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May 28, 2025 56 mins

Wes and Scott talk with VC Dan Levine about how developers can raise venture capital, what investors look for in early-stage startups, the realities of bootstrapping vs. fundraising, and why great ideas often start as simple side projects.

Show Notes

  • 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
  • 00:55 Dan’s background and career
  • 03:10 Is it common for tech investors to come from a tech background?
  • 04:40 How can developers raise money?
  • 08:35 What investors look for
  • 12:39 How much funding is enough?
  • 15:41 Are founders working with multiple investors?
  • 18:26 What can you use the money for?
  • 22:49 How much influence do investors have in the business?
  • 29:56 Brought to you by Sentry.io
  • 29:56 How involved are VCs in the business?
  • 34:22 How do you know a startup is in trouble—and what can you do about it?
  • 38:56 How much of the company do investors own?
  • 40:43 What’s the endgame for investors?
  • 44:02 How do acqui-hires work?
  • 46:29 Is the AI space a real opportunity or just hype?
  • 53:22 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

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