• Fundraising: Demystified! True Stories Direct From Founders

  • Auteur(s): Jason Kirby
  • Podcast

Fundraising: Demystified! True Stories Direct From Founders

Auteur(s): Jason Kirby
  • Résumé

  • In this podcast, we uncover the untold stories of founders who have weathered the highs and lows of raising capital. We go beyond the headlines and Techcrunch funding news articles to explore the uncharted territories of the fundraising landscape. In each episode, we'll sit down with founders from various industries who have raised venture capital to bring their visions to life. They'll open up about their personal journeys, fundraising tactics & more. If you're a founder, this podcast offers a ton of value & insights you can apply to your fundraising journey. Don't forget to hit subscribe!
    Jason Kirby
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Épisodes
  • EP 74: Jon Tucker of HelpFlow on AI for business efficiency and Evaluating AI Performance
    Feb 20 2025

    AI for Business Efficiency is reshaping how companies operate, and in this episode, Jon Tucker, founder of HelpFlow, shares how AI is transforming customer service, workflow automation, and decision-making. We dive into Evaluating AI Performance, optimizing operations, and leveraging AI to scale businesses while staying competitive.


    Jon reveals how AI reduces workforce needs, enhances productivity, and even impacts venture capital and startup growth. We also explore Boardy AI, AI-assisted coding, and the rise of Chief AI Officers.

    -------------------------------

    Raising capital?

    Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:

    https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode74&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


    Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

    https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode74&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


    If you’re looking to maximize AI output and boost efficiency, this episode is packed with insights. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more!


    Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

    00:00 - Introduction to Jon Tucker & HelpFlow

    01:30 - AI’s impact on customer service & workforce

    reduction

    04:00 - The importance of Evaluating AI Performance

    07:15 - How AI enables business efficiency and scalability

    12:45 - AI’s role in startup growth and venture capital trends

    18:30 - AI workflow automation & AI-assisted coding

    24:00 - Future of AI: Chief AI Officers, automation, and

    scaling

    28:30 - Boardy AI and next-gen AI-powered networking


    ABOUT JON TUCKER

    Jon Tucker is the CEO atHelpFlow.com. Over the past decade, he’s managed remote teams and faced the frustrations of micromanaging every detail—an experience that drove him to embrace AI for smarter delegation.


    Through HelpFlow’s “smart staff” model and their proprietary GuideLayer AI, Jon transforms traditional virtual assistants into high-value, autonomous team members. His goal? Free founders from busywork so they can scale faster and focus on what truly matters. Ready to see how AI can change the way you work? Try the AI at HelpFlow.com/demo-ai-video


    Connect with Jon Tucker:

    Website:HelpFlow.com

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


    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/


    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.





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    36 min
  • EP 73: Fundraising Quadrants Explained: Where Does Your Startup Fit?
    Feb 13 2025

    Not all startups should chase VC money. Some should bootstrap, others should take on debt, and a few are primed for private equity. So how do you know which path is right for you?


    In this episode,Jason Kirby breaks down theFundraising Quadrants—a framework that helps founders identify where they stand in their startup journey and what type of capital makes the most sense for them. Whether you’re running an AI startup, a SaaS company, or a growing e-commerce brand, this episode will help you avoid common fundraising mistakes and focus on strategies that align with your vision.

    ------------------------------------------

    Raising capital?


    Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode73&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


    Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode73&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


    Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

    00:00 Introduction to Fundraising Quadrants

    00:32 Speaker's Background and Expertise

    01:15 TheNorth Star framework: What do you really want to achieve?

    03:42 What are the Fundraising Quadrants? Find out where you stand

    05:29 Breaking down the quadrants: Early Growth, Established Growth, Strong but Slow,

    Struggling

    06:47 Venture Capital: When and how to attract investors (and when to avoid them!)

    09:09 Debt Financing: Leveraging assets, revenue, and strategic borrowing

    12:20 Private Equity: What PE firms look for & how to position your startup

    15:16 Planning Your Exit: M&A, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships

    18:24 The Big Question:Should you use investor money or bootstrap?

    18:44 HowThunder VC helps founders navigate fundraising

    -------------------------------------

    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/



    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.



    Voir plus Voir moins
    22 min
  • EP 72: Bootstrapping, Exiting, and Alternative Fundraising with Laurits Just
    Feb 6 2025
    Would you rather grind for years bootstrapping, take VC money with strings attached, or sell and move on? That’s the exact crossroads Laurits Just faced as the co-founder of BitsForDigits.In this episode, Laurits breaks down how he built and sold his startup, a marketplace for partial business acquisitions, and why he ultimately chose to exit instead of raising venture capital. He shares the highs and lows of bootstrapping, the challenge of getting a two-sided marketplace off the ground, and the inside story of negotiating his sale to Flippa.Now leading Flippa Invest, Laurits is on a mission to help founders secure funding—without the pressure of chasing unicorn status. If you’re a founder weighing your options, this episode will open your eyes to paths beyond traditional VC.---------------------------------------Raising capital?Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode72&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcastGet the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode72&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcastHere’s what you’ll find in this episode: 00:00: Introduction01:40: The story behind the startup and bootstrapping02:49: Overcoming the challenges of a two-sided marketplace05:44: Growing profitably and attracting acquisition offers06:03: Why Laurits and his co-founder decided to sell to Flippa09:53: Bootstrapping vs. raising capital: The three-door dilemma12:34: Running a competitive sale process for maximum exit value18:10: Life after the acquisition: Transitioning to Flippa Invest21:04: How Flippa Invest offers an alternative to VC funding24:19: The types of businesses that fit the Flippa Invest model28:12: Understanding valuation and fundraising expectations36:45: How founders can explore funding through Flippa InvestABOUT LAURITS JUSTLaurits Just is the co-founder and co-CEO of BitsForDigits, a marketplace for partial and full business acquisitions. With a background in finance, he worked at BlackRock and Rocket Internet in London before launching his startup. Holding three degrees—including a Master of Science from the London School of Economics—Laurits specialized in digital innovation, AI applications, and distributed ledger platforms.After leaving BlackRock, he co-founded BitsForDigits with a mission to provide liquidity solutions for self-funded business owners. Inspired by a blog post on Jeff Bezos' investment in Basecamp, he and his co-founder built a platform that made secondary transactions more accessible. After scaling the business to profitability, they ultimately exited to Flippa, where Laurits now leads Flippa Invest, helping founders secure funding beyond traditional VC.Connect with Laurits:Website: Flippa InvestLinkedIn: Laurits JustABOUT JASONJason 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.vcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIEDOur 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.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    42 min

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