Investor Connect Podcast
Hall T Martin interviews angel and venture capital investors on how they invest and talks with CEOs who discuss their sector and what to look for. Hall T Martin also leads the Startup Funding Espresso series in which you can learn about startup funding and investing in the time it takes to have an espresso.
Episodes
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Build a Better Product
How To Build a Better Product Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Having a better product than the competition is no guarantee of success, but it does help with your fundraise. Here's how to build a better product: First, understand the customer and the work they must do. Know the overall process flow and how the cust
Investor Connect 891: Building Stronger Networks in Venture Capital with Sophie Winwood
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Sophie Winwood, venture capital investor, ecosystem builder, and co-founder of UnlockVC. Based in the UK, UnlockVC is a global community supporting women in venture capital and connecting investors across Europe and the U.S. Sophie has spent the past seven years in venture capital, including investing at Anthemus with a focus on early-stage compan
Startup Funding Espresso – Startups Fail for Many Reasons
Startups Fail for Many Reasons Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups fail for many reasons. Here's a list of the more common ones: Ran out of cash. This is the most common reason of all. Could not raise additional funding. Lost too much business to the competition. Did not generate enough revenue to make the bu
Startup Funding Espresso – The Challenge of Angel Investing
The Challenge of Angel Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angel investing can be a rewarding experience, providing not only investment returns but also making the world a better place. It also comes with challenges. Here is the challenge of angel investing: There's a small number of investable startups. The
Startup Funding Espresso – What Are the Odds?
What Are the Odds? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Early-stage investments require follow-on funding to reach a substantial size, providing a return to the investors that justifies the risk. Here are the odds that a startup will raise its next round of funding. After the first round, about half go on to raise a se
Startup Funding Espresso – Evaluating the Team
Evaluating the Team Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In startup investing, the team is the most important factor pointing to success or failure. Here are some key steps in evaluating the team for your startup investment. Look for examples of execution on the current startup. Execution trumps the idea. If there's no
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Close a Soft Commitment
How To Close a Soft Commitment Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding often ask for general interest first with no commitment. A soft commitment is an interest from an investor just short of a commitment. Investors use this to maintain the dialog with the founder as they learn more about the deal
Investor Connect 890: Digital Twins, AI Guardrails, and the Hidden "Iceberg" Costs of Industrial Deployment with Hemanth Sheelvant
In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Hemanth Sheelvant, who currently works in manufacturing consulting with Bosch Manufacturing Co-Intelligence. He discusses how digital twins and AI are reshaping industrial operations—and why even well-funded projects still fail. Hemanth explains the "iceberg problem" in enterprise and AI deployments, where teams focus on the visible technology while
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Expand Product Sales
How To Expand Product Sales Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups raising funding must show a growth story. The best growth story is a revenue curve going up and to the right at a 45-degree angle. For venture, the growth curve must be at least 50% year over year. Here are some key steps to take to expand sales:
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Calculate Burn Rate
How To Calculate Burn Rate Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Burn rate is a key metric investors use to check the health of a startup. Based on the burn rate and cash in the bank, one can calculate how much time the startup has. Here's how to calculate burn rate. Use incoming cash as the first data point. It's a mis
Startup Funding Espresso – How to Diligence a Crowdfunding Deal
How to Diligence a Crowdfunding Deal Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angel investors are familiar with startups raising funding who come through their normal channels. Deals are often submitted on their software platform or referred by a trusted source. In the world of crowdfunding, startups come through a new com
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Be a Good Startup Investor
How To Be a Good Startup Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup investors not only provide capital but also ongoing support to the startup. Here are some key steps to be a good startup investor: Research the market and provide actionable recommendations to the team about customers to pursue. Provide ongo
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Make Your Pitch More Engaging
