Investor Connect Podcast

Hall T Martin
  • 4.9 (8)
  • Investing
  • Updated Daily

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

    Investor Connect 893: Fundracer BV's Rene Wiertz on Investing in Micro-Mobility Safety and Scaling Mobility Startups

    In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Rene Wiertz, founder and managing partner of Fundracer BV, who shares how his experience building and leading premium bicycle brand 3T led him to launch a micro-mobility-focused fund that he believes has been overlooked by traditional venture capital. Rene discusses the post-COVID stabilization and renewed double-digit growth in cycling and micro-mobility, driven by urbanization, space constraints for cars, and rapid infrastructure changes in cities like Paris, London, and New York. Rene explains how new tech talent from firms like Microsoft, Google, Apple, BMW, and Tesla is bringing advanced technologies into a historically hardware-driven industry to make micromobility safer and more convenient. He outlines what helps startups raise capital—perseverance, strong go-to-market planning alongside product development, and speed to market—while warning founders against inconsistent valuation shifts and being vague about use of proceeds. The conversation highlights Funracer's key investment themes in safety tech adapted for two-wheelers, including lightweight ABS, low-power AI vision detection for collision avoidance, and reusable airbags, as well as emerging autonomous capabilities such as steer-by-wire. Rene also describes how Funracer co-invests with larger funds by providing micromobility expertise to unlock capital for the sector, and he closes with relationship-building advice for founders. Visit Fundracer BV at fundracer.capital/ Reach out to at rene.wiertz@fundracer.capital, and on www.linkedin.com/in/ren%C3%A9-wiertz-76637/ ________________________________________________________________________ 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. 2d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – The Best Startups Pick the Investors

    The Best Startups Pick the Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Successful startup investing requires a consistent flow of quality deals. The best startups pick the investors. It's the law of supply and demand. Where there are more investors than capital available to invest, the founder chooses. Here are some key steps investors should take to build that pipeline of deals: Build a reputation for being helpful to founders. Startups look for investors who can bring more than just funding. Provide additional services to the community, such as meetups and incubator support. Startups look for those who are fully invested in their local network. Help funded companies find follow-on funding from later-stage investors. Founders look for investors who are well connected. Attract additional capital into the startup space. Founders look for those who are growing the community. Educate the community on startup funding and investing. Founders appreciate those who provide mentorship and advice. Consider these steps to position yourself as a quality investor. 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. 3d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Founders Should Have a Nationwide View of Their Fundraise

    Founders Should Have a Nationwide View of Their Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding should start with family and friends. It's not the amount of funding raised that counts, but rather the fact that one's family and friends support the founder. From there, the founder draws the circle wider to the investors in the local community. This includes the local angel network and any funds in the area. Again, it's not the dollar amount that counts; it's the proof that those in your community will support you. Founders should then draw the circle wider to include other cities nearby. Finally, the founder should reach out across the country to find investors. While local funding most likely won't take you all the way, it's important to raise from them as it generates proof of fundability. Founders should have a nationwide view on their fundraise from the get-go. It's important to start locally to prove support to investors outside your region. As you draw the circle wider, investors will increasingly look to proof points that other investors are in the deal. 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. 4d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Investor Focus at Each Stage of the Startup

    Investor Focus at Each Stage of the Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup investors invest across all stages of startups. For each stage, the investor should focus on a key point. Here's a list of the investor focus at each stage of the startup: Pre-seed -- focus on the team. At this stage, there's little else to review. It's about the team's insight into solving the problem. Seed -- focus on the product. At this stage, the product has been built. It's about how well the product solves the problem. Series A -- focus on the traction. At this stage, customer adoption should be picking up. It's about organic growth proving the product fits the market. Series B -- focus on the revenue. At this stage, the revenue should be growing well. It's about revenue growth quarter over quarter. Series C - focus on unit economics. At this stage, the business should be profitable at the unit economics level. It's about low cost of customer acquisition and high lifetime value. Consider the stage of the startup for your investor diligence. 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. 5d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Making Money as an Angel Investor

