What does it really take to raise money, find product-market fit, and build a startup worth acquiring in 2026? In this episode, we are joined by Susan Ho, an entrepreneur, startup advisor, and former founder who built and exited travel-tech startup Journy to Hopper. shares the lessons she learned building Journy from the ground up, raising capital, navigating the founder journey, and ultimately selling the company to Hopper. We dive into the realities of startup fundraising, why founders get stuck in the "need traction to raise money, need money to get traction" cycle, and how today's founders can leverage personal branding and social media to accelerate growth. If you're a founder struggling with growth, fundraising, or the emotional rollercoaster of building a business, this is a must-watch. A candid conversation filled with real lessons, mindset shifts, and the kind of "mental therapy" every entrepreneur needs from time to time. 🚀 You will discover : ✅ How Susan raised capital for Journy in the early stages ✅ The biggest mistakes founders make when fundraising ✅ How to find product-market fit without burning cash ✅ How social media can accelerate growth for consumer apps ✅ The behind-the-scenes story of selling Journy to Hopper ✅ Advice for first-time founders raising money in today's market Learn More: Check out: www.theevolvedfounder.com Follow Susan: https://www.instagram.com/susan_ho/ Connect with Susan: http://linkedIn.com/in/shuchenho Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper: http://www.appmasters.com/ You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/FdansjRpR7I ********************************************* SPONSORS The app growth playbook is changing fast. AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4. Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM ********************************************* Tired of handing 30% of every in-game sale to iOS and Android billing systems? Appcharge is the DTC monetization platform trusted by King, Huuuge, Tripledot, and SciPlay – giving studios a direct line to their players, and up to 95% of every transaction. Web stores, payment links, and a full Merchant of Record service covering taxes, compliance, and global payments – all in one platform. Visit appcharge.com to learn more ********************************************* Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus, sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter! ********************************************* Follow us: YouTube: AppMasters.com/YouTubeInstagram: @App MastersTwitter: @App MastersTikTok: @stevepyoungFacebook: App Masters *********************************************
