Startup Basics

Most early-stage founders don’t have a PR team. They don’t have paid ads. And they definitely don’t have time to “build a personal brand.” But here’s what they do have: a product in motion, a story worth sharing, and access to two of the most powerful investor channels out there—LinkedIn and Twitter. If you’re trying […]

You’ve built something new. Maybe it’s just a rough prototype. Maybe it’s still an idea on paper. Either way, you’re trying to get someone to believe in it enough to write a check. But here’s the part most founders miss—investors don’t say yes because of what you think is impressive. They say yes when they

Deep tech is hard to explain. It’s complex. It’s new. And sometimes, it sounds more like science fiction than a startup. But here’s the truth: if you’re a deep tech founder, you don’t need to simplify what you’ve built. You just need to clarify it. Especially when you’re raising your first round. At the pre-seed

You don’t have a full product. You don’t have revenue. Maybe you don’t even have a team yet. But you’ve got an idea—and maybe a prototype that kind of works. Now you’re asking the big question: Can I raise money with just this? The short answer? Yes. But it’s not easy, and it’s not about

Pitching without revenue can feel like walking into a room without your shoes on. You’ve got code. You’ve got insight. Maybe even a prototype that works. But no customers are paying yet. And every investor asks the same question: “What traction do you have?” It’s enough to make any founder feel behind. But here’s the

When you’re raising for the first time, the hardest part isn’t explaining your product. It’s getting investors to care right now. The truth is, most early-stage rounds don’t stall because of the idea. They stall because there’s no urgency. No clear reason to move today instead of next week. No signal that says: this one’s

Early investors don’t just invest in markets, tech, or traction. They invest in you. But not the resume version of you. Not the LinkedIn summary. Not the pitch deck bio. They invest in the story behind the startup—the reason you’re building this, in this way, at this moment. That’s your founder narrative. And when done

Most early-stage founders know this: the big VC firms aren’t writing your first check. The ones who do? Micro VCs. Solo capitalists. Operator-angels who move fast, write small checks, and often go deep when they believe in something early. But getting on their radar isn’t about being loud. It’s about being sharp. These investors see

If you’re building something real, but don’t come from the right school or know the right people, fundraising can feel impossible. You read about rounds closing in days. Founders getting oversubscribed with just an idea. Intros being passed around like trading cards. And you wonder, what if I don’t have any of that? The truth

Most founders hear this advice early: “Get a warm intro.” It sounds simple—like all you need is the right connection and the money will follow. But the truth is, warm intros are more than just a path into someone’s inbox. They’re a test. They test how well you’ve built relationships. How clearly you can explain