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$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
Jason Kirby
97 episodes
6 days ago
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!
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Entrepreneurship
Business
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All content for $100M Exits with Jason Kirby is the property of Jason Kirby and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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!
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business
Episodes (20/97)
$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 95: How to Sell Your Startup: The Founder’s M&A Playbook

Most founders sell the wrong way. Here’s how to do it right.

📣 Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at https://web.thunder.vc/vc-investor-list


What you’ll learn in this episode:

Forget the unicorn dream. This is how real founders achieve life-changing exits. Jason Kirby and Oliver Low — partners at Thunder — break down how to navigate the M&A process from both sides of the table: when to sell, how to structure a deal, and what to avoid when your future is on the line.


🔥 3-6 Tactical Takeaways:

  • Why timing your exit matters more than valuation

  • How to avoid the #1 killer of founder wealth: earnouts

  • The rise of private equity buyers and what it means for startups

  • How “venture orphans” can still create massive outcomes

  • What Thunder looks for before taking founders to market


When Oliver Low sold his startup, it wasn’t a clean, overnight success story.

It was years of building, negotiating, and learning the hard way how M&A really works.

His company, Platform 360, eventually became part of a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange but the journey there was anything but straightforward.

There were earnouts that didn’t go as planned.

Buyers who vanished mid-deal.

And market conditions that turned every negotiation into a gamble.

For founders considering an exit or just trying to understand how real M&A unfolds — this conversation is a masterclass in playing the long game.


Want more insights? Check out the full shownotes for Episode 95! HERE


Show more...
6 days ago
1 hour 3 minutes 33 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 94: I Bet My Entire Net Worth on Life360 — It Paid $8B Later

When Itamar Novick joined Life360, it wasn’t the family safety app we know today.

The team was small. The product was rough. The future? Uncertain.


Then came the moment that would define everything:

👉 The company was out of cash.

👉 Investors were skeptical.

👉 Itamar had a choice — walk away or double down.


He chose to bet his entire net worth on the company.

That all-in moment eventually led to one of the most unique IPO journeys in tech — first in Australia, then on the NASDAQ. The risk paid off. Life360 became an $8B household name.


In our new $100M Exits episode, Itamar shares:

  • What it really takes to bet on yourself at scale

  • How he managed acquisitions and integration while prepping for IPO

  • Why the hardest part of raising $200M wasn’t the money

For founders thinking about scaling beyond survival, this story hits hard.


Here’s what you’re in for:

01:41 From employee to cofounder and the leap that changed everything

05:37 Raising capital when everyone says no

06:21 Why big risky swings are the only way to win

08:21 Scaling Life360 from idea to household name

22:17 Acquiring startups and merging top talent

37:48 Behind the IPO curtain and the tough calls nobody talks about

40:41 Taking the leap to go public

43:06 Why they chose Australia for the IPO

44:47 Making the move to NASDAQ

48:18 Founding Recursive Ventures and the next chapter

52:02 Investing in the future with AI and founder-first thinking

59:52 Hard-earned wisdom every founder should hear

01:01:15 Getting funded with Recursive Ventures

01:07:14 Final reflections and where to connect


Looking for capital or to sell your company?


Get a list of vetted & relevant Investors for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode94&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode94&utm_id=%24100M++Exits


ABOUT ITAMAR NOVICK

Itamar Novick is the founder and solo GP of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund backing startups in fintech, AI, and emerging tech. With experience as a founder, operator, institutional VC, and angel investor, he’s seen the startup journey from every angle.

Itamar has invested in and supported 50+ successful startups, including Deel, Honeybook, Placer, Credible (IPO), MileIQ (acquired by Microsoft), Automatic Labs (acquired by SiriusXM), Tile (acquired by Life360), SafeGraph, and Armory. He was named one of Business Insider’s Top 100 global seed investors.

As an operator, Itamar helped scale Life360 from Seed to IPO, growing revenue to over $250M. Earlier, he was a founding team member and Head of Product at Gigya (acquired by SAP). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarnovick/

Website: https://www.itamarnovick.com/


ABOUT JASON KIRBY

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A, and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

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


ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.

Show more...
1 week ago
1 hour 7 minutes 39 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 93: Building Europe’s Palantir: How Max Buchan Raised $20M to Launch Valarian

Europe’s next defense-tech giant is being built in London. Subscribe & get our free investor/buyer list at thunder.vc

  • How Max Buchan helped take CoinShares from $0 to $50M revenue to $1.5B IPO —without VC money.