    Making Money as an Angel Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who invest in startups for a profit. They make money when the startup exits by selling the business to another company or going public. The vast majority of exits are through sales to another company. The challenge for the angel investor is that most startups will fail or turn into lifestyle businesses. A lifestyle business means the founders make a nice salary, but there's no exit for the investors. Angels come in early on the business and so must wait the longest to receive a return. Angel investors look for startups that are just entering the market, as the valuation is still fairly low. They come in when the startup initially gains traction. They look for product and market validation. The product works, and customers will pay for it. With this information, they fund startups with the hopes that the company will see an exit in five to seven years. They suffer dilution when additional capital comes in. Consider these points as an angel investor on how to make money from it. 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.

  6. 6d ago

    Startup Funding Espresso – Advantage of Sending the Pitch Deck in Advance

    Advantage of Sending the Pitch Deck in Advance Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors often ask for a pitch deck in advance of the meeting. Here are the advantages of sending the pitch deck ahead of time. The investor has time to review the deck and prepare for the meeting. If the deal is completely out of scope for the investor, then canceling the meeting saves everyone time. It creates another touchpoint for the founder with the investor. It's an opportunity to engage with the investor even if it's only on email. Increases the productivity of the meeting as the investor comes prepared, knowing the basics. The investor has time to research the market or the technology space to understand how the startup fits within it. The meeting brings additional elements to the pitch as follows: It shows the enthusiasm of the founder. It highlights the skill of the team through answers to the investors' questions. Consider sending the pitch deck in advance for your next investor meeting. 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 28

    Investor Connect 892: Why Climate Tech Is Hard for Angels and the Rise of "Unventure" Funding with Brian Kerns

    In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin welcomes Brian Kerns, a mentor, angel investor, and product executive working with VentureWell, to discuss why climate tech can be a tougher fit for traditional angel investing. Brian explains that many climate tech startups involve deep technology that requires more capital, longer timelines, and multiple rounds, and some segments—like ocean and built environment—lack the big "proof point" exits many investors look for. The conversation covers how founders often inflate their capital asks, why the funding gap is widening as VCs move later-stage, and how specialized angel groups with domain expertise can better assess risk and navigate non-dilutive funding. Brian also shares his work as a co-founder of Unventure Capital, which targets strong, profitable companies that don't match the unicorn/VC model, using alternative approaches such as debt-based financing, embedded operator support, and different ownership structures to help companies reach profitability and optionality. Hall and Brian also dig into how the grants landscape has become less reliable, why corporate venture typically waits until Series A, which climate areas still fit angels (software, IoT/light tech, and key supply-chain components), and why today's market is pushing founders to prioritize building real, durable businesses over impact messaging alone. Reach out to at www.linkedin.com/in/brianlkerns/, and on venturewell.org/ ________________________________________________________________________ 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 28

    Startup Funding Espresso – The First Call With an Investor

    The First Call With an Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The first call with an investor is an important one, as it sets the stage for follow-up calls. Here are some key steps to take in the first call: Keep the conversation two-way rather than letting one side or the other monologue. The founder doesn't learn anything about the investor if the founder talks the entire time. Use questions to guide the conversation so it's productive. The purpose of the call is to inform the investor about the fundraise and learn more about the investor's interest and experience. After each portion of the pitch, ask for feedback from the investor about their impressions. This could be about the problem to be solved, the solution offered, or other. Ask for advice at key points to engage the investor and potentially learn something new. Explore the investor's diligence process so one can prepare for it. Finally, check interest on the part of the investor. See what level of interest the investor has. This will help rank-order investors by interest level. Consider these steps in engaging the investor for the first time. 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.

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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/

Information

  • Creator
    Hall T Martin
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © copyright InvestorConnect
  • Show Website
    Investor Connect Podcast

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