and make those connections—because you never know where they might lead.

“It doesn't matter how many articles you read or how many people you talk to. I don't think anything quite prepares you for (funding a start up)...it's not enough to say you'll get a lot of rejections.” - Andreea

She’s right. Reading about the grind and experiencing it are two completely different things. Raising capital isn’t just about having a great idea, it’s about resilience. You’re going to hear “no” more times than you can count, and nothing even more! but each rejection is data. It’s an insight into what investors are looking for, where your pitch can improve, and how you can refine your strategy.

“A tip I would give to people looking to get into a start-up is lean into your strengths and your personality. Trust is built up much faster by them when they see the real you and that you're not trying hard to be something that you're not.” - Andreea

And that’s the thing, when people invest in a company, they’re not just investing in a product or a business plan. They’re investing in a mission, a vision, and, most importantly, the person behind it. Investors, customers, and partners want to see passion, not a rehearsed sales pitch. They want to believe that you’re all in, that your excitement for what you’re building is genuine because if you don’t believe in it, why should they?

Oli’s Insight

I thought this episode was brilliant. Having Andreea share her insights on best practices for developing a start-up and raising capital was great. Hopefully, this conversation gives other ambitious founders the guidance and confidence to navigate the challenges ahead.

Anyways, thanks for reading again. I appreciate all the support. Here’s the link to last week's newsletter if you want to check it out.

Make sure to join us next week when we will dive into some talking points from my time with Anders Kursten, CEO of Fraser Yachts. Anders shares his journey from a love for boating in Finland to leading one of the largest yacht brokerages in the world. He discusses the core values of Fraser Yachts, the unique characteristics of the superyacht market, and the importance of trust in client relationships. This will be a great watch for any service-based business looking to incorporate and gain insights into the levels of service and dedication required to work with high-value clients. The episode goes live Thursday at 6:00 am across Spotify & Youtube, just in time to accompany you on your work commute.

See you then!