The 6 most important fundraising concepts of 2021 + Fundraising Fieldnotes - 12.31.21

Hey - it’s Jason Yeh 🕺🏻

This is my Friday recap of thoughts I’ve had while helping founders solve their fundraising challenges this past week (12.31.21)

If you have any questions, please reply! I try to get to every comment/question I get :)

On to the Fieldnotes for 12.31.21…

The 6 most important fundraising concepts of 2021

"Don't let it drag. Line up the process and get it done all at once," I heard the partner say.

It was the end of a board meeting I attended in 2015 as a board observer for a Series A backed startup. The office setting was straight out of the show Silicon Valley- a converted loft space with dingy couches and makeshift desks just a block away from South Park in San Francisco. And that abrupt directive from the company’s lead investor / board member seemed just like something Russ Hanneman might say.

He was a General Partner at a big tier 1 VC (not Greycroft, the firm I worked for) whose wisdom came from his experience as a venture-backed founder with a large exit and an investor in multiple unicorn startups. We were discussing the company's upcoming fundraise and while the CEO had already raised $10MM, the deer-in-headlights look that washed across his face said everything.

He didn't know what the partner meant and needed more guidance — guidance which never came.

That moment was important for 2 reasons. 

First, hearing that partner's advice was when I first began formulating my ideas around calendar density as a fundraising strategy. 

Second, the interaction between guidance-hungry founder and wise but time-constrained partner stuck with me as a problem worth addressing within the world of fundraising.

In 2021, I dedicated all my time to immersing myself in the world of fundraising as a 3rd-party, not a venture capitalist or a startup CEO.

It's been refreshing. I'm no longer clouded by investor bias or founder anxiety. With added clarity and dedicated time, I've been able to translate fundraising concepts into educational material and help tons of founders find their path to raising capital. Unsurprisingly, the work has coincided with the most gratifying and professionally successful year of my career🙏

In this year-end wrap up essay, I want to remind you all of 6 crucial concepts I outlined in short essays in 2021. On their own, they've changed the course of numerous fundraises so I'm excited to bundle them into one mega-helpful list.

1. Calendar Density - I've become known for the concept of Calendar Density and for good reason. It's one of the most powerful forces in fundraising and I'm proud to have deconstructed it for greater understanding in this essay (read full post here).

Continue reading the full post with items 2 - 6 here…

Part of doing a fundraise well is being as efficient as possible. Apps and technology helps :)

There’s truth in humor. Some laughs + insights into investor psychology!

p.s. This is an oldie but a goodie. Def my engineers watching me test back in the day bwahaha

In case you missed it…

Last week I shared an important reminder that’s still relevant today.

Small asks!

If you thought this was helpful or enjoyable in anyway, I’d love for you to:

• Forward this newsletter with others who would enjoy it

• Follow me on Twitter where I’ve begun building in public (my course, my podcast, etc)!

• Listen with a friend to Funded, my podcast that tells the rollercoaster stories of how founders raised millions (and subscribe🙏)

• Ask me your fundraising questions so I can help you and cover them in a future issue