  • The insider story behind founding Valarian, the UK’s answer to Palantir.

  • Raising $20M in seed funding to build dual-use infrastructure for governments and enterprises.

  • The shift from crypto to defense tech and why “digital sovereignty” is the next trillion-dollar opportunity.

  • How Valarian attracted elite talent from Palantir, Darktrace, and top U.S. defense innovators.

  • Lessons for founders raising capital in deep tech and dual-use markets.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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=Episode93&utm_id=%24100M++Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode93&utm_id=%24100M++Exits


Here’s what you’re in for:

00:00 – How CoinShares hit $50M revenue with no VC

03:30 – The problem that sparked Valarian: cross-border data control

06:00 – Pivoting from secure messaging to compliance infrastructure

08:30 – Raising $11M pre-product and landing IQ Capital & Molten Ventures

10:20 – Expanding to $20M total seed and U.S. strategic backers

13:40 – How defense tech funding evolved post-Ukraine

16:00 – Defining product-market fit for dual-use infrastructure

18:00 – Recruiting Palantir and Darktrace execs to Valarian

23:30 – Why the UK talent system lags behind the U.S.

32:00 – Operating in stealth: why Valarian waited to go public

35:30 – The hardware Pelican Case: Valarian’s deployable defense tech

37:00 – Consolidation and M&A in Europe’s defense tech ecosystem

39:00 – Advice for founders building category-defining companies

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

ABOUT MAX BUCHAN

Max Buchan is the Founder and CEO of Valerian, a company building next-generation digital infrastructure to solve global data sovereignty challenges.

Before launching Valerian, Max was the first employee at CoinShares, where he worked directly with the co-founder and CEO. In just 18 months, CoinShares grew from an idea to over $55 million in revenue and nearly $2 billion in assets under management, expanding to almost 200 employees and later going public on the Nasdaq with a $1B+ valuation.

His experience scaling CoinShares across London, New York, Paris, Stockholm, and Jersey revealed a growing problem—how international companies manage data across borders. That insight inspired him to start Valerian, focused on digital sovereignty and secure global infrastructure.

Max holds a degree in History and Economics from the University of London and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for Technology.

You can reach out to Max through:

Website: https://www.valarian.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxbuchan

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the Managing Partner at Thunder.VC and host of $100M Exits. He’s helped thousands of founders navigate capital raises, M&A, and exits, with a focus on tactical, data-backed strategies.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

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

Show more...
2 weeks ago
41 minutes 41 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 92: Why I Left My $500M Startup to Start Again — Shay Levi (Unframe AI)

He sold for $500M—then started all over again. Get our free investor/buyer list at thunder.vc

  • Why Shay Levi left NoName Security after its $500M sale to Akamai

  • How he built Unframe AI and raised millions at a massive valuation

  • The mindset shift from cybersecurity to AI innovation

  • What founders get wrong about timing their exits

  • Lessons on capital efficiency and founder evolution after a big win

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

Looking for capital or to sell?


Get a list of vetted investors and buyers for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode92&utm_id=%24100M+Exits

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode92&utm_id=%24100M+Exits


Here’s what you’re in for:00:00 – Intro: From $500M exit to new beginnings

02:15 – The Akamai acquisition story: what really happened

05:40 – Why Shay left at the peak

08:20 – The “LLM moment” that sparked Unframe AI

11:10 – Founder reinvention: starting again after massive success

14:50 – Raising at a huge valuation from day one

18:30 – Cybersecurity vs AI: mindset and market lessons

22:00 – What $500M taught Shay about building the next one

25:10 – Advice to founders chasing their second act

28:00 – Jason’s recap and founder takeaways


About $100M Exits

$100M Exits is where founders and investors who’ve achieved $100M+ outcomes share raw, unfiltered lessons. Hosted by Jason Kirby, each episode dives deep into the psychology, strategy, and playbook behind 9-figure exits and the next wave of category-defining startups.


About the Guest – Shay Levi

Shay Levi is the co-founder and former CTO of NoName Security, which was acquired by Akamai for nearly $500M. After scaling one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity startups of the decade, Shay left to found Unframe AI, a new venture pushing the boundaries of AI infrastructure and reasoning systems. Known for his product-first mindset and calm precision as a technical founder, Shay is now building in one of the most competitive spaces of the decade.


You can reach out to Shay through:

Website: https://www.unframe.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylevi2/?originalSubdomain=il

Email: leave a comment to get an intro


About the Host – Jason Kirby

Jason Kirby is the Managing Partner at Thunder and host of $100M Exits, where he shares stories and lessons from founders who’ve raised, sold, or scaled to 9-figure outcomes. He’s an active investor and advisor to high-growth startups navigating capital and acquisition strategies.

