Investor Connect: Larry Uhl of Pasadena Angels
In this episode, Hall welcomes Larry Uhl, a Vice Chairman of the Pasadena Angels. The Pasadena Angels were founded in 2000 and are one of the longest-running angel investing groups in Southern California. Their mission is to create a unique investment community of successful business and professional leaders helping to…
It’s Show, Not Tell
There's an old saying: If you tell me, it's an essay. If you show me, it's a story. In raising funding you have to show, not just tell. Forecasting alone doesn't close the round. You must demonstrate progress towards it. Never show up to an investor meeting or call without…
Investor Connect: Trey Addison of Nascent Group Holdings
In this episode, Hall welcomes Trey Addison, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Nascent Group Holdings (NGH). Nascent Group Holdings is a Columbus, Ohio-based, hybrid, private equity and venture capital firm that invests in the Midwest's most promising game-changers. Since 2016, NGH has operated with a vision to help people and…
How Long Will It Take to Raise Funding?
I'm often asked how long it will take to raise a round of funding. It will take you one calendar year for every million dollars you are raising, that's if you are working on it full-time. If you are part-time, then it will take longer. You'll need approximately two months…
Raising Funding Is Hard
Raising a fund is hard. Aside from sales, this is one of the hardest things to do in a startup. Here are a few points to remember in your fundraise: - Build relationships first and find investors second. - Divide your raise into tranches and give yourself a reasonable timeline…
Investor Connect: Kevin Keck of J.J. Pfister Distilling Company
In this episode, Hall welcomes Kevin Keck, President of J.J. Pfister Distilling Company. With its headquarters in Sacramento, California, J. J. Pfister is a fast-growing premium craft spirit producer in Sacramento that produces top-quality spirits. The company has been well established and has incredibly effective sales and marketing strategies. The…
How to Pitch to Family and Friends
If you are pitching to a close friend or family member, you can use an informal approach to ask them for money. Explain what your startup does in just a sentence or two, and tell the story of how you came up with the idea. Keep it brief. Describe how…
Investor Connect: David Bach, MD, of Optios
In this episode, Hall welcomes David Bach, MD, CEO and Founder of Optios. Optios is a leader in the rapidly-emerging neuro-performance industry. Based on more than a decade of work at DARPA, hundreds-of-millions of dollars of proprietary research, and close partnerships with the world's most elite organizations, Optios' guiding mission…
The CEO Should Pitch the Investor
I often see CFOs and board members give the investor pitch instead of the CEO. In an emergency this is okay, but by and large, the CEO should be giving the pitch. The investors want to size up the CEO and know who is running the business. I find the…
