Investor Connect Podcast

How To Prepare for a Valuation Negotiation

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Valuation is a negotiation, not a formula.

Before negotiating valuation with the investor, prepare for the discussion.

Consider these points of preparation:

Know the current market and what other c...

Phrases To Remove From Your Pitch

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are certain phrases used in startup pitches that kill the credibility of the presenter.

Here's a list of phrases to remove from your pitch:

"We have no competition."

If you have no competition, then y...

Angel Investing Strategies

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Most angel investors focus on one of two strategies.

They can be called Moneyball and Powerball.

The Moneyball strategy invests the same amount of money in each deal.

Each sector gets one investment.

...

Say It Out Loud With Words

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The key to a successful pitch is to articulate all the values in the deal.

This doesn't mean explaining how the product works in great detail

This also doesn't mean spending half your allotted pitch time trying to convince the...

Add Consulting to Your Startup Launch

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In launching a startup, consider adding a consulting program.

New products and services often require additional training and services to help the customer achieve success.

Over time, the product improves to the poi...

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin speaks with Iga Hallberg, Business Development Lead at EV Realty, which develops, deploys, and operates grid-ready charging hubs for commercial fleets. The discussion encompasses Hallberg's extensive experience in electrification and renewable energy, focusing on the creation of sophisticated commercial vehicle charging hubs. Backed by significant private equity investments, EV Realt...

How To Evaluate AI Startups for Investment

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Artificial intelligence brings a new type of startup to the investor for funding.

Here is how to evaluate AI startups for investment.

Market opportunity.

For new applications that have never been d...

Build Your Support Network Before Fundraising

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Fundraising can be challenging both mentally and emotionally.

Before launching your fundraiser, build your support network.

In addition to building your investment documents, put in place people who can supp...

How To Pay the Bills While Launching a Startup

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Launching a startup is hard work.

It takes time to build up the revenue to pay a living wage to the founders.

So how does a founder pay the bills while launching a startup?

Here's one solution:

The Value of Regular Investor Updates

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Founders who have raised funding should give their investors regular updates.

Here's the value of regular updates to the investor:

It reminds the investor what you do and what progress you have made.

Th...

Pre-Sell Your Product To Raise Funding

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Startups raise funding outside of family and friends after they have a product with some revenue.

Founders who have a track record of building and selling startups can raise on an idea.

Everyone else must validate ...

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin sits down with Brett Striker, founder of Traction with Brett and a certified implementer of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Brett shares his journey from building and selling two companies to helping other leaders gain traction in their businesses through EOS. He delves into the challenges founders face in scaling operations and how the EOS framework addresses these is...

Revenue First, Salaries Second

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In launching a startup, the first goal is to generate revenue.

Salaries come later and in some cases much later.

Some founders look to the startup as a source of income.

Fundraising from investors is not the a...

Drawing Fundraising Skills From Other Areas

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Fundraising requires a set of skills.

Those skills can be found in other areas.

Here's a list of skills and where to find them:

Sales.

Fundraising is fundamentally a sales process.

Valid Reasons for Raising Funding

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are many valid reasons for raising funding.

Here's a list of reasons to consider for your fundraiser:

The business is growing and is now ready to scale.

It can be hard to bootstrap a scaling effort.

Why Do Some Startups Raise Funding Quickly?

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Some startups seem to raise funding quickly and with great ease.

The press coverage of startups often leads the reader to believe that the round closed in a short amount of time.

In most cases, the startup spe...

Raising Funding To Be a Unicorn

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Raising funding for a unicorn seems like a mystical art.

The funding rounds are outsized compared to the norm.

Here are the key components to raising funding to be a unicorn:

The team has exits.

...

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin engages in a compelling conversation with Courtland Imel, a regulatory executive consultant and founder of Ceutical Labs. With over 24 years of experience in FDA compliance, Courtland shares his journey of aiding companies in remaining compliant and the industry's shift towards individualized medicine in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. 

The discussion also touches on the i...

Key Components of a Fundraising Strategy

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Before launching a fundraiser, the founder should first develop a fundraising strategy.

This is the plan for how to prepare and then launch a fundraiser campaign.

Here are the key components of a fundraising stra...