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


Show more...
3 weeks ago
1 hour 1 minute 17 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 91: How She Bought Back Her Company From Investors

Melinda Nicca shares her story of raising capital, building a cash flow machine and buying it back from her investors to give herself independence again. In this episode, Jason Kirby talks with Melinda Nicci, Founder and CEO of Body Collective Group, and she opens up about her path as a health tech entrepreneur. She shares how her women’s wellness platform grew to reach over 6 million users, the highs and lows of fundraising, and the tough negotiations required to regain control of her company through a share repurchase.

Mel also talks about navigating investor relationships, launching new products, and the future of AI in wellness. Her story highlights resilience, strategic thinking, and the importance of understanding the investor landscape.

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

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=Episode91&utm_id=%24100M+Exits


Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode91&utm_id=%24100M+Exits


Here's what you're in for:

00:32 Mel’s Background & Vision

02:25 Building Body Collective Group

09:02 Fundraising Lessons

21:24 Product Development & Expansion

22:30 Navigating Investors

31:25 AI Wellness Coach Vision

35:39 Negotiating Buyouts & Reclaiming Ownership

51:11 Future Plans

55:26 How to Connect with Mel


ABOUT MELINDA NICCI

With more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of technology and global health, she has built AI-driven platforms that have reached over 6 million people in 130 countries. As the Founder & CEO of Body Collective Group, she created Bella AI, the world’s most advanced women’s health assistant, and pioneered digital wellness platforms including Baby2Body and MBODY.

Consistently recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Technology, she is known for translating AI research into real-world health applications, forging global partnerships, and scaling businesses to successful exits. Her board leadership spans high-performance sports and technology, with expertise in audit, risk, and strategy.

She is passionate about advancing women’s health, scaling AI for global health, and driving purpose-led innovation that balances commercial success with social impact.


You can reach out to Melinda through:

Website: https://www.baby2body.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindanicci/?originalSubdomain=uk


ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&A. 

He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&A, and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, M&A and business development. He’s transacted over $135M and his firm Thunder has transacted over $200M+


You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

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


ABOUT $100M EXITS

My goal is simple: to equip founders with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of capital strategy to take your company where you ultimately want it, by interviewing founders and investors who have already done it. 

For most, it’s a dream to sell for $100M+, but for others it’s too cash flow or IPO. Founders doing over $5M in revenue will benefit the most from this podcast. 

Be sure to subscribe and let me know who you want me to interview next.


Show more...
1 month ago
54 minutes 2 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 90: Search Funds Demystified: How Jon Staenberg (Agate Hound Fund) Nets 35% Annual Returns

This week, I chat with Jon Staenberg founding partner of Agate Hound Fund, to unpack the real mechanics behind venture capital and search funds. From his early days at Microsoft, to founding a search fund that delivers 35% net annual returns, Jon pulls no punches. He warns, “Don’t go into venture until you’ve actually got a skill,” and breaks down the challenges of buying a company. We explore how grit, curiosity, and critical thinking separate founders who retire early from those who build enduring empires, and why the “comprehensiveness of change today is astonishing.” 

Whether you’re curious about launching a search fund, leveling up in VC, or simply hungry for insights, this episode will equip you with the tools and the mindset to raise your game.


Raising capital?


Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode90&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode90&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


We explore:

  • 0:00 – Intro & Meet Jon Staenberg of Agate Hound Fund

  • 4:50 – “Microsoft was way beyond my expectations…”

  • 10:30 – “Don’t go into venture until you’ve actually got a skill”

  • 16:15 – Search Funds 101: “5% net annual return

  • 22:00 – “Buying a company is hard… it’s messy”

  • 28:05 – Why grit, curiosity & critical thinking win

  • 33:40 – The “retire early” myth vs. 60‑hour workweeks

  • 38:20 – AI & the comprehensiveness of change today

  • 42:10 – How to connect with Jon


ABOUT JON STAENBERG

Jon Staenberg is the founding partner of Agate Hound Fund, a search‑fund vehicle focused on acquiring and scaling founder‑owned companies. Before launching Agate Hound, Jon spent over a decade at Microsoft, where he led product strategy and saw firsthand how engagement and inspiration fuel innovation. A veteran operator turned investor, he’s passionate about teaching entrepreneurs that “buying a company is hard,” but also demonstrating how a disciplined, skill‑based approach can generate 35% net annual returns. Jon holds an MBA from Stanford and advises several high‑growth startups on go‑to‑market and capital strategy.


