Are you a Founder & CEO struggling to attract the right funders for your startup?
You likely already know how hard it is to find investors and convince them to write you a check.
What you may not know is there’s been a drastic shift in both the types of startups that traditional investors are backing, in addition to the activity of those same investors.
The startup world has been experiencing a dramatic downturn over the last year, meaning its even harder for founders of all types to raise capital.
Some investors are more active and well-resourced than others, but many have slowed down or entirely paused their investment activity as we wait for market conditions to improve.
To survive these challenging times, founders have no choice but to lean into the fundamentals of building a sustainable business.
That means creating value for customers.
Your customers are your best investors, and they will even help you attract VC’s and Angels as you’re able to show traction in your market.
I often meet with founders who assume their patents and IP (Intellectual Property) will be enough to seal the deal, but without having any sales or revenue, it’s extremely unlikely that the investors of today will pay you any mind.
The startups able to successfully fundraise in this current climate (and after it) are the ones able to prove market demand via customer traction, in addition to outlining a solid strategy for growth and long-term sustainability.
Having customers is way cooler than having investors, & the days of fundraising for an idea alone are far gone.
If you’re feeling alone and don’t have a team to collaborate with, I'm here to support. Feel free to chat with me here and Ask Me Anything.
Be sure to also check out Pitch 101: How to Craft a Winning Pitch if you need help crafting your startup’s narrative, or sign up for coaching if you’re looking for 1:1 support along your journey. After all…
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.”
- African Proverb
Thanks for reading,
Garry Johnson III
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