How To Make Your Pitch More Engaging Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding must capture the attention of the investor. Here are some key steps on how to make the pitch more engaging: Include market research to validate the problem to be solved. This touches on the target market, the competition,
Investor Connect 889: Deep Tech Investing Outside Silicon Valley with Dave Blivin of Cottonwood Technology Fund
In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Dave Blivin, founder and managing director of Cottonwood Technology Fund, who shares how he invests at the intersection of science, capital, and commercialization to turn hard technologies into real companies. Dave explains Cottonwood's focus on early-stage deep tech across areas such as photonics, advanced materials, sensors, med tech, energy, robot
Startup Funding Espresso – It Takes a Process
It Takes a Process Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors looking to invest in a startup often look at the revenue as a sign of traction. In the very early stages, the presence or absence of revenue indicates the fundability of a company. As the company grows, one can look at the growth rate as a sign of tracti
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Get Your Fundraise Started
How To Get Your Fundraise Started Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Starting a fundraise can be a daunting task for the first-time founder. Here are some key steps on how to get your fundraise started. Research the market by talking with other founders who are raising funding. Check the current climate for fundraisi
Startup Funding Espresso – Return on Mission
Return on Mission Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups generate a return on investment for their investors by measuring how much their business generated funds returned compared to investment. For the impact space, one can calculate the return on mission. Here is how to measure the return on mission for your i
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Connect With Investors in Your Pitch
How To Connect With Investors 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, founders should strive to connect with them. Here are some key steps to connect with investors: Fit the startup fundraising standards. Too many out-of-standard details such as fundraise amount, terms, and valuation w
Startup Funding Espresso – Core Skills for Biotech Drug Development
Core Skills for Biotech Drug Development Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors looking to invest in a biotech drug startup should diligence the team for key skills. Here are the key skills needed for biotech drug development: Knowledge of how to drug a target. This means identifying a molecule, often a protein
Investor Connect 888: Transforming Healthcare: Virtual Care and AI with Lyle Berkowitz
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Dr. Lyle Berkowitz, Founder and Chairman of KeyCare, a virtual care medical group that helps health systems deliver telemedicine tightly integrated with the Epic electronic health record. With coverage across all 50 U.S. states, KeyCare focuses on expanding access, coordinating virtual and in-person care, and reducing physician burnout by building
Startup Funding Espresso – What Investors Look for in a Market Slide
What Investors Look for in a Market Slide Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Part of the startup's pitch deck should be a market slide. Here's what investors need to know about your startup's target market. Who is the target customer? A good market slide segments the customers into categories and highlights the ideal
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Pitch the Business Case for Your Startup
How To Pitch the Business Case for Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most first-time founders talk about the product and how it works. In pitching, it's important to make the business case for your startup. Here are some key steps to use to make the business case: Start with the problem and show how it
Startup Funding Espresso – Growth Startups Are Not Profitable in Year One
Growth Startups Are Not Profitable in Year One Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups require up-front costs to set up and build the company. Any financial projection that shows profitability in the first year is suspect. Upfront costs include building the website, filing the company legal entity documents, pate
Startup Funding Espresso – Delusions in the Early-Stage Startup
Delusions in the Early-Stage Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The early-stage startup has its own set of delusions founders must overcome. Here's a list of delusions to watch for: Everyone else is a professional but not the founder. The reality is that the founder has the opportunity to build a great busine
Startup Funding Espresso – Best Practices for Explaining a Technical Concept
Best Practices for Explaining a Technical Concept Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching investors, founders must explain how their product works. For those with highly technical products, here are some best practices for explaining it to others. Start with what the audience knows. Bridge the gap between thei
Investor Connect 887: Innovating Health: Dan Wasserman on Commercializing Canadian Innovation
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall talks with Dan Wasserman, founder of Mammoth Health Innovation, about what it takes to turn biomedical and medical technologies into commercially viable healthcare solutions. Dan shares Mammoth's origins from a Canadian innovation center, his "Health Ecosphere" framework for pulling together the elements needed to commercialize health innovation, and how a
