Next Round Ready

Christopher Hines
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Next Round Ready is where founders learn to leverage content instead of waiting to raise capital. Host Chris Hines has recorded 100+ conversations with investors across the venture ecosystem, sharing what actually builds fundability — long before the pitch.

  1. 39m ago

    The Media Stack: Every Company Is Becoming a Media Company

    In this episode of Next Round Radio, host Chris breaks down the evolution of the creator economy into what he calls The Media Stack — a five-layer framework that explains how content production, distribution, partnerships, IP protection, and measurement are converging in the AI era. With creator ad spend projected at $37 billion in 2025 (up 26% year over year, 4x faster than media overall), Chris argues that every company is becoming a media company, and founders, brands, and investors who don't take content seriously will be left behind. Complete your fundability assessment: https://Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Lets connect:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecoachchris/https://instagram.com/nextroundvchttps://x.com/thecoachchris_ 00:00 The Shift in Creator Ad Spend 00:48 Meet the Host 01:44 Proof in the Market 02:32 The Media Stack Framework 06:51 What This Means for Founders 08:14 What This Means for Brands & Operators 09:04 What This Means for Investors 09:58 Every Company Is a Media Company

    The Media Stack: Every Company Is Becoming a Media Company

  2. 1d ago

    Speed is Signal ft. Scott Hartley

    Scott Hartley joins the show to discuss the future of startup investing and what it takes to build a successful company today.In this conversation, we break down the nuances of venture capital and how investors are navigating the current landscape. Scott Hartley shares his perspective on the intersection of human-centric skills and technical capability, offering a roadmap for founders trying to bridge that gap. We explore how to identify founder green flags that signal long-term potential, rather than just short-term hype.We also look ahead at AI trends and how they are reshaping the expectations for early-stage companies. Whether you are currently preparing for a funding round or simply want to understand how top investors evaluate opportunity, this discussion offers a clear look at the signals that actually move the needle.Subscribe for weekly startup ecosystem breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest green flag you look for in a new founder. Connect with Everywhere Ventures: Founders Everywhere Substack. You can also find them on YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.00:00 Intro04:02 The Fuzzy and the Techie08:39 AI and What's Next10:38 Green Flags in Founders21:59 Investing Everywhere23:58 Getting in Front of Investors Complete your fundability assessment: https://Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Lets connect:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecoachchris/https://instagram.com/nextroundvchttps://x.com/thecoachchris_

    Speed is Signal ft. Scott Hartley

  3. 2d ago

    Can We Fix the Cost of Living? A Talk with Addison Houston

    Learn how to build home sector affordability and reduce costs for individuals with Addison Houston from Arvid.In this conversation, we discuss the practical challenges of building within the housing industry and what it takes to create sustainable models that prioritize accessibility. Addison shares insights from his work at Arvid, breaking down the specific obstacles founders face when trying to scale solutions in a complex market. We examine the intersection of technology and physical infrastructure, and why focusing on minimizing housing costs is a critical differentiator for modern startups.Whether you are currently building in the real estate tech space or looking for a deeper understanding of the startup ecosystem, this episode offers a clear look at the operational realities of the industry. We cover the core mechanics of founder strategy required to navigate regulatory hurdles while keeping the end user's financial health at the center of your business model.Subscribe for weekly startup ecosystem breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest challenge you have faced while building your own venture. 0:41 Rent Affordability 2:26 Not a debt instrument 3:24 From solar to rentals 4:31 The Story of Addison Houston 6:55 Six people, one mission 8:08 The $5M exit 9:49 Selling to landlords in 48 hours 11:50 Earth, between, and beyond 13:28 Where to find rbit Complete your fundability assessment: Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Lets connect:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecoachchris/https://instagram.com/nextroundvchttps://x.com/thecoachchris_

    Can We Fix the Cost of Living? A Talk with Addison Houston

  4. 3d ago

    Shaquem Griffin: From the NFL to Changing the World

    Shaquem Griffin shares his journey from the NFL to making a global impact. Learn how he navigated his career and life challenges.Shaquem Griffin joins us to discuss his unique path, moving from a standout NFL career to his current work changing the world. We explore the mindset required for a professional athlete transition and the reality of navigating high-pressure environments while overcoming adversity in the public eye.This conversation offers a look at his life beyond the field, focusing on how he leverages his platform for advocacy and personal growth. Whether you are looking for lessons on resilience or want to hear from someone who has successfully redefined their purpose, these inspiring stories provide a roadmap for anyone facing their own transition.Subscribe for weekly career and leadership breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest lesson you have taken from Shaquem's journey. 00:00 Intro & Welcome 00:41 From NFL to the Startup World 03:57 Smart Arm & Affordable Prosthetics 06:10 The Meta Partnership 08:19 Equity Over Cash 10:04 Smart Arm's AI Subscription Model 12:34 GameTime & Athletic Analytics 15:28 U Brands & Adaptive Clothing 18:29 Perspective on AI 22:16 Paralympics & Disability Advocacy Connect with Shaquem: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Complete your fundability assessment: https://Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Lets connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecoachchris/ https://instagram.com/nextroundvc https://x.com/thecoachchris_