Get in touch with Jon:

Website: https://www.agatehound.fund/

Email: jon@agatehound.fund

 

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.


Show more...
4 months ago
43 minutes 6 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 89: From Uber to Snap to AI: Ben Chiang on Raising Millions Then vs Now

In this episode of Fundraising Demystified, I sit down with Ben Chiang, the former head of Uber China and founder of Forma (acquired by Snap- yes, from Snapchat), to unpack his journey through hypergrowth, high-stakes fundraising, and strategic exits. Ben shares the realities behind building in chaotic markets, the truth about investor dynamics post-exit, and how founders can stay sane while chasing scale.


We dive into the underrated benefits of QSBS (Qualified Small Business Stock), why consumer startups have it tougher than ever, and the unique marketing challenges of building AI products in today’s crowded landscape. Great watch if you’re curious about any aspect of building and exiting in tech.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

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=Episode89&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=Episode89&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


We talk:

00:00: From Zero to 50 Million Weekly Rides: Uber China’s Blitzscale Playbook

02:48: Why Market Fit Is Make or Break

06:07: Timing, Relationships & the Hidden Rules of Fundraising

08:58: Forma’s Acquisition by Snap: Behind the Deal

11:57: Luck, Credit, and the Realities of Startup Success

15:00: Negotiating from Leverage vs. Desperation

26:13: Founders vs. Investors: What Changes After an Exit

28:08: QSBS: The Most Underrated Tax Benefit in Startups

30:27: How Stock Market Volatility Affects Founders

32:11: Leaving Snap: Rediscovering Purpose

33:43: The Messy Reality of Building and Marketing AI Products

37:14: Fundraising Now vs. Then: What’s Actually Changed?

40:57: Herd Mentality and the Modern VC Landscape

44:07: What It Takes to Enjoy the Founder Journey

47:00: Final Advice: Know What You Want


ABOUT BEN CHIANG

Ben Chiang is a veteran operator and founder best known for launching Uber in China and later founding Forma, a startup acquired by Snap. His experience spans scaling platforms in hypercompetitive markets, navigating complex acquisitions, and now building across multiple AI content ventures.
Get in touch with Ben:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/ben_chiang

 

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.


Show more...
4 months ago
52 minutes 47 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 88: How a Broken Leave Policy Led to a $30M HR Tech Startup w/ Jenniffer Henderson (Tilt)

60 pitches in 90 days. A Series B term sheet that collapsed. A $15M valuation hit, and she still came out on top.


In this episode, Jennifer Henderson, founder of Colorado-based HR tech startup Tilt, breaks down exactly what it took to raise over $30 million in venture capital while balancing motherhood, market crashes, and investor whiplash.


Jen shares how Tilt was born out of personal trauma, why she built a leave management platform with empathy at its core, and what every founder, especially women, needs to know before walking into their next pitch.


From Techstars to term sheet disasters, this is the real story behind startup success in today’s market.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

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=Episode88&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=Episode88&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for:
00:00 – “I don’t come from money”: Why Jen chose venture

04:21 – Building Tilt from personal pain

06:08 – Sales tactics that worked

09:07 – How Techstars changed the fundraising game

11:53 – Raising Series A: Saying no to ‘cute’ term sheets

18:03 – Series B nightmares: exclusivity traps, errors & resilience

33:07 – The truth about AI in HR tech

39:02 – Advice to female founders: “Be successful. We need you.”

42:56 – Surviving the current startup market

 

ABOUT JENNIFER HENDERSON

Jennifer Henderson is the founder & CEO of Tilt, a Colorado-based HR tech platform that simplifies and humanizes leave of absence management for modern teams. After two traumatic parental leave experiences, she turned her frustration into a mission. From Starbucks barista to corporate leader to raising $30M+ across five rounds, Jen's journey is a masterclass in resilience, grit, and founder-first leadership. Tilt is now a trusted solution for teams across the U.S., navigating complex leave policies with care.

Connect with Jennifer on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferhendersonjctcjcdcEmail: hello@tilt.com


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.


Show more...
5 months ago
46 minutes 23 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 87: Customer Retention Over Acquisition? Travis Steffen, Who’s Done $200M in Deals, Says Yes

This week, I talk to Travis Steffen, who has built and sold eight companies. He’s raised over $100M and driven more than $200M in exits.