Startup Funding Espresso – The Negative Checklist for Startup Investing
The Negative Checklist for Startup Investing Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most investors have a checklist for what they look for in a startup investment. The counter to this is the negative list for startup investing. This list shows what the investor does not invest in. Here are some examples: Investments that
Startup Funding Espresso – Look for Founders With Balance
Look for Founders With Balance Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors funding startups know that the team is the most important element. In reviewing the team, look for founders with balance. There are some founders who can work on multiple aspects of the business, such as sales, product development, and team b
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Skills Founders Need at Each Stage
Key Skills Founders Need at Each Stage Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. At each stage of the startup, the founder needs to have key skills to succeed at that level. Here are the key skills founders need: Seed stage -- grit and jack of all trades. The founder at this stage needs to have grit to grind through obstacl
Startup Funding Espresso – Best Practices for Investor Introductions
Best Practices for Investor Introductions Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising requires connections to investors. After a founder exhausts his own network, he must draw the circle wider to reach out to investors he does not know. Here are some best practices for investor introductions: Personalize the reque
Startup Funding Espresso – Thriving on Chaos
Thriving on Chaos Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups have to go through the rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. There will be good times and bad times. Founders should identify what good problems are and what bad problems are. Good problems indicate you are doing well. These include the following: Increasi
Investor Connect 886: TEN Connect May 2026 - Part 5
In this episode, Hal hosts Andy as he introduces Tenacious Founder, a platform built to help founders and investors navigate rapid change in the startup world by replacing "winging it" with a structured, data-driven build process. Andy likens today's investing environment to the oil industry's evolution from 70% dry holes to under 7% by using better information before committing capital, arguing t
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Close an Anchor Client
How To Close an Anchor Client Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Anchor clients are crucial to early-stage startups. They provide a predictable revenue stream for the company. Here are key steps to close an anchor client. Identify a client that fits the ideal customer profile. Build a relationship with that client. C
Startup Funding Espresso – How Fast Can You Spin Up the Flywheel
How Fast Can You Spin Up the Flywheel Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors want several things from a startup. Here's a list for investors to consider when investing: Team -- They want a strong team that can not only build the product but also sell it. Product-market fit -- This is a focused solution for a cl
Startup Funding Espresso – The Journey Is the Reward
The Journey Is the Reward Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders launching and running a startup will experience highs and lows throughout the life of the startup. Some will find the experience exhilarating while others will find it debilitating. The difference between the two extremes comes down to the founders
Startup Funding Espresso – MVPs for the Purpose of Fundraising
MVPs for the Purpose of Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Minimum viable products or MVPs help the startup not only engage with the customer but also with the investor. Here's how MVPs can help progress the fundraise. It demonstrates the product concept is viable. This shows the product can be built. An
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Support a Founder
How To Support a Founder Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors looking to find good deals should consider how to support founders. The more the investor can support the key founders in their network, the better chance they have at finding a place on their cap tables. Good founders launch a new startup every fi
Investor Connect 885: Navigating the Digital Health Landscape: Insights from Laura Hilty of HealthX Ventures
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes by Laura Hilty, Principal at HealthX Ventures and Chief Strategy Officer at Ignite Data, to discuss her path from Epic to building and launching seven software products at a clinical research startup, supporting acquisitions, and ultimately seeing the business sold to Blackstone for $5B—before moving into early-stage health tech investing. Laura s
Startup Funding Espresso – Challenges of the Venture Studio Model
Challenges of the Venture Studio Model Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The Venture Studio model is a form of venture capitalism that brings numerous startups together and fosters their growth through shared resources and learning. Not all startups make it. The Venture Studio model takes the best of each failed sta
Startup Funding Espresso – Building Advocates for Your Fundraise
