In this episode, we're joined by Aakash Shah, founder and CEO of Wyndly, a healthcare startup revolutionizing allergy treatment. Akash shares his journey from personal allergy sufferer to innovative healthcare entrepreneur, and reveals how he navigated the challenging waters of fundraising without relying solely on traditional venture capital.

Aakash talks about creative capital strategies, demonstrating how startups can thrive by thinking outside the VC box. From leveraging customer relationships to learning finance lessons from restaurant owners, Akash's approach offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs in any industry.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:33 From personal struggle to startup solution

• 07:58 Y Combinator experience and its impact on fundraising

• 17:42 Creative capital strategies: Beyond traditional VC funding

• 33:16 Lessons from other industries

• 36:42 Understanding and optimizing cash conversion cycles

• 40:13 The importance of founder networks and peer support

• 46:09 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

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ABOUT AAKASH SHAH

Aakash Shah is the co-founder and CEO of Wyndly, a healthcare startup dedicated to fixing allergies forever. With a background in software and growth product, Aakash leveraged his personal experience with severe allergies to create an innovative, accessible solution for allergy sufferers.

After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a dual major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Aakash joined small technology companies, knowing that technology would continue to change the world. Now, as a Wyndly patient and founder, he's dedicated himself to fixing people's allergies with personalized treatment and phenomenal care.

His journey from Y Combinator to exploring alternative funding strategies offers a fresh perspective on startup growth and capital acquisition in the healthcare sector. Aakash's approach combines his tech background with a deep understanding of healthcare needs, creating a unique blend of innovation and practicality in the allergy treatment space.

Connect with Aakash Shah on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mraakashshah/

• X : https://x.com/aakashdotio

• Website: https://www.wyndly.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/