Cracking Investor Connections With David Rose

David Rose is the CEO of US Expansion Partners, a firm that helps European venture-backed tech companies expand into the US. With over 20 years of leadership experience, he has served as CEO three times and participated in five venture-backed startups, achieving four successful exits. David Rose has pitched at Google Demo Day, Silicon Valley Open Doors, and TechCrunch Disrupt. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School.

In this episode…

Raising venture capital is a daunting challenge, especially for founders outside major tech hubs like Silicon Valley. Many struggle to connect with the right investors, facing rejection after rejection, often without understanding why. How can entrepreneurs improve their chances of securing funding and avoid common pitfalls in the fundraising process?

David Rose, an experienced startup leader and investor, shares key strategies for targeting the right investors and making meaningful connections. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with an investor’s thesis, securing warm introductions through other founders, and refining the pitch to stand out in competitive funding environments. David also warns against tranche deals, which can leave startups vulnerable, and stresses the need for persistence, as it often takes hearing 100 no’s before receiving a term sheet.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews David Rose, CEO of US Expansion Partners, about how founders can successfully navigate the fundraising landscape. David shares insights on building investor relationships, overcoming geographic barriers, and leveraging pitch competitions. He also discusses the role of AI in streamlining outreach, lessons from bootstrapping after working in a Fortune 500, and why persistence is key to startup success.