Inside Startup Funding

Unlocking Market Insights with Hootology

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Stephanie Francis, co-founder of Hootology, about the challenges of market research, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the importance of honesty and relationships in fundraising. Stephanie shares her personal story, the evolution of Hootology, and the emotional landscape of being a founder. They discuss the need for a supportive community and the potential for changing the investment ecosystem to be more inclusive and collaborative. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, mental health, and the power of asking for help in the entrepreneurial journey.
 
Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty
Stefanie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniefrancis/
 
🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City
Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/
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Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.
 
To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

Chips on Shoulders Put Chips in Pockets: Christine Keung on Finding Founders with Conviction

In this episode of Inside the Fund, Helena Fogarty speaks with Christine Keung of J2 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on transformative dual-use technologies. Christine shares her unique journey from her family's restaurant to becoming a venture capitalist, highlighting her experiences at Dropbox and her role in public service during the pandemic. The conversation delves into the importance of supporting diverse founders, the challenges of fundraising, and the current trends in the venture capital landscape, particularly in defense technology. Christine emphasizes the need for founders to have conviction and the significance of maintaining personal well-being in a high-stress environment. 

Building Community in Startups: The Antler Approach

In this episode of Inside the Fund, Jeff Becker from Antler shares his journey from selling copiers to becoming a venture capitalist. He discusses the importance of community for founders, the residency model at Antler, and the dynamics of fundraising. Jeff emphasizes the significance of resilience in founders, the balance between valuation and value, and the evolving landscape of deep tech companies. He also reflects on personal insights regarding mental health and the importance of support structures for founders. 00:00 The Loneliness of Founding 02:45 Jeff Becker's Journey to Antler 05:55 The Importance of Community in Startups 08:51 The Residency Model at Antler 11:44 Fundraising Dynamics and Challenges 14:44 Identifying Magical Founders 17:42 The Vibe Check in Venture Capital 20:52 Resilience in Founders 23:53 Valuation vs. Value in Fundraising 26:48 Lessons Learned the Hard Way 29:51 The Role of Team in Success 32:56 The Power Law in Venture Capital 35:53 The Evolution of Inception Stage Investing 38:33 The Importance of Founder Market Fit 41:33 The Future of Deep Tech Companies 44:47 Personal Insights and Mental Health 47:41 The Importance of Support Structures 50:42 The Balance of Work and Life 53:45 The Importance of Reflection 56:37 The Reality of Early Stage Investing 59:18 Final Thoughts and Reflections Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty Jeff's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylbecker/ 🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/ 📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/ Inside the Fund is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

From Minecraft to AI: Miguel Guerrero's Journey

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty interviews Miguel Guerrero, founder of Otis AI, an innovative digital advertising platform for small businesses. Miguel shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early venture with Meepcraft, a successful Minecraft server, to the founding of Otis AI. He discusses the challenges and strategies of fundraising, the importance of building relationships with investors, and how market changes have impacted his fundraising efforts. Miguel emphasizes the significance of metrics and execution in attracting investors and shares valuable advice for new founders. He also touches on the importance of maintaining personal well-being while navigating the demanding world of entrepreneurship.
 
Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty
Miguel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelmeep/
 
🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/
📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/
 
Inside the Fund is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.
To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

From Wall Street to Impact Investing: Jason Torres of Sana Capital | Inside the Fund

In this conversation, Jason Torres of SANA Capital discusses his journey from Wall Street to venture capital, emphasizing the importance of impact investing in healthcare. He shares insights on the challenges of fundraising, the evaluation of founders, and the significance of purpose in investing. The discussion also touches on the need for diversity and equity in healthcare, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by the industry.
Helena's LinkedIn:   / helenafogarty   Jason's LinkedIn:   / jasonptorres  

Navigating AI Valuations in Venture Capital: John Frankel of ff Venture Capital | Inside the Fund

In this conversation, John Frankel of ff Venture Capital discusses the current state of AI valuations, his journey into venture capital, and the importance of engagement and support in the VC space. He emphasizes the long-term commitment required in venture investing, the significance of financial management for startups, and the common mistakes founders make.
John also shares insights on diversity in venture capital, the challenges of fundraising, and the future of AI in the industry. He concludes with thoughts on maintaining balance in life and the importance of long-term thinking.
Helena's LinkedIn:   / helenafogarty   John's LinkedIn:   / johnfrankel  

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Female Founder’s Journey with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen | Inside the Round

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty interviews Anna Sophie Hartvigsen, co-founder of Female Invest, shares her journey as a female founder navigating the challenges of fundraising in a male-dominated industry. She discusses the unique biases female founders face, the inception of Female Invest, and the growth of their community. Anna reflects on their experiences with Y Combinator, the challenges of raising their Series A, and the importance of building strong relationships with investors. She also emphasizes the need for mental health awareness among founders and offers valuable advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs.Chapters00:00 Navigating Gender Bias in Fundraising02:57 The Birth of Female Invest05:56 From Passion Project to Business08:58 The Journey to Fundraising12:13 Experiencing the Glass Ceiling14:56 The Impact of Y Combinator18:04 Challenges in the Series A Round21:02 Building Relationships with Investors23:44 Legal Representation and Negotiation26:52 Maintaining Control as Co-CEOs29:55 Advice for Female Founders32:59 The Importance of Mental Health35:53 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Female InvestHelena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty 🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York CityLearn more at: https://28thpark.com/📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/Inside the Fund is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

From Idea to Oversubscribed: The 123BabyBox Journey | Inside the Round

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty interviews Zarina Bahadur, founder of 123BabyBox, a subscription service focused on early childhood development. Zarina shares her journey from the initial idea sparked by observing a struggling mother in a grocery store to winning a college competition that provided her with the capital to start her business. She discusses the importance of customer research, the challenges of fundraising, and the role of accelerators in her growth. Zarina emphasizes the significance of networking, maintaining investor relationships, and the balance between work and personal well-being as a founder.Chapters:00:00 The Birth of 123BabyBox03:01 From Idea to MVP: The Journey Begins05:48 Navigating the Fundraising Landscape08:54 Accelerators: A Launchpad for Growth12:03 Building Investor Relationships14:51 The Importance of Networking17:53 Investor Updates: Keeping Stakeholders Informed20:50 Overcoming Challenges in Fundraising23:41 The Role of Profitability in Startups26:38 Post-Fundraising: What Changes?29:54 The Value Beyond Capital: Investor Contributions32:50 Maintaining Balance: Health and Well-being as a Founder35:41 Finding Community: The Importance of Support NetworksHelena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty Zarina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zarina-bahadur28/🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York CityLearn more at: https://28thpark.com/📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/