The Role of AI and Data in Fundraising

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Startup fundraising begins with family and friends and then expands to the founders' network.

In that part of the fundraising, founders will engage those they know well.

Half the reason these investors join the round is to help the founder.

After this group is exhausted, the founder draws the circle wider and starts to encounter investors they don’t know.

These investors will be more difficult to close because they don’t have a relationship with the founder already.

They will make an investment decision based solely on the merits of the business.

For this stage, founders will need to use AI and data tools to identify the most viable investors for their deals.

Founders will need to find those investors who fit their deals based on revenue, sector, and stage.

AI and data analytics are key tools to use in this part of the fundraising.

AI can search large amounts of data to identify the right investors to pursue.

The funds flowing through the industry are moving every day.

It’s important to have the latest data on who has dry powder and who may be looking to invest.

Consider the use of AI and data analytics for your startup fundraising.

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.

_______________________________________________________

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On this episode of Investor Connect, we are joined by Ron from South Highland Ventures for an enlightening presentation on search funds, touted as the best-performing asset class in the world. Ron dives deep into the 40-year-old model initially developed by Stanford and Harvard, highlighting its relevance and success today in addressing the $10 trillion succession challenge faced by businesses globally. He emphasizes the robust returns and lower risks associated with search funds compared to traditional venture capital or private equity, detailing how they capitalize on small, stable companies with strong profit margins that lack succession planning but have immense growth potential.

Ron also shares insights into the distinctive features of South Highland Ventures and its collaboration with Nova Stone Capital Advisors in building a streamlined deal flow machine, underscoring the firm's innovative and scalable approach to search fund investments. For more updates and information, connect with Ron through the contact details provided, and join us next time on Investor Connect.

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/
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Bring Three Stats for Your Startup Fundraising

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In raising funding, it’s important to showcase the key numbers behind your business.

Here are three statistics for your startup fundraise:

Revenue traction -- show what traction you have so far including the dollar amount and the growth rate.

Customers need to know where you are on the revenue-generating path and how fast it’s going.

A 50% annual growth rate is the minimum for a venture investment.

Customer pain point -- show how much the problem you are solving is currently costing the customer or the economy.

This number needs to be big and in most cases growing.

Customer ROI -- show what value in numbers your customer receives from your product.

This could include both productivity improvements and cost reductions.

A good rule of thumb is you want this to be a 10X increase.

The key numbers reflect the problem, the solution, and the startup's effectiveness.

Show these three numbers in your startup fundraising.

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/

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Bring Three Stats for Your LP Fundraise

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Raising funds from Limited Partners requires a track record, an investment thesis, and a competitive advantage.

It’s important to show you have a track record of successfully deploying capital.

Investors want to know what you will be investing in, and is that space growing.

Finally, they will look for your competitive advantage in finding and closing deals.

In raising funds from Limited Partners, add these three statistics to your pitch:

Track record -- have your IRR, MOIC, or TVPI numbers available to show.

This is most often an IRR number or MOIC.

If you haven’t deployed funds and don’t have a track record, it’s best to build one before launching a fund.

Target market growth rate -- show the growth rate in the market sector you are targeting.

Investors invest in growth, so look for a growth sector in your target market.

Competitive advantage -- investors want to know what you have that they don’t in deploying capital.

This could be a network of CEOs who bring you deals and help you diligence them.

Call out the number of people in that network and something about them, such as their geographic location or their market sector.

Use these three numbers to anchor your pitch.

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/

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Raising Funding in Downtimes

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Fundraising goes through the same cycles as the stock market,

When the stock market is going up it’s easier to raise funding.

When it’s going down it’s harder.

Raising funding in down times requires more creativity.

Here are some ideas on how to raise funding in a down market:

Use more grant funding to fill in the gaps.

The grant funding from the government continues regardless of the market.

Consider crowdfunding.

For smaller amounts of funding, this can help.

Use revenue-based funding for a portion of the raise.

These funds must be paid back but are non-dilutive to the cap table.

Consider low-end angel funding in which accredited investors write $25K checks.

For the right valuation, angel investors will come into the deal.

In addition to these funding options, consider customer funding.

This requires building custom projects for specific customers but if done right can continue to build out the platform and pay the bills.

On the strategic side, shift from a high burn rate to a low burn rate and grow organically for a while.

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.

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Show How Your Valuation Is Already Achieved

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Valuation is a key factor in a startup's fundraising.

Most startups show an aspirational valuation and then spend the pitch trying to convince investors it’s appropriate.

Most use their forecasted revenues to justify their valuation.

Forecasts hold little value to the investor and often leave them unconvinced about the proposed valuation.

Instead of using revenue, articulate the values already in the business.

Highlight the intellectual property and its value by showing comparables with other companies.

Show recent exits in which the IP was a central part of the valuation.

Show the other assets in the business, such as the team and their track record.

Call out the customers that you have already won.

Show the product and what has been built so far, and highlight the revenue generation underway.

In raising funding, show that your valuation has already been achieved.

Make the case by showing specific values already in the business that add up to the proposed valuation.

Futures hold little value to the investor.

Focus on what’s in the business today.

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/
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For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

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The Four Phases of a Pitch

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The successful startup pitch goes through four phases.

Start by capturing their imagination.

This could be a bold statement, such as we can solve cancer within ten years.

This sets the context for the problem to be solved.

Next, show your solution and how it will achieve the goal just set forth.

Show how the solution works at a high level.

Highlight the value proposition you have.

Next, make the case that shows how your business will be successful.

This includes the team and what they bring to the table.

Highlight the current traction.

This shows product and market validation -- the product works and customers will pay for it.

Finally, give the investor a call to action.

Instead of asking for the funding today, encourage them to learn more about the business.

This is basically asking for the next meeting.

Invite them to join the conversation.

There’s a natural arc to good pitches that takes the investor through your story.

Consider how to implement these four phases in your startup pitch.

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/
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In this episode of Investor Connect, we sit down with Ram Kolluri, Founder and Chief Investment Strategist at Expo-Wealth based in Austin, Texas. Ram shares his insights on navigating today’s wealth management landscape and how he's helping high-net-worth individuals access institutional-grade strategies. We talk about balancing traditional portfolio construction with exposure to private markets, and how families are increasingly looking for both performance and purpose. As Ram puts it, it’s not just about doing well — it's about doing good while doing it.

Ram dives into how Expo-Wealth approaches alternative investments like venture capital and private equity, especially in a world where clients demand real-time access, personalized dashboards, and responsiveness at the speed of a text message. He also discusses the evolution of investor education and how overcoming the fear of illiquidity is more about trust, communication, and introducing alternatives gradually. As the next generation steps up to manage family assets, Ram sees a growing appetite for impact, AI-driven opportunities, and proven sponsors with deep track records. The firm’s role, he says, is part educator, part fiduciary, and sometimes even part psychologist.

Looking ahead, we explore where the wealth management space is going — from the massive $50–60 trillion wealth transfer ahead to the increasing demand for transparency, digital integration, and high-touch relationships. Ram also hints at the next chapter for Expo-Wealth: blending high-caliber investment access with seamless technology and client empowerment.

Visit Expo-Wealth at expo-wealth.com/

Reach out to at rkolluri@expo-wealth.com , www.linkedin.com/in/ram-kolluri-7535396/ , and on 6099154338

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.