Raising a $1.75M pre-seed while navigating pregnancy and motherhood with Amy Kiska of Recess | Inside the Round

In this conversation, Amy Kiska, co-founder of Recess, shares her journey of building a startup while navigating the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood. She discusses the importance of identifying market needs, the dynamics of co-founding, and the intricacies of fundraising. Amy emphasizes the significance of building a targeted investor database and leveraging warm introductions to secure funding. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of venture capital and the lessons learned from their fundraising experience. 

The speaker shares insights on the importance of a well-prepared data room for investors, the significance of extensive market research, and the unique challenges faced by female founders, particularly during pregnancy. The discussion also covers the dynamics of investor relationships, the acceleration of business post-funding, and practical advice for early-stage founders. The speaker emphasizes the need for resilience and the importance of maintaining emotional and physical health throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Takeaways:
- Building a startup can happen during challenging times.
- Identifying a market need is crucial for success.
- Co-founder dynamics can significantly impact a startup's journey.
- Fundraising requires extensive research and preparation.
- Creating a targeted investor database is essential.
- Warm introductions can greatly enhance fundraising efforts.
- Pre-seed funding expectations have evolved over time.
- Launching a beta product can create momentum in fundraising.
- Persistence is key in the fundraising process. The data room is crucial for telling your company story.
- Raising funds is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
- Building a beta site can demonstrate traction to investors.
- Every interaction with investors is an opportunity to build relationships.
- Maintaining a strong support system is vital for founders.
- User feedback is essential for product development.
- Balancing personal life and business is a continuous journey.

Chapters:
00:00 The Birth of Recess: A Founder’s Journey
02:58 Identifying Market Needs and Building Solutions
05:49 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics
08:52 The Fundraising Landscape: Insights and Strategies
12:13 Building an Investor Database: The Key to Success
15:04 The Importance of Warm Intros and Networking
17:50 Lessons Learned from Fundraising Experiences
21:48 Crafting the Perfect Data Room
24:52 Understanding Market Research and Validation
26:45 The Journey of a Pregnant Founder
30:05 Navigating Investor Relationships
33:05 Post-Funding Acceleration
36:25 Building Relationships with Investors
37:22 Advice for Early-Stage Founders
39:37 Maintaining Balance in the Startup Journey

Find Amy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykiska/

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