In this episode, we delve into what actually drives startup growth and what quietly undermines it. We also get into how one bad exit almost wrecked him, and what he learned from losing years and seven figures because of one avoidable mistake.


If you're a founder, operator, or even just thinking about building, this episode will give you a clearer view of what’s worth your attention.


—-------------------------------------------------------------------

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=Episode87&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=Episode87&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


We get into:

00:00 The Real Startup Journey: No Filters, No Hype

03:07 Why "Never Quit" Is Holding You Back

05:47 Churn: The Growth Killer Founders Ignore

09:12 What You Learn When a Startup Fails

12:05 Retention Isn’t a Metric. It’s a Strategy.

14:52 Why Investors Walk, Even If Your Numbers Look Good

17:48 The Retention-Valuation Link You Can’t Ignore

21:06 From Flatlined to $70M: A Turnaround Breakdown

34:37 How We Built the Most Trusted Brand in a Broken Industry

36:19 Revatto: Built to Solve Churn Without Adding Work

40:07 No Results, No Cost: A Different Kind of Retention Model

42:29 How To Save Customers, Without a Product Tutorial

45:10 You Probably Don’t Understand Your Churn. Here’s Why.

47:24 How to Test Revatto, with $1,000 in Free Recoveries

51:21 One Retention Habit That Changes the Game

54:24 The Exit That Went Sideways,  and What It Cost

 

ABOUT TRAVIS STEFFEN

Travis Steffen is a founder, operator, and builder with a track record most founders never reach. He’s exited eight companies, raised more than $100M, and led over $200M in M&A. His work spans SaaS, cannabis tech, fintech, and AI. Today, he’s the co-founder of Revatto, a company that helps subscription-based businesses retain more customers and only charges when it works.

Check out Revatto: https://www.revatto.com/

 

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.


Show more...
5 months ago
1 hour 5 minutes 21 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 86: What Founders Get Wrong About Exits (and How John Rood Got It Right)

Most founders dream of a life-changing exit. But few actually prepare for it, until it’s too late.


In this episode of Fundraising Demystified, I sit down with John Rood, an exited founder who scaled a tutoring side hustle into a global edtech business, and sold it for over eight figures to private equity.John also shares the story behind his book Beyond the Exit and why post-exit life is often not what you think it will be.

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

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=Episode86&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=Episode86&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


We talk:

00:00 – The Brutal Truth No One Tells Founders

02:04 – How John Turned Tutoring into SaaS Gold

05:21 – The Finance Hack That Boosted His Valuation

07:10 – What Really Kicks Off an Exit

11:08 – The $10M Mistake Founders Keep Making

13:59 – What’s Actually Enough for You?

17:01 – Why Most Founders Regret Life After Exit

22:52 – Angel Investing: The Ego Trap No One Admits

28:22 – The Weirdly Happy Knife Founder Story

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

About John Rood

John Rood is the author of Beyond the Exit and the founder of one of the world’s leading pre-med test prep businesses. After scaling the company into a content-and-software powerhouse, he exited for over eight figures to a private equity firm. He now advises founders on exit strategy and post-exit reinvention, drawing from both his wins and the emotional landmines no one warns you about.


Connect with John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrood1/

Get the book: https://www.beyondtheexitbook.com/


Show more...
5 months ago
40 minutes 19 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 85: From Burnout to Breakout: How Jennifer Tsai Bootstrapped Shoott.com to $10M After Raising $2.7M

What happens when you raise $2.7M... then realize you never want to raise again?


Jennifer Tsai, founder and CEO of Shoott.com, built a profitable photography marketplace from the ground up; surviving death threats from creatives, a brutal CAC spike post-iOS14, and the chaos of marketplace economics. In this episode of Fundraising Demystified, we dive into how she scaled to $10M in revenue, hit breakeven, and is now facing the “what’s next” moment many founders dream of, or dread.


Whether you're building a two-sided marketplace, wrestling with capital strategy, or wondering how to survive without more VC cash, this one's for you.


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=Episode85&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=Episode84&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


In this episode, you'll learn:

00:00 – Death Threats, Disruption & The Origin Story of Shoott.com

05:45 – Why Creatives Hated Us And How We Won Them Over

12:08 – From $80K to $10M: The Fundraising + Growth Playbook

17:52 – How We Hit Profitability (And 20x’d It)

21:26 – Cash Flow Roulette: Paying Creators Before Clients Pay Us

22:57 – The $300K Mistake That Nearly Sank Us

25:57 – Should You Raise, Sell, or Stay the Course?

