I run open office hours for founders to get fundraising questions answered (totally free)
Prev: @greycroftvc @harvardhbs
Pod: @fundedpod
Now: @adamantfounders
1) Great founders with great fundraising skills
2) Bad founders with great fundraising skills
3) Great founders with bad fundraising skills
1's and 2's get funded. 3's do not, and it hurts to see.
That's the problem i'm trying to solve.
just landed in NYC.
what’s everyone’s must-get food when they’re in town?
mine is usually whatever the newest / hottest bagel shop is
but i need more ideas
side note: $150 uber into manhattan from the airport is completely insane
the best investor relationships start before you're raising. not with a pitch. with a no-pressure conversation.
"i'm not raising right now. but i think you'd have great perspective on what we're building."
that line removes the transaction. makes them a thinking partner instead of a target.
when you do raise they're not meeting a stranger asking for money. they're watching someone they already believe in.
progress in your company. relationships with investors. run them in parallel. always.
i came up with the analogy "Investor Skydiving" 4 years ago
excited to be able to present it to founders at NYTW on thursday. it still kills (link to essays in thread)
in 2022, i didn't have AI image models, but now i do.
these are so good. captures exactly the challenge founders are faced with haha
i used to be extremely confident in my Mario Kart skills. i know i was a killer back in the day
but things change
i talked a ton of shit to my 14yo niece and 11 yo nephew...and got absolutely smoked. i don't really know how or why.
adam, if you haven't played in a bit i'd be careful....
If anyone can beat me in Mario Kart n64, I will fund their company.
1. They must have a company.
2. They must own an M64.
3. We must play head to head, and I need 24 hours notice.
asking a VC who passed on you for intros is a bad move
most founders do it anyway because they're out of options
not in your space and can't invest? the ask can work.
passed and could have invested? you're asking someone who already decided you weren't worth a check to vouch for you.
think about what that intro actually signals.