Investor Connect Podcast

Hall T Martin

Hall T Martin interviews angel and venture capital investors on how they invest and talks with CEOs who discuss their sector and what to look for. Hall T Martin also leads the Startup Funding Espresso series in which you can learn about startup funding and investing in the time it takes to have an espresso. https://investorconnect.org/

  1. 2d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Standard Practices for M&A

    Standard Practices for M&A Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Achieving an exit is the final hurdle in launching a startup using investor funding. Here are some key practices in going through the M&A process. The factor driving the entire process is the company's business model and how it will sustain over time. Recurring revenue businesses command higher valuations because of the business model. The stickier the product, the more valuable the business is. Another practice is that the more buyers are interested in the business, the higher the valuation. Consider how your business can fit with many potential acquirers rather than just a few. Most companies acquiring a business are seeking to fill a gap. The startup that provides the missing piece is the most valuable. Consider how your startup helps augment existing businesses. The more the buyer understands the startup, the more likely they will be interested in buying it. Consider how to raise awareness of your startup so acquiring companies see the value in it. Consider these practices for driving a successful buyout of your startup. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  2. 3d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Validating a Startup Idea

    Validating a Startup Idea Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before launching a startup, a founder should first validate the startup idea. Here's a list of key steps to validate your startup idea: Is the idea big enough to justify a startup? Many ideas are simple side gigs with little return to the founder. Are you solving a real problem? Without it the startup will not succeed due to a lack of customer demand. Does the problem cause enough pain that someone will pay to fix it? There are many problems that people just learn to live with. How much does it cost to launch the business? Some problems require huge investment up front, which one will be unlikely to raise. Is there a beachhead market to enter the space? Finding an entry point into a market is one key element of success. Can it scale? It's easy to start a boutique business such as consulting, but it must be designed to scale. Who is the competition? Avoid believing there is no competition and look hard for those who are solving the problem currently. What unique insight do you bring to the business? You need to have some advantage over others. Is now the right time? A recent change in the market may be giving an opportunity. Finally, is the founder the right fit for this solution? Consider these steps in validating your startup idea. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  3. 4d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – When the Investor Fails To Respond to a Fwup

    When the Investor Fails To Respond to a Fwup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The key to a successful fundraise is to follow up with the investor to close. It's important to maintain communication with an investor to carry the funding process through diligence. In some cases, the investor fails to respond to a fwup after a pitch. Here are some key steps to take when the investor fails to respond. After the pitch, ask the investor if you can keep them informed of your progress. Most will say yes either to be polite or because they are curious as to how it will turn out. This gives the founder permission to fwup. Send an email update on an every-other-week basis and invite for a fwup call to give more detail. If the investor fails to respond, then call them on the phone and indicate you need just two minutes of their time for a fwup. Given the shortness of the call, the investor will take it. Show progress around sales, team, product, and fundraising. Pick at least one news item to tell the investor to show the traction is growing. Avoid sounding desperate, as this is not a good look for a founder. Another technique is to ask for advice. This engages the investor in the startup and provides an opportunity for the investor to show their experience and knowledge. Consider these steps for following up with an investor who fails to respond. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  4. 5d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Highlight the Benefits of the Solution

    Highlight the Benefits of the Solution Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching for funding, the founder identifies the problem to be solved. And then describes the solution to be offered. It's important to show not only the solution with its features but also the benefits. Show how well the solution solves the problem as follows: This could be a customer productivity enhancement number. This could be a cost reduction number. This could be a time-saving number. Talk not only about how the product works but what benefits the customer will find. Most founders assume the investor knows the value of the solution, but this is not a good assumption. Identify the benefits of your solution and list them out for the investor to see. The rule of pitching is if you don't articulate it, then it doesn't exist. If you don't know the benefits of your solution, then it's best to research it with current and past customers to identify them. Consider the benefits of your solution and capture it into your pitch deck. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  5. Aug 21

    Investor Connect 891: Building Stronger Networks in Venture Capital with Sophie Winwood

    On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Sophie Winwood, venture capital investor, ecosystem builder, and co-founder of UnlockVC. Based in the UK, UnlockVC is a global community supporting women in venture capital and connecting investors across Europe and the U.S. Sophie has spent the past seven years in venture capital, including investing at Anthemus with a focus on early-stage companies and fintech. She co-founded UnlockVC to help expand access, networks, and opportunities for women across the venture ecosystem. Sophie discusses the changing venture capital landscape, diversity in investing, the rise of solo GPs, AI's role in venture workflows, and why strong relationships and warm introductions still matter for founders and investors. Visit Unlock VC at unlock-vc.com/ Reach out to atwww.linkedin.com/in/sophie-winwood-92526241/, and on sophie@unlock-vc.com ________________________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https:/_/tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  6. Aug 21

    Startup Funding Espresso – How To Build a Better Product

    How To Build a Better Product Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Having a better product than the competition is no guarantee of success, but it does help with your fundraise. Here's how to build a better product: First, understand the customer and the work they must do. Know the overall process flow and how the customer's job fits within it. Analyze the customer job to identify how to make it faster, easier, and cheaper to do. This includes time and dollars spent. Identify a key insight about the customer problem. These insights come from working in the industry or holding the job yourself. Know not only the customer job itself but also the workflow around it. Design a product that fits the customer flow and provides a faster, better, and cheaper solution. If you're not in the industry, then take on a consulting job in the industry for a period of time. This will build not only your knowledge of the job but also the business around it. It will give you connections in the industry that will be helpful later. It will also help you understand how to engage the support of others. Consider these steps in building a better product for your startup. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  7. Aug 20

    Startup Funding Espresso – Startups Fail for Many Reasons

    Startups Fail for Many Reasons Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startups fail for many reasons. Here's a list of the more common ones: Ran out of cash. This is the most common reason of all. Could not raise additional funding. Lost too much business to the competition. Did not generate enough revenue to make the business model work. Had a too-high cost basis for running the business. Didn't hire the right people. Missed the market opportunity. The founders could not get along with each other. Lost interest in the business. Review this list for your startup. Consider how to mitigate these risks in your business plan. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

  8. Aug 18

    Startup Funding Espresso – What Are the Odds?

    What Are the Odds? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Early-stage investments require follow-on funding to reach a substantial size, providing a return to the investors that justifies the risk. Here are the odds that a startup will raise its next round of funding. After the first round, about half go on to raise a second round. This is not unusual, as many investors divide their investment allocation in half for the first investment. Of the original funded companies, about 30% will go on to raise a third round. This is equivalent to a Series A round. Of the original funded companies, about 15% will go on to raise a fourth round. This is equivalent to a Series B round. Of the original funded companies, about 9% will go on to raise a fifth round. This is equivalent to a Series C round. Of the original funded companies, about 3% will go on to raise a sixth round. This is equivalent to a Series D round. After the first round, there is a halving effect in which approximately half the companies are able to raise another round to move to the next level. Overall, about 70% of the companies will not make a return to their investors due to a lack of an exit. Startup investment is driven by the power law, which provides the majority of the returns through a handful of the investments. Consider these odds when making your investment. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Hall T Martin interviews angel and venture capital investors on how they invest and talks with CEOs who discuss their sector and what to look for. Hall T Martin also leads the Startup Funding Espresso series in which you can learn about startup funding and investing in the time it takes to have an espresso. https://investorconnect.org/

You Might Also Like