    Shaquem Griffin: From the NFL to Changing the World

  5. 4d ago

    The Future of Social Media: What You Need to Know About AI-Powered Content

    Learn how to apply Creator Genius to your brand and generate customers without sacrificing quality. See how AI automates output.Many entrepreneurs struggle to create content that actually generates revenue. This discussion explores the intersection of AI technology and high-quality storytelling to solve the common problem of generic posts. We look at how to leverage new tools to keep your message authentic while increasing production speed.We examine the evolution of AI content creation, covering how to pivot from simply posting to building a dedicated stream of conversion content. If you are trying to balance business growth with a consistent social media strategy, this breakdown offers a roadmap for using technology as a force multiplier for your brand.Subscribe for weekly founder strategy breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest hurdle you face when planning your content.00:00 Creator Genius00:32 Introduction & Welcome01:22 Origin Story03:31 How Ari & Shane Met on Sora06:04 AI Video Evolution07:02 The What to Post Problem09:16 Conversion Content09:44 Business Status & Revenue11:09 The Canva Vision13:55 Addressing AI Fear14:29 Stunt Double & Blueprints17:25 The Adoption Curve17:54 Fundraising & Goals19:51 Future Vision23:01 Where to Find Them Connect with Ari: https://creatorgenius.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arijacob/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-atkins-537745214/ Complete your fundability assessment: Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Lets connect:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecoachchris/https://instagram.com/nextroundvchttps://x.com/thecoachchris_

    The Future of Social Media: What You Need to Know About AI-Powered Content

  6. Season 7 Trailer

    Season 7 Trailer

    We're excited to launch episode 7 of the Next Round Ready podcast! this season we're taking things up a notch. Founders get access to quality investors and investors can get quality deal flow before its live.

    Season 7 Trailer

  7. Sep 28

    5 Patterns of Fundable Founders

    In this episode, Chris breaks down the five patterns of fundable founders. This comes after reviewing well over 500 founders within the last two years. See if your startup is fundable: https://Raise.NextRoundReady.vc Get the Free course: https://nextroundready.vc/products/finding-fundable  Let's connect: https://LinkedIn.com/in/thecoachchris https://x.com/thecoachchris_ https://instagram.com/nextroundvc

    5 Patterns of Fundable Founders

  8. Sep 25

    From Volunteer to VC Connector_ Pam Kavalam

    I'm Chris Hines, and on this episode of Next Round Ready, I sit down with Pam Kavalam — a self-described "prolific commenter," super connector, and community builder who's been quietly becoming one of the most plugged-in people in the New York venture ecosystem. Pam's path into VC is anything but traditional: she started in international education at NYU, spent time in Japan on the JET program, transitioned into tech through a complaint email to ClassPass that turned into a job, worked her way through customer success, operations, and product roles, and eventually broke into venture by volunteering — a lot. She volunteered at check-in desks for hundreds of events, ran dinners for visiting founders, helped with AGMs, and showed up day after day until the community couldn't help but notice her. In our conversation, Pam walks me through how she made that transition, why volunteering at event check-in is the ultimate networking hack, and how asking good questions became her superpower when she had no financial or social capital to offer. We dig into why I think hosting a podcast is a cheat code for building relationships, the parallels between breaking into VC and fundraising as a founder, and why patience — not pitching — is the real key to building trust with investors. Pam also shares her thoughts on event curation, why she doesn't believe in charging founders to attend, and how being a "prolific commenter" on LinkedIn built her reputation as a super connector. She's about to start a new full-time role working with founders and early-stage VCs, and she shares two Notion resources — one for founders and VC-curious folks, and one for events — that you can connect with her on LinkedIn to access. Connect with Pam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-kavalam/ 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Career Journey 03:59 Volunteering & Networking 06:04 The Podcast Cheat Code 09:31 Value of Connecting People 10:46 Finding Founders Outside Traditional Hubs 12:20 Event Planning Experience 15:29 Patience in Relationship Building 17:18 Focused Events & Curation 19:19 Event Pricing & Value 22:13 Content Creation & LinkedIn 23:39 Outro & Resources

    From Volunteer to VC Connector_ Pam Kavalam
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About

Next Round Ready is where founders learn to leverage content instead of waiting to raise capital. Host Chris Hines has recorded 100+ conversations with investors across the venture ecosystem, sharing what actually builds fundability — long before the pitch.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Hines
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Christopher Hines
  • Show Website
    Next Round Ready