Investor Connect Podcast

How To Get Your Investor To Help With Sales

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

Investors can help their funded startup in many ways.

In addition to making introductions to other investors, they can also help with sales.

Here are some key steps on how to get your investor to help your sta...

How To Position Your Bridge Raise

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

In raising funding, bridge rounds fill the gap between the stage raises.

Startups use bridge raises for many reasons, such as preparing for the next round, increasing the runway, or covering a gap left by an unexpected event.

How To Start Angel Investing

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

First-time investors often wonder where to begin in angel investing.

Some join angel groups or syndicate funds.

Others start looking for deals to invest in.

Either way, here are some key steps to start angel inv...

Win, Expand, Extend in Vertical SaaS

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

In a vertical SaaS business model, there’s a strategy for growth called Win, Expand, and Extend.

In this model, the startup wins its initial customer application.

From there, the business expands into other areas of ...

More Control Points in Vertical SaaS

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

Vertical SaaS is a great business model for startups to use.

It focuses the product on one specific sector.

This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more.

A contr...

On this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Dr. Guy Cooper, MD, an orthopedic surgeon by training, who discusses his company's breakthrough treatment for bladder cancer, the world's most expensive cancer. Dr. Cooper explains that his company, Combat Medical, is seeking $2.3 million to close a $5 million investment round to further their innovative approach that utilizes heated chemotherapy. This method enhances the drug's effec...

Control Points in Vertical SaaS

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

Vertical SaaS is a great business model for startups to use.

It focuses the product on one specific sector.

This brings many advantages in funding, competition, application development, and more.

A control po...

Why Invest in Vertical SaaS

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

Vertical SaaS is a venture sector in the tech space.

It narrows the scope of the startup to a single application.

Vertical SaaS has many advantages as follows:

It’s easier to position in the market and message to...

Raising an Inside Round

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

Most startup fundraisers seek capital from outside investors who are new to the round.

This brings new investors into the cap table.

There are rounds in which the existing investors fund the startup.

This is often do...

Using Rule 701 To Issue Equity to Employees

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

In a startup, it’s helpful to compensate employees with company stock.

Most companies use stock options.

Rule 701 gives the startup the ability to issue equity to its employees.

This works even if...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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, ...

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...