Hey – it’s Jason Yeh 🕺🏻

This is my weekly recap of thoughts I’ve had while helping founders solve their fundraising challenges this past week (8.9.22)

[SIDE NOTE: There’s a reason this issue has such a specific focus. Read to the end for an exciting announcement]

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Twitter = “can’t believe this site is free”

There are often free laughs...

But more importantly... Twitter has given me a platform to share my fundraising advice with founders around the world.

On top of that it’s also been where I’ve learned and honed my own thinking about fundraising + built some great connections. I honestly can’t believe this site is free.

In particular, I’ve met two well-known VCs mostly over Twitter.

Elizabeth Yin from Hustle Fund:

And Mac Conwell from Rarebreed:

Elizabeth and Mac regularly share incredible wisdom about startups and fundraising. I’ve learned a lot from them just reading their content on Twitter.

Learn from the best

The content out of these two has been so good. The only challenge if you’re just learning about them is that they’re also super prolific. Where should you start?

Fear not. I’ve aggregated the top tweets from these two brilliant minds.

I’d highly recommend you go deep into their threads and absorb this content. And don't just stop at what they wrote...the replies are fire too! So many smart minds chiming in and adding even more color.

Top tweets from @dunkhippo33 and @macconwell:

Elizabeth Yin

1. This is gold.

Elizabeth goes through common focal points for most investors and gives her firm @hustlefundvc’s unique takes on some of them

2. Momentum and focus during fundraising… such important concepts.

So helpful to have these taught via behind the scenes commentary

3. Hearing Elizabeth share what went through her head during a special outreach/pitch will

a. help you learn investor psychology

and

b. give you a directional pattern to follow for how to catch an investor's eye (you don't have to match how intense this team was!)

4. You've heard me talk about the "angel army" strategy.

Here's a reminder from Elizabeth that the strategic value of angels far outweigh their monetary value..

Mac Conwell

1. This speaks to “it takes a village” and the challenge that outsiders have in playing the venture-backed game.

Do your best to build a “tribe” as Mac calls it…. You’ll need that team to problem solve with and to lean on…

2. I love seeing investors put out warnings for founders.

Here’s one especially relevant to the shifting tides. Something to talk about when it comes to what to expect in the current fundraising market!

3. Mac’s push is a great example of something that you might think is just a “sound better to investors” thing

...but is actually a “run a better business” thing too

Know why you raised the money and what you'll accomplish with it!

4. When you feel like you don't belong, you start sounding like you don't belong...then people think you don't belong.

Mac sums this up well. You to break the cycle with confidence

Why all the gushing love?

Obviously, the content curation above was crazy valuable. If I left it there, this would be a banger issue of the newsletter. But the narrow focus on 2 VCs is still a bit strange. Why all the love?

You might have noticed it in the newsletter header image last week, but here is the formal announcement:

Elizabeth and Mac are joining me in next week’s workshop to share their insights on how the fundraising environment has changed and what founders should expect.

This will be an opportunity to learn from two of the brightest and most founder friendly minds in the business. We’ll make it interactive and ensure lots of founders get to ask questions.

We have over 350+ founders registered. Make sure you sign up today!

Smart Twitter Takes

Really helpful to see this equity split data…

Even VCs are running into tough fundraising times…

P.S. I definitely made money like this in high school