Most angel investors focus on one of two strategies. They can be called Moneyball and Powerball. The Moneyball strategy invests the same amount of money in each deal. Each sector gets one investment. There are no follow-on rounds. Funds are considered in addition to startups. The powerball strategy invests a…

The key to a successful pitch is to articulate all the values in the deal. This doesn’t mean explaining how the product works in great detail This also doesn’t mean spending half your allotted pitch time trying to convince the audience that diabetes is a problem. It does mean, however,…

In launching a startup, consider adding a consulting program. New products and services often require additional training and services to help the customer achieve success. Over time, the product improves to the point that the customer can install and run it on their own. In the early days, use consulting…

Artificial intelligence brings a new type of startup to the investor for funding. Here is how to evaluate AI startups for investment. Market opportunity. For new applications that have never been done before, AI offers a greenfield opportunity. Estimate the current size of the target market and the value of…

Fundraising can be challenging both mentally and emotionally. Before launching your fundraiser, build your support network. In addition to building your investment documents, put in place people who can support you. Here’s a list of support to consider: Advisors — identify two to three people who can advise about fundraising….

Launching a startup is hard work. It takes time to build up the revenue to pay a living wage to the founders. So how does a founder pay the bills while launching a startup? Here’s one solution: Provide consulting and training services in the domain of the startup you are…

Founders who have raised funding should give their investors regular updates. Here’s the value of regular updates to the investor: It reminds the investor what you do and what progress you have made. This becomes useful later when the founder goes to raise the next round. It maintains the relationship…

Startups raise funding outside of family and friends after they have a product with some revenue. Founders who have a track record of building and selling startups can raise on an idea. Everyone else must validate the business before investors will consider funding it. Pre-selling the product is one path…

In launching a startup, the first goal is to generate revenue. Salaries come later and in some cases much later. Some founders look to the startup as a source of income. Fundraising from investors is not the answer to the salary question. Investors will not fund a startup that can’t…

Fundraising requires a set of skills. Those skills can be found in other areas. Here’s a list of skills and where to find them: Sales. Fundraising is fundamentally a sales process. One can transfer selling skills to fundraising. Marketing. Fundraising requires the ability to reach out to the investors to…

There are many valid reasons for raising funding. Here’s a list of reasons to consider for your fundraiser: The business is growing and is now ready to scale. It can be hard to bootstrap a scaling effort. There’s a clear need for a minimum viable product to establish the product…

Some startups seem to raise funding quickly and with great ease. The press coverage of startups often leads the reader to believe that the round closed in a short amount of time. In most cases, the startup spent substantial time planning and then campaigning to raise the funding.   It appeared…

Raising funding for a unicorn seems like a mystical art. The funding rounds are outsized compared to the norm. Here are the key components to raising funding to be a unicorn: The team has exits. If your team doesn’t have a history of successful startups, then build out your team…

Before launching a fundraiser, the founder should first develop a fundraising strategy. This is the plan for how to prepare and then launch a fundraiser campaign. Here are the key components of a fundraising strategy: Identify the problem to solve and ensure it is a substantial problem that will attract…

Startup investors look for revenue traction and momentum in the deal. Those with an idea only can struggle to raise funding, but it can be done.  Here are some key points to consider: Focus on the team, the problem, and the size of the market. Show the strength of the…

In startup fundraising, the discussion focuses on what the investor is looking for. This often comes down to a strong team, traction with the customer, a product with a moat, and momentum in the deal. A key component in raising funding is building a relationship with the investor. There are…

What Investors Are Looking for in Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors funding startups look for key factors that point to the success of the…

Sales for a Biotherapeutic Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a tech startup, the customer is the one who buys the product. In a biotherapeutic startup, the…

Tools for Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before launching a fundraising campaign, set up the tools you’ll need. Here’s a list of key tools to support…

The Four T’s of Startup Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many ways to evaluate a startup. For investors funding SaaS startups, here are the four…

How To Pitch in a Down Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Down markets change the care abouts of the investor. The investor wants to know whether the business…

Prepping Your Website and Social Media for Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before launching a fundraiser campaign, make sure your website and social media…

Startup Metrics in a Down Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In an upmarket, startup metrics focus on growth rates, cost of customer acquisition, and scalability…

How To Tell When the Startup Doesn’t Have Anything Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups raising funding should bring customer engagement, if not traction, to…

LP Investing Mistakes Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Limited partners are referred to as LPs.  They invest in venture capital funds. Just as angel investors…

Tips for the Startup Financial Pro Forma Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Part of the fundraising documentation is the financial pro forma. Investors want to know what…

Mistakes VCs Make Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture capitalists make mistakes just like every other investor. Here’s a list of mistakes VCs make: Not…

The Dark Side of Venture Capital Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. While venture capital brings many benefits to the startup ecosystem, it also has drawbacks. Here’s…

The Introductory Version of the Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. For the first pitch to an investor, build an introductory pitch deck. The introductory…

The Role of Venture Capital Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture capital brings innovation and growth to many industries. The VC model provides funding to startups…

Key Factors Investors Use To Evaluate a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors review the startup founder’s pitch to determine if it’s worth pursuing or…

How To Organize Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the key communication tool in startup fundraising. Here are the key steps on  how to…

Start With a Fractional CTO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In launching a startup, the watchword is minimal. Minimum fund raise, minimum team, minimum viable…