Building Advocates for Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it's best to have a network of accredited investors to pursue. For those who do not, one can start building that network. Figure out where the angel investors in your area hang out. Find out what they read, listen to, and tal
Startup Funding Espresso – The Risks in Family and Friends Funding
The Risks in Family and Friends Funding Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Raising investment from family and friends is often a key step in a startup's fundraise. In the early days, there's no team, product, or customer traction. The founder has only an idea but lots of enthusiasm. It's a sign of validation that a f
Startup Funding Espresso – The Go-to-Market Slide
The Go-to-Market Slide Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The Go-to-Market slide is important for seed-stage companies pitching for funding. It shows how the startup will enter the market. Consider setting up an initial target market. List the top twenty customers who will buy your product and gather them into a grou
Startup Funding Espresso – Alternatives to an MVP
Alternatives to an MVP Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Building a full-blown product is unwise at the early stage, as the startup will inevitably build the wrong thing. It's best to test the market first. Minimum viable products or MVPs are a better solution than a product, as it's cheaper and easier to do. The go
Investor Connect 884: TEN Connect May 2026 - Part 4
In this episode of Investor Connect, we hear from Randy Hubbell, CEO of Soliris Endovascular, a medical device company developing peripheral endovascular technologies for PAD and dialysis access. Randy outlines the company's two advanced programs: Soliris SX, a self-expanding covered stent approved in 45 countries with over 15,000 sold and about $5M in recurring revenue, and a breakthrough-designa
Startup Funding Espresso – Customer Intimacy in Fundraising
Customer Intimacy in Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Customer intimacy is a strategy in which one builds a relationship with the customer about their care abouts and expectations. The more one knows about the customer, the better one is able to support and meet their needs. In fundraising, customer int
Startup Funding Espresso – Founders Who Got Lucky
Founders Who Got Lucky Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Some founders get lucky and achieve a successful exit of their business. They were in the right place at the right time with the right solution. Investors should be wary of founders who got lucky. Their luck may have come early in the life of the startup. It's
Startup Funding Espresso – Your First Round Should Have an Investor-Friendly Valuation
Your First Round Should Have an Investor-Friendly Valuation Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, the first round is always the hardest. Here's why it's so difficult: There's often no product or revenue to prove traction. The team, in most cases, is unproven. The market is not yet well defined. The i
Startup Funding Espresso – Mitigate the Risks
Mitigate the Risks Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a pitch, founders focus on the opportunity while the investors focus on the risk. Founders who raise funding have successfully shown how they mitigate those risks. Here are some key risks to mitigate: Team risks -- show how the team works well together. Cite a
Startup Funding Espresso – Keys to a Successful Preseed Fundraise
Keys to a Successful Preseed Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Raising pre-seed funding is one of the bigger challenges in startup fundraising. This round comes at the idea stage, so there are no metrics around traction or product-market fit. Here are the keys to a successful pre-seed round. The current te
Investor Connect 883: TEN Connect May 2026 - Part 3
In this episode of Investor Connect, we hear a pitch from Aether on addressing the global opioid epidemic with ATX-1209, a neuromodulator designed to modulate the mu-opioid receptor by suppressing dependence signals while preserving analgesic benefit when used alongside opioids, with additional development plans for opioid use disorder and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). The team cites
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Choose a Vertical SaaS Niche
How To Choose a Vertical SaaS Niche Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Vertical SaaS is a known business model that narrows the focus to a single application. This reduces the cost of capital to raise and gives the startup the opportunity to go deep on an application. Here's how to choose a vertical SaaS niche. Look
Startup Funding Espresso – How Not To Follow Up With an Investor
How Not To Follow Up With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding should consider their approach to following up with an investor. Here's a list of ways not to do it: Have an admin send out the email follow-ups. At this stage, the founder should be building a relationship with the inve
Startup Funding Espresso – Investor Questions and What They Mean
Investor Questions and What They Mean Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders pitching investors can learn a great deal about an investor by the questions they ask. Investors apply the founders' pitch to their investment thesis. They work through the pitch to see how it does or does not fit. For example, question
Startup Funding Espresso – How Angels Are Different From VCs
