What comes first in fundraising? + Fundraising Fieldnotes - 7.2.21

3 tips to fix the chicken & egg problem in fundraising

Hey - it’s Jason Yeh 🕺🏻

This is my Friday recap of thoughts I’ve had while helping founders solve their fundraising challenges this past week (7.2.21)

If you have any questions, please reply! I try to get to every comment/question I get :)

So what comes first in fundraising?

What comes first?

No matter who they are or what experience they have, founders always deal with anxiety when entering a fundraise. Some think, “What if I can’t get this done?!” while others stress about taking time away from the business or driving optimal terms. Either way, everyone deals with being nervous about the outcome of a fundraise.

It turns out, how and when you break free of that anxiety greatly affects the perception of you as a fundraiser. Since perception is everything in fundraising, this can be the difference between success and failure when raising capital. The moment a founder begins projecting a calm confidence while pitching their startup, investors begin listening more intently.

For most first-time founders, this is a chicken and egg dilemma. Entrepreneurs who project an aura of confidence around their ability to raise capital drive irrational interest from investors. However, the only way those first-time founders acquire any sort of confidence is when investors start leaning in. So what comes first? How do you break the cycle as a founder?

Here are three tips to help you show up with a level of calm confidence that will stimulate investor interest from the beginning: (continue reading…)

On to the Fieldnotes for 7.2.21…

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Speaking of preparation…check out this strategy from the founder of DocSend

Russ Heddleston @rheddleston

If you’re trying to decide between making a list of 50 investors to contact versus a list of 100, you’ll likely get more meetings with the longer list. This is one area where putting in more time will get you better results, but don’t do so blindly. Data:

docsend.comHow to Create an Investor Strategy for Your Pre-Seed Fundraise | DocSendRuss Heddleston shares advice about how to create a pre-seed investor strategy for startup founders looking to raise funding.

I love this simple note about decks. I always say “addition by subtraction”

Saba Karim @sabakarimm

A good pitch-deck knows what to put in, A great pitch-deck knows what to leave out.

Till next week. Stay adamant and be chased.

Jason

p.s. Simpsons + fundraising funny

Small asks!

If you thought this was helpful or enjoyable in anyway, I’d love for you to:

• Forward this newsletter with others who would enjoy it

• Follow me on Twitter where I’ve begun building in public (my course, my podcast, etc)!

• Listen with a friend to Funded, my podcast that tells the rollercoaster stories of how founders raised millions (and subscribe🙏)

• Ask me your fundraising questions so I can help you and cover them in a future issue