Investor Connect Podcast
Hall T Martin interviews angel and venture capital investors on how they invest and talks with CEOs who discuss their sector and what to look for. Hall T Martin also leads the Startup Funding Espresso series in which you can learn about startup funding and investing in the time it takes to have an espresso. https://investorconnect.org/
Episodes
July 14, 2025 • 2 mins
Create a Sense of Urgency
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In running a fundraiser, it’s important to build a sense of urgency into the campaign.
Here are some key steps to create that sense of urgency:
Break your fundraising into smaller rounds or tranches.
Demonstrate th...
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July 11, 2025 • 23 mins
On this episode of Investor Connect, we are joined by Ron from South Highland Ventures for an enlightening presentation on search funds, touted as the best-performing asset class in the world. Ron dives deep into the 40-year-old model initially developed by Stanford and Harvard, highlighting its relevance and success today in addressing the $10 trillion succession challenge faced by businesses globally. He emphasizes the robust ret...
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July 11, 2025 • 2 mins
The Role of AI and Data in Fundraising
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Startup fundraising begins with family and friends and then expands to the founders' network.
In that part of the fundraising, founders will engage those they know well.
Half the reason these investors join the rou...
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July 10, 2025 • 1 min
Bring Three Stats for Your Startup Fundraising
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In raising funding, it’s important to showcase the key numbers behind your business.
Here are three statistics for your startup fundraise:
Revenue traction -- show what traction you have so far including th...
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July 9, 2025 • 2 mins
Bring Three Stats for Your LP Fundraise
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Raising funds from Limited Partners requires a track record, an investment thesis, and a competitive advantage.
It’s important to show you have a track record of successfully deploying capital.
Investors want to k...
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July 8, 2025 • 2 mins
Raising Funding in Downtimes
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Fundraising goes through the same cycles as the stock market,
When the stock market is going up it’s easier to raise funding.
When it’s going down it’s harder.
Raising funding in down times requires more creativ...
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July 7, 2025 • 2 mins
Show How Your Valuation Is Already Achieved
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Valuation is a key factor in a startup's fundraising.
Most startups show an aspirational valuation and then spend the pitch trying to convince investors it’s appropriate.
Most use their forecasted revenues to ...
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In this episode of Investor Connect, we sit down with Ram Kolluri, Founder and Chief Investment Strategist at Expo-Wealth based in Austin, Texas. Ram shares his insights on navigating today’s wealth management landscape and how he's helping high-net-worth individuals access institutional-grade strategies. We talk about balancing traditional portfolio construction with exposure to private markets, ...
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July 4, 2025 • 2 mins
The Four Phases of a Pitch
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
The successful startup pitch goes through four phases.
Start by capturing their imagination.
This could be a bold statement, such as we can solve cancer within ten years.
This sets the context for the problem to b...
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July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
Researching Investors for Your Fundraise
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Before launching your fundraiser campaign, make sure to research your investor prospects.
Start with those who invest in your startup stage and sector.
It’s pointless to reach out to investors who have an investm...
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July 2, 2025 • 2 mins
Fundraising Tips
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Most founders are raising funding for the first time.
They often miss the nuances that come from experience.
For the second go-around, founders are often much smarter about the process.
Here are some fundraising tips from t...
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July 1, 2025 • 1 min
Conversion of a Convertible Note
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
There are three ways a Convertible Note converts to equity.
The note matures and converts to equity on the maturity date.
The startup raises a follow-on funding round in equity that counts as qualified funding.
Read more
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June 30, 2025 • 2 mins
How a VC Fund May Shut Down Early
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles.
There are some conditions in which the VC fund may shut down early.
Here’s a list of reasons:
Key persons -- the Limited Partners invested in a fund t...
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June 27, 2025 • 11 mins
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June 27, 2025 • 2 mins
Lifecycle of the VC Fund
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles.
At a high level, the VC fund takes in capital from the Limited Partners and deploys the first half of the funds in years 1 to 3.
The follow-on rounds are deployed in years ...
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June 26, 2025 • 2 mins
How To Answer “What’s Your Timeline?”
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Investors often ask startups raising funding, “What’s your timeline?”
They want to know if the process is so far along that it’s too late for them to join.
They have limited resources and can’t afford to chase a dea...
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June 25, 2025 • 2 mins
How To Optimize for Efficiency
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In startup fundraising, capital efficiency is a key criteria for investors.
They look to see how efficiently the startup uses capital.
This most often shows up in revenue per employee, cash burn rates, and use of funds.
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June 24, 2025 • 2 mins
Choosing an AI Model for Your Startup
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is becoming a standard part of every startup's business.
It can be used to improve the startup's operations.
And it can also be used to enhance the startup’s product line.
Read more
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June 23, 2025 • 1 min
The Burn Multiple
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
The burn rate is a key metric for high-growth startups.
This is the amount of cash being spent over and above the cash revenue taken in.
The Burn Multiple is the amount of cash being burned divided by the net revenue.
This...
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June 20, 2025 • 21 mins
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Lance Tkach, Co-Founder of Printed Technologies. Located in Dallas, Texas, Printed Technologies is leading the charge to revolutionize the home construction industry through the integration of automation, AI, and large-scale 3D printing. With the U.S. facing a shortage of over 7 million affordable homes and traditi...
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