Share your experience raising money for the first time for your startup/MSME
Can someone here share first hand experience as an founder or as a core member, the experience they had when they approached a venture capitalist/investor to raise funds for their business? I have scanned a lot online but couldn't find any valuable post where people shared their experience trying to raise funds for the first time in India!
incognito
Stealth
a year ago
Getting conversations with analysts is pretty easy. After that you will get ghosted by everyone unless...
A) you have a good introduction or
b) a business that has gotten enough traction that you don't really need to talk to VCs anymore.
Truth is the big name VCs just need to wait until someone comes along with a good business yet is stupid enough to dilute and give up some control.
Why? because of decades of PR has taught a generation 'raising money is what what good entrepreneurs do'
Congratulations you took out a loan you need to pay back 10x else be deemed a failure by some dildo who has never operated a business.
This is coming from a person who has raised over $30m from VCs over the years.
codenerd
Stealth
a year ago
Wow man! That was so on point and well articulated reply! I agree with you 100%
Actually I just wanted to know about the experience incase someday there's a need. Just curious about it.. I too am of completely opposite belief just like you. Today's world has created so much hype about funding and stuff which makes people more anxious about getting funded than building a sensible, ethical and sustainable business. It's like a blind race where there is no head or tail. Sometimes we as newcomers think that we are stupid or lack the knowledge to understand the big game these people are playing but ultimately it's mostly all a sham. Obviously this is not 100% true but mostly yes.
Wow man that's amazing that you raised 30million usd.
Would love to connect with you if you're interested.. I can definitely benefit out of what you have to say.. I say this because soon I will be taking that jump from my job life to a business life.. do let me know if interested to have a conversation..
Nobody22
Stealth
a year ago
Bro, I will be out for raising soon and I have built a 3T framework for us to help in raising the money.
But before that, our core team has decided not to hype the fund raise internally. Instead, focus on what will lead us to raise money from the kind of VC we want. Few things which will lead us is Team, Traction and Timing.
I have worked with founders previously and saw how they get stressed in this process and we don't want to repeat the same time, can't afford a burnout at this stage.
How I think of fundraising:
-> Mindmapping the VC:
Understand the core of the business you are building and what stage you are at. How much you need to raise, if it's pre seed better raise from early state funds rather than big names. I can share my logic behind this if needed🙈
-> Pick your timing: Keep a track on the recent trends wrt to startup ecosystem. Try to look beyond VC and understand what market is demanding from. Creating Value will create valuation.
->Dont hype the funding: VC/investor are normal people doing their job. Their job is to bet on the best. So, make yourself a VC first in your mind and evaluate your business, as yourself questions talk to yourself as a VC. It will help you to see what your business can do.
Always up to assist😌