27:32 – The Brutal Truth About Valuations in Today’s Market

30:38 – Founders: Before You Build a Marketplace, Watch This


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5 months ago
41 minutes 45 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 84: David Connors Used The Swarm to Raise Millions | Deal Flow, M&A, and Warm Intros

This week on Fundraising Demystified, I sat down with David Connors, founder of The Swarm, a Go-To-Network platform transforming how founders and investors connect- think LinkedIn but for companies.


David shares how he used The Swarm to raise capital for his own startup, how the product helps other founders close rounds, and what he learned from working at Sequoia.


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=Episode84&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=Episode84&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Sign up to get 70% off the Swarm: theswarm.com/thunder


Here’s what you’re in for:

00:42 - Who is David Connors and what is The Swarm?02:08 - How working at Sequoia birthed The Swarm

05:32 - Raising The Swarm’s $2M pre-seed round solo (and why it was capped)

11:37 - Raising a $4M seed and scaling a building a winning team

14:31 - How to find investors and pick the right ones for follow-on funding

18:52 - Getting warm intros for investor outreach in minutes

22:28 - The best kind of warm intros ranked

25:43 - Why Swarm raised an extension round

29:10 - The shift from SaaS to data, 10xing revenue and getting Hubspot Ventures to invest

32:40 - Vibe coding and AI tools that support The Swarm’s scale

35:02 - Top tips for personal branding that boosted growth


Check out the pre-seed investment memo for The Swarm here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wzo0PxFCyNgaD627-e2q2wefV0LUk4DJjnEr3R4b07k/edit?tab=t.0


ABOUT DAVID CONNORS

David Connors is the founder of The Swarm, a Go-to Network platform that helps startups access warm intros to capital, talent, and strategic partners. A second-time founder with deep experience in startup M&A, David previously built a company acquired by Levels, a Sequoia-backed health tech firm. With a background in enterprise sales and operations, he built The Swarm to solve one of the hardest problems founders face: getting in front of the right people without wasting time on cold outreach.


Connect with David via:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorsdavidWebsite: http://theswarm.com/


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.


Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.


#startupfunding #venturecapital #theswarm #founderstories #fundraisingdemystified #saas #data #investoroutreach


Show more...
6 months ago
39 minutes 45 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 83: Jess Loren on Digital Twins & Unconventional Strategies of Raising Capital as Female Founder

In this episode, Jess Loren, founder and CEO of Global Objects, shares her journey on raising capital as a female founder, including turning down a $20M offer and building her business using digital twins technology.


Jess dives into how she's building a tech company rooted in culture, purpose, and innovation, while navigating the fundraising landscape as a female CEO. We talk about generative AI in media, managing a startup as a mom, building a tech community, and how to use AI to boost productivity.


A great story about leadership, innovation, and startup resilience.

—-------------------------------------

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=Episode83&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=Episode83&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

00:35 – Raising Capital as a Female Founder: Intro to Jess Loren & Global Objects

03:06 – Building a Tech Community in LA

06:05 – Balancing Life as a Female CEO

08:42 – Digital Twins Technology for Culture & Innovation

13:16 – Using AI to Boost Productivity in Creative Industries

16:34 – Generative AI in Media & Entertainment

22:18 – Jess Loren’s Journey: From 2X Exit Founder to Building Global Objects

25:47 – Funding Strategies & Investor Alignment

28:16 – Global Objects' Mission and Growth Plan

31:30 – Startup Leadership as a Female CEO

34:05 – Jess Loren on Persistence, Boards & Building Visibility

 

ABOUT JESS LOREN

Jess Loren is a 2X exited founder and the CEO of Global Objects, a cutting-edge startup at the intersection of digital twins technology, cultural preservation, and generative AI. With a background in community building, immersive experiences, and Web3 innovation, Jess is known for her bold leadership, fundraising acumen, and vision for reshaping how we digitally capture and interact with the world. Her journey includes turning down a $20M term sheet to stay mission-aligned, proving that purpose and persistence can coexist at scale.


You can reach out to Jess through:

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

Global Objects' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalobjects/

 

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.


Show more...
6 months ago
43 minutes 52 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 82: How to Build a Startup Advisors | Barry Stamos of Supernova on Scaling & Managing Advisors

Startup Advisors can make or break your growth. In this episode, Barry Stamos of Supernova shares how to build a world-class startup advisory board, manage relationships, and scale successfully.


With real-world lessons from the Tuft & Needle journey and his advisory platform Supernova, Barry dives deep into sourcing the right advisors, setting success metrics, avoiding red flags, and aligning compensation with performance.

