Key insights

• ⏰ Demo day serves as an artificial forcing function for founders to focus on fundraising at a specific time.
• 🔨 Focusing on product development and customer acquisition before fundraising is crucial.
• 📧 Emailing seed stage investors requires short and informative messages tailored to the investor's interests and demonstrating significant progress relative to the time invested.
• 🤝 When reaching out to investors, be clear and direct with your ask, avoid sending attachments like decks upfront, and stack meetings with investors in a parallelized process to create positive buzz around your deal.
• 💼 Different approach for investor and customer meetings, Investors look for grand vision and growth potential, Overcapitalization can lead to poor decisions, Time is more valuable than money for startups, Investors expect more progress with more funding, Credible plan and big thinking are essential for investor meetings
• 💰 Raising the necessary capital to build the business is crucial while retaining control, Differences between seed and series A investors and the need to evaluate their incentives, Concerns about some angel investors not disclosing the source of their funds, Series A investors typically seeking a larger stake and a seat on the board, Founders should start building relationships with series A investors early on to establish a deeper connection
• 📈 Focus on building rapport with a select group of investors and share limited metrics, Establish loose relationships with investors through angel investors or cold emailing, Post-demo day, focus on the long-term life of your company rather than immediate outcomes
• ⚖️ Starting a successful startup requires sacrifice and balance in personal life, It's a myth that you can have it all, Different people have different definitions of success and happiness, Money isn't the only thing that leads to happiness, Startup success is about making an impact and rewriting the future

Q&A

• What is essential for starting a successful startup?

  Starting a successful startup requires sacrifice and balance in personal life, as well as understanding that different people have different definitions of success and happiness. Ultimately, startup success is about making an impact and rewriting the future, not just about money.

• What should CEOs prioritize post-demo day?

  CEOs should focus on building rapport with a select group of investors, share limited metrics, and prioritize the long-term life of the company rather than immediate outcomes post-demo day.

• How should founders navigate the world of seed and series A investors?

  Founders should focus on raising the necessary capital to build the business while retaining control. Understanding the differences between seed and series A investors, evaluating their incentives, and actively building relationships, especially with series A investors early on, are crucial steps.

• What different approaches are needed for investor and customer meetings?

  Investor meetings require a grand vision and demonstration of growth potential, while overcapitalization can lead to poor decisions. Time is more valuable than money for startups, and investors expect more progress with increased funding. A credible plan and big thinking are essential for investor meetings.

• How should founders approach reaching out to investors via email?

  Founders should be clear and direct in the initial email to investors, avoid sending big attachments like decks upfront unless requested, and aim to schedule meetings with multiple investors to create positive buzz around their deal.

• What are the key elements of emailing seed stage investors?

  Emailing seed stage investors requires short and informative messages tailored to the investor's interests and demonstrating significant progress relative to the time invested. Unique insights and interesting progress are particularly attractive to investors.

• Why is focusing on product development before fundraising crucial?

  Focusing on product development and customer acquisition before fundraising is crucial as it demonstrates progress and validates the business concept, making it more attractive to potential investors.

• What is the value of demo day for founders?

  Demo day serves as an artificial forcing function for founders to focus on fundraising at a specific time, creating a sense of urgency and structure for the fundraising process.

• 00:00 Aaron Harris discusses the value of demo day as an artificial forcing function for fundraising, the importance of focusing on product before fundraising, and the key elements of emailing seed stage investors.
• 05:55 When reaching out to investors, be clear and direct with your ask, avoid sending attachments like decks upfront, and stack meetings with investors in a parallelized process to create positive buzz around your deal.
• 11:50 Different approaches for investor and customer meetings. Investors look for a grand vision and growth potential. Overcapitalization can lead to poor decisions. Time is more valuable than money for startups. Investors expect more progress with more funding. Credible plan and big thinking are essential for investor meetings.
• 17:46 Navigating the world of seed and series A investors can be challenging. Founders should focus on raising the capital needed to build their business while maintaining control. There are differences between seed and series A investors, and their incentives should be carefully evaluated. Some angel investors may not disclose the source of their funds, which raises suspicion. Series A investors typically seek a larger stake and a seat on the board, requiring a deeper relationship with the company. Founders need to approach series A investors early, as building a relationship takes time.
• 24:03 As a CEO, focus on building rapport with a select group of investors, share limited metrics, and prioritize a good underlying business. Establish loose relationships with investors through angel investors or cold emailing. Post-demo day, focus on the long-term life of your company rather than immediate outcomes.
• 30:29 Starting a successful startup requires sacrifice and balance in personal life. It's a myth that you can have it all. Different people have different definitions of success and happiness. Money isn't the only thing that leads to happiness. Startup success is about making an impact and rewriting the future.