How Angels Are Different From VCs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Both angels and venture capitalists invest in early-stage companies. Here are the key differences between the two: Angels invest their own money while VCs invest other people's money. This makes the angel investor more risk-averse, while the VC ofte
Startup Funding Espresso – Gaining Sales Traction for Fundraising
Gaining Sales Traction for Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, revenue traction is a key driver in attracting investors. Here are some key steps to gain sales traction for your fundraise. Early-stage companies don't have a large number of users, as that will take time. Instead, start wi
Investor Connect 882: TEN Connect May 2026 - Part 2
In this episode of Investor Connect, we hear from Dr. Swarna Balasubramaniam, a surgeon-turned-founder, who presents Noleus Leaf, a perioperative therapeutic device designed to restart bowel function and shorten the long, complication-prone recovery after major abdominal surgery, where patients often remain hospitalized 2 to 14 days waiting for intestines to "wake up." She explains how excess IV f
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Maintain Presence With a Prospective Investor
How To Maintain Presence With a Prospective Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it takes several touches to close an investor. It's best to create additional interactions with the investor beyond asking, 'are you ready to invest yet?' Here are some key steps to maintain presence with a pro
Startup Funding Espresso – When the Investor Says No
When the Investor Says No Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, the founder hears the response 'no' many times. Here's what to do when the investor says 'no'. Show gratitude. Thank them for their time and attention. Ask for feedback. Find out more about what they like about your deal and what they do
Startup Funding Espresso – Fundraising Is Project Management
Fundraising Is Project Management Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising is project management. In launching a fundraise, treat it like a series of projects. Here are the key steps: Start with investor documentation and build out the materials needed. Build a list of potential investors. Gain introductions to
Startup Funding Espresso – Starting a Relationship With an Investor
Starting a Relationship With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding from an early-stage investor, the founder must build a relationship with that investor. Here are some key steps to starting a relationship with an investor. Learn their background and experiences from online sources. It's i
Startup Funding Espresso – Overcoming Sales Call Anxiety
Overcoming Sales Call Anxiety Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups raising funding need to show a growth story. Investors look for traction and momentum in businesses to fund. The ability to sell the product is a key skill for early-stage founders. Some founders are not good at selling and have sales call anxi
Investor Connect 881: TEN Connect May 2026 - Part 1
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin opens the new TEN Capital Connect event focused on applying AI to investing, bringing investors together to share tools, get feedback, and hear pitches while highlighting TEN Capital's work since 2009 connecting startups and investors, supporting fundraising strategy, and running multiple monthly events (https://tencapital.group/events) alongside
Startup Funding Espresso – Building a Moat Into a Startup
Building a Moat Into a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups in the early days have little to protect the business beyond intellectual property. As the company grows, the startup can build a stronger moat. Here are some key steps for building a moat into a startup: Network effects -- grow the network wi
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Build a Capital-Efficient Startup
How To Build a Capital-Efficient Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors look for capital-efficient businesses to invest in. Founders looking to raise funding should first consider building a capital-efficient startup. Here are some key steps to building a startup that is capital-efficient: Look for a bu
Startup Funding Espresso – Key Sales Metrics To Look For
Key Sales Metrics To Look For Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In reviewing startups, here are the key metrics investors should look for: Annual contract value -- the value the customer spends on the product in one year. This needs to be a meaningful amount of money in order to grow a startup. Customer lifetime val
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Get the Most out of a Pitch Session
How To Get the Most out of a Pitch Session Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. For those setting up a pitch session, here are the key steps so the presenter and investor get the most out of it. Decide the goal of the pitch session. This could be providing practice for the presenter, or giving feedback on the pitch, or
Startup Funding Espresso – Fundraising Is a Sales Process
Fundraising Is a Sales Process Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising is a sales process. Consider these steps in setting up your fundraiser: First, build the investor documents, including pitch deck, terms sheet, and data room. In fundraising, you are selling equity in your company. This is the same as a bro