—------------------------------------------

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=Episode82&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=Episode82&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for: 

00:00 – Introduction

00:08 – Meet Barry Stamos: Founder of Supernova

00:43 – Barry’s startup journey and lessons from past exits

03:10 – Why startup advisors and mentors are critical

03:29 – Finding and managing startup advisors effectively

05:29 – Startup advisor success story: learning from experience

08:56 – The right time for early stage startup support

12:26 – Tuft & Needle case study: startup advisor success story

16:04 – The real role of startup advisors in startup growth

20:33 – Managing advisor relationships for success

21:27 – How to compensate startup advisors effectively

23:53 – How to find startup advisors and sourcing advisors for startups

25:55 – Making aggressive advisor requests

29:16 – Startup advisor horror stories and startup advisor red flags

33:05 – Introducing Supernova: the startup advisor platform

35:44 – How Supernova matches advisors with founders

37:51 – Advice for founders seeking advisors and building a startup advisory board

40:00 – How to connect with Barry Stamos and Supernova

—---------------------------

ABOUT BARRY STAMOS

Barry Stamos is a 3x exited founder, startup advisor, and CEO of Supernova—a platform that connects high-growth startups with a curated network of successfully exited founders. With a track record that includes advising breakout companies like Tuft & Needle, Barry specializes in helping startups scale smarter through strategic advisory boards, hands-on mentorship, and performance-driven advisor relationships.


You can reach out to Barry through:

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

Supernova's Website: https://1supernova.com/


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.


Show more...
6 months ago
42 minutes 47 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 81: IPO Market Trends 2025: Best Time to Go Public w/ Peter Goldstein | IPO Valuation & Readiness

This week, I host IPO market expert Peter Goldstein, who talks about the best time to IPO, how to position for strong IPO performance, what true IPO readiness looks like, and how companies are being valued in 2025.


If you're a founder eyeing the public markets, this is your roadmap. We dive into shifting investor sentiment, the surge in the secondary market, and strategic insights on when to go public, build public company credibility, and leverage equity in IPOs to your advantage.

______________________________________________________________

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=Episode81&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=Episode81&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – The 2025 IPO market

02:15 – Investor sentiment in the current IPO climate

04:40 – Why IPO timing is critical: the best time to IPO

07:25 – IPO valuation expectations and market sensitivities

10:05 – IPO readiness checklist for founders

12:50 – What happens after IPO: risks and surprises

16:15 – IPO performance in 2024 vs 2025

19:30 – Market cap requirements for IPO explained

22:10 – How equity in IPO impacts control and growth

25:20 – Benefits of going public beyond capital

28:05 – Public company credibility and strategic advantages

31:15 – The rise of the secondary market and investor access

34:30 – Private stock trading trends and access to liquidity

37:20 – When should you go public?

40:10 – Employee stock incentive strategies in public companies

43:30 – Parting shot from Peter Goldstein


ABOUT PETER GOLDSTEIN

Peter Goldstein is a leading expert in the IPO market, founder of Exchange Listing LLC, and author of The Entrepreneur’s IPO. With decades of experience guiding small and micro-cap companies through public offerings, Peter is known for helping founders navigate the complexities of going public. His deep understanding of IPO readiness, valuation, and investor strategy makes him one of the most trusted voices in the space.


You can reach out to Peter through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-goldstein-exchangelisting/


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.


Show more...
6 months ago
43 minutes 46 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 80: JC Glancy’s Unicorn Startup ZenBusiness From Credit Card Debt, Gave Up CEO, Hit $1B Valuation

JC Glancy, co-founder of ZenBusiness, shares his remarkable unicorn startup journey, from nearly drowning in credit card debt to building a billion-dollar startup. In a bold and rare move, he gave up the CEO title early on but still led the company to raise a $200M Series C and dominate the legal tech space.


This episode dives deep into startup realities: raising venture capital, overcoming failure, building an unbeatable team, outmaneuvering big competitors like LegalZoom, and scaling ZenBusiness through SEO, affiliate marketing, and obsessive customer focus.

