Founder Advisor | Fundraising & Capital Strategy | Senior Venture Partner @felicis | https://xitter.cf/t.co/ALiwYwgOnf
Manhattan Beach
Joined May 2016
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Funny how quick everyone is to call the end of the AI data center / capex train. A few down days and all I see on the timeline is “I told you, it’s the beginning of the end”. AI demand is still in the very early innings.
1/ A few months into building my founder advisory & fundraising strategy practice, I’m having a blast.
After 15 years on the investing side, I’m now back in the trenches with a small number of founders across Seed, Series A, and Series B.
5/ After 15 years as an investor and helping companies through more than 100 financings, it’s incredibly rewarding to bring that experience directly to a small number of high-performing teams when the stakes are highest.
6/ I’d love to meet more founders who are gearing up for a raise and could benefit from having an experienced investor in their corner.
If that’s you, reach out. If someone in your network (or your portfolio) comes to mind, I’d be grateful for an intro!
nikipezeshki.com
6/ After you’ve presented the company in its best light, ask about the investor’s thesis. Make it a real conversation.
Hopefully, by then, their thesis has bent toward a favorable view of your company.
In fundraising, the sequence of the conversation matters.
5/ This doesn’t mean dodging the hard questions. Let investors air their doubts after they’ve heard the full pitch.
Once they understand why the company could be special, they’ll evaluate those concerns in context instead of letting the concerns define the entire conversation.
4/ Instead, always lead with your best.
Your founder background. The team you’ve recruited. Your traction. Your customers. Your technology.
Don’t be bashful! Your first job is to earn the investor’s excitement.
1/ Some founders start investor meetings by asking:
“What worries you about my company or market? I want to make sure I address it.”
I understand the instinct. It sounds open and accommodating.
But I think it’s a very tough way to start a pitch.
2/ The moment investors name their concerns, the meeting becomes defensive.
Before you’ve had the chance to make the positive case, you’ve invited them to articulate the negative one.
That framing can shape everything that follows.
Prominent angels are a huge unlock for a fundraise, but they're undervalued by founders and not used to their full potential (partially because of poor planning). An angel that is respected and has deep connections to VCs is one of the best warm intro paths that you can utilize.
I'd also create a small SAFE at a discounted valuation for friends, family, and angels. Tell them you would love for them to invest, and you are letting them in at a discount. Let them know you'll need their help to make warm intros, and ask which funds they are closest to.