The Benefit of Short-Term Returns Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup investing, many investors swing for the fences.   The goal is to make each…

When the Investor Won’t Sign an NDA Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. During the diligence phase, startups may ask investors to sign an NDA. If the information is…

It’s Not Your Fault, but It Is Your Responsibility Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, the ultimate responsibility lies with the CEO. The CEO must know…

Always Have a Customer Update 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 show progress with customers. In each interaction with an…

Ideal Size of a Due Diligence Team Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Due diligence works best when it’s a shared endeavor. It can take a substantial amount of time to…

Good Design Techniques for the Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the primary tool in fundraising. It’s important to develop a pitch deck…

How To 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 recurring revenue business that focuses on a specific application or a narrow…

Advisor Shares Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders can find additional support through advisors. Advisors are typically experienced operators who…

Impact of VC on the Entrepreneur Ecosystem Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture capital plays a key role in entrepreneur ecosystems. The VC sits at the nexus of…

How To Write Concise Investor Updates Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders should keep their investors up to date on the business.  Investor updates on a…

The Challenge With Solo-Founder Startups Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many investors avoid investing in startups with a solo founder. Here are some reasons why:…

Incentives for Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Closing the fundraiser can sometimes be a challenge. In down markets and uncertain economic conditions,…

How To Answer Questions You Don’t Know Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors ask many questions of startup founders. Founders should know their business and, in…

How To Perform Technical Due Diligence Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors perform diligence on a startup before investing. Most of the diligence focuses on the…

Benefits of Family Office Funding Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Family offices bring many benefits over other investor types as a funding source. Here’s a list of…

How To Hone Your Deal Selection Process Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors funding startups go through a great number of deals to find the ones to fund. The…

The KISS Note Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. KISS in the startup world stands for Keep It Simple Security. It’s similar to a convertible note. Here are the…

Under Promise, Over Deliver Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, the startup founder should underpromise and overdeliver to the investor. Here are some key…

How To Use Framing in Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching investors, framing can be used to position the startup as a successful business. Framing…

The Myths of Biotech Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Biotech investing differs from tech investing. There’s often no revenue traction to assess. The…

How To Close a Strategic Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Strategic investors are large companies that use startup investments to further their business…

Tips on How To Follow Up Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, investor follow-up is the critical work of the campaign. Timeliness is a key factor. Each…

Best Practices in Raising a microVC Fund Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising a microVC fund, consider the following: It takes 12 to 18 months to raise an…

Investors Want To Know How the Business Will Be Successful Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most first-time startups pitch their product to the investor rather than…

What LPs Look for in First-Time Fundraisers Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Limited Partners investing in venture capital funds are similar to startups raising funds…

How To Perform Investor Diligence Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders raising funding should ask as many questions of the investor as the investor asks…

The Cost of a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising will take time and money to complete. For the early stage, it’s primarily the time spent. …

Trigger Words To Show a Value Proposition Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors look for the startup’s value proposition to make an investment decision. In…

Taking VC Funding Means Taking the VC’s Business Model Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In taking venture funding, the startup is also taking the VC’s business…

Show How Your Startup Is Scalable Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many startup fundraising pitches focus on the product.  It’s important for the investor to…

Key Elements of a Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to bring the investor up to speed on the deal in a short amount of time….

How To Make a Persuasive Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The goal of the pitch is to persuade investors to support your startup. Here are some key techniques to…

Personalizing Investor Email Outreach Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Email outreach is a key component of fundraising. It’s an efficient way to reach out to…

Sharing Your Pitchdeck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pitch deck is the initial document investors want to see. It’s important to have your pitch deck ready to…

Signs an Investor Is Not Interested in Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching for funding, look for signs of interest from the investor. Here’s a…

Common Mistakes in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Successful fundraising comes from preparation, focus, and experience. Here are some common mistakes…

Key Elements of a Successful Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising takes time, effort, and attention. The startup founder faces many demands from the…

Key Duties of the CFO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The CFO plays a key role in the early stages of the startup. Here are the key duties of the CFO: The CFO…

Feedback From VCs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors hear many pitches and often give feedback to the startup. Some investors avoid giving feedback for the…

Negotiating Valuation With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The valuation is a negotiation, not a formula. Startup founders negotiating valuation should…

Founder Experience and Traction Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, there are two key drivers to how much a startup can ask for funding. The first is…

Customize the Pitch for the Investor Type Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many types of investors. Founders should customize the pitch for the investor…

Build a Relationship With the Investor 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 build a relationship with the investor. Upfront, the…

Make Sure the Convertible Note Has a Conversion Point Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Convertible notes are useful tools for fundraising. They are easy to set up and…

Talk to Investors As if They Were Already Partners Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. First-time founders often spend their pitch time selling their product. This fails…

Key Steps to FDA Approval for a Therapeutic Drug Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. FDA approval is a lengthy and involved process with therapeutic drugs that startups…

Preparing for a Crowdfunding Raise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Crowdfunding is a viable method for raising funding for a startup. Here are some key considerations…

Key Metrics by Stage Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors use metrics to understand the performance of the startup. Here’s a list of key metrics by stage:…

How To Make Your Pitch Deck Look Professional Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There’s a big difference between an average pitch deck and a great one. The great…

The Key Component to Investor Updates Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Updates to investors throughout the fundraise campaign are a must. Investors want to know you…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

Researching Investors for Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before launching your fundraiser campaign, make sure to research your investor prospects….