Investor Connect 880: Investor Education February - Part 01
In this episode, Hall Martin and Kat DelGaudio host a Ten Capital investor education session highlighting how Ten Capital connects growth startups with accredited investors through relationship-driven events and coaching, and they point attendees to tenthcapital.group/events and a QR code for startups seeking to raise. Hall introduces Ava, Ten Capital's AI venture assistant on startupfundingespres
Startup Funding Espresso – Product Launch Strategy
Product Launch Strategy Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso—your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders often mistake their pitch deck for their product launch strategy. But the two serve different goals. The pitch is meant to raise capital — the launch is meant to earn trust. A strong product launch strategy doesn't just announce features. It builds a na
Startup Funding Espresso – Finding an Investor Is Like Finding a Date
Finding an Investor Is Like Finding a Date Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders looking for investors face the same challenge as those looking for a date. Just as in the dating world, both the investor and the startup exaggerate their strengths. Some don't know exactly what they want from the other. Just as th
Startup Funding Espresso – What Investors Want To Know About Your Startup
What Investors Want To Know About Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding should consider what investors want to know about their startup. Here are some key points to make before the meeting: Show how your startup fits the investment thesis of the investor. This should include how it
Startup Funding Espresso – Common Mistakes With Investor Introductions
Common Mistakes With Investor Introductions Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding need introductions to investors. Here are some common mistakes introducers make with investor introductions. Lack of information Most founders ask for an introduction but fail to provide enough information for the
Startup Funding Espresso – Hiring the Team for Your Startup
Hiring the Team for Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. After fundraising comes building the team. The core team may already be in place, but growth will demand new hires. Here are some key points in hiring the team for your startup: Have your high-performing team members interview new candidates. The hig
Investor Connect 879: Zach Holman on Angel Investing, AI, and Building Signed for Portfolio Management
In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Zach Holman of Signed, a former GitHub engineer and advisor, who shares how he moved into advising and angel investing and what he looks for in early-stage companies, emphasizing the importance of team, culture, ambition, and market. Zach discusses how AI is changing startup building by making it easier for small or even solo teams to ship product an
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Become a VC
How To Become a VC Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture capital is a job that many aspire to hold. It's challenging, but it provides great experiences. For those who want to become a venture capitalist, there are several paths. Start by working in a startup in a sales role. Some of the most effective VCs are th
Startup Funding Espresso – Starting With the Beachhead Market
Starting With the Beachhead Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors look for large target markets that are growing well. Founders looking to launch a startup often look for huge problems to solve. Since startups are limited in their resources, they must find a way to solve a large problem with few people
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Screen a Startup for Investment
How To Screen a Startup for Investment Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors looking for startup investments need to screen deals efficiently. Here's a set of criteria to apply to startups before pursuing diligence. Check the team. Do they know what they are doing? Do they have the skills to achieve the goal?
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Scale a Startup
How To Scale a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the early days of a startup, the founder seeks to build and sell a product. In the later days, the founder seeks to scale the business. Here are several ways to scale a startup: Raise funding to fuel the scaling strategy. This could be a substantial amount
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Write a Press Release for Your Startup
How To Write a Press Release for Your Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Press releases can help the startup gain exposure in the marketplace. This helps recruit employees, find customers, and attract investors. Founders can do this upon closing a round of funding. Here are the steps to write a press release
Investor Connect 878: John Kim of Aphelion Capital on Cardiovascular & Brain Health Investing in MedTech
In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome John Kim, Managing Director at Aphelion Capital, a healthcare-focused venture firm investing in early and mid-stage medical device and digital health companies. John shares Aphelion's evolution from an evergreen, medical-device-only strategy to a stronger focus on cardiovascular and brain health, including a mission-aligned fund built with the Americ
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