______________________________________________________________

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=Episode80&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=Episode80&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – Intro: JC Glancy’s founder success story begins

02:30 – Credit card debt & early startup struggles

06:15 – Building ZenBusiness into a unicorn startup

09:00 – Giving up the CEO title: The bold move

12:50 – How ZenBusiness outperformed LegalZoom

16:10 – Product market fit: Why the early products failed

19:45 – The SEO and affiliate marketing funnel that scaled

23:30 – Fundraising strategy: From angels to $200M Series C

28:20 – Building a powerful startup team without resources

32:10 – COVID pivot story: How ZenBusiness exploded in growth

37:00 – Recruiting top talent post-Series C

41:30 – Founder exit strategy: Why JC stepped back

45:00 – What JC is building next + advice for future unicorn founders


ABOUT JC GLANCY

JC Glancy is the co-founder of ZenBusiness, a unicorn startup that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. From maxed-out credit cards to a $1B valuation, JC’s journey is a powerful founder success story. As head of product marketing, he built ZenBusiness’s marketing machine—driving explosive growth through SEO, affiliates, and data-driven customer insights. He gave up the CEO title, helped raise a $200M Series C, and led the company to outpace giants like LegalZoom.


Connect with JC:

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


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.


Show more...
7 months ago
47 minutes 49 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 79: How to Attract Influencers to Promote Your Startup: Celebrity Marketing & Influencer Deals Explained

In this episode, Gil Eyal of Stardust Ventures shares expert insights on celebrity marketing and influencer deals for startups. Learn how to pitch your startup to influencers, find the best platforms to connect, and structure celebrity deals, all without breaking the bank. Plus, discover the biggest mistakes startups make with influencer marketing and how to avoid them.

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

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=Episode79&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=Episode79&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – Intro | How to attract influencers to your startup (Gil Eyal’s expert take)

02:15 – The truth about celebrity marketing (Why celebs care about startups)

05:30 – Biggest mistakes startups make with influencer marketing

09:45 – How to get access to celebrities & influencers (Stardust Ventures' insights)

13:20 – The power of storytelling in influencer marketing (Why authenticity wins)

17:05 – How to pitch your startup to influencers (Gil Eyal’s step-by-step strategy)

20:50 – Best platforms to connect with influencers (Where to find the right talent)

25:10 – How to structure influencer & celebrity deals (Equity vs. cash agreements)

29:40 – How celebrity partnerships impact startup valuations (Real success stories)

35:00 – The most effective marketing channels for startups (Gil Eyal’s top picks)

39:00 – B2B vs. B2C influencer marketing (How to make it work in different industries)

43:00 – Final advice from Gil Eyal on startup growth & fundraising


ABOUT GIL EYAL

Gil Eyal is a leading expert in celebrity endorsements and influencer marketing, known for revolutionizing how brands leverage data-driven influencer strategies. As the Founder and former President of HYPR, he built the market leader in influencer marketing automation, which won multiple industry awards before being acquired by Juliusworks in 2020.

A veteran of 200+ celebrity endorsement deals, Gil has worked with Leonardo DiCaprio, Serena Williams, Zendaya, Pitbull, and Stephen Curry, among others. Today, as the Founder of Stardust Ventures, Gil helps consumer startups scale through strategic celebrity partnerships.


You can reach out to Gil through:

Website Stardust Ventures: https://stardustventures.us/

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


ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with four multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. In his career, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs 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.


Show more...
7 months ago
46 minutes 41 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 78: How to Make a Startup Successful, Founder Mindset & Startup Operations with Adam Spector of Chore

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Spector, CEO of Chore, to break down founder mindset, startup operations, and how to make a startup successful. Adam shares what separates successful startup founders from those who fail, covering topics like founder time management, startup productivity, outsourcing, and the best outsourcing tools for startups. We also dive into the reality of starting a business, common founder mistakes, and how to scale effectively. If you're a founder, investor, or entrepreneur, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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

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=Episode78&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=Episode78&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


Check out Chore: https://www.hirechore.com/partner/fundraising-demystified?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Thunder_VC&utm_campaign=Fundraising+Demystified


What to expect from this episode:

00:00 – Why Founders Waste Time on the Wrong Things (and How to Fix It) 

05:30 – The Brutal Truth About Startup Productivity Hacks 

12:45 – How to Outsource Like a Pro and Scale Faster 

18:20 – The Best Tools and Services to Automate Your Startup Ops 

22:10 – The Harsh Reality of Starting a Business (What No One Tells You) 

28:50 – The Biggest Mistakes That Lead to Founder Burnout and Failure 

35:40 – The Ultimate Playbook for Making a Startup Successful


ABOUT ADAM SPECTOR

Adam Spector is a 4-time founder, startup advisor, and investor with experience in scaling companies and optimizing startup operations. As the CEO of Chore, he helps founders and teams focus on what matters by providing fractional chief-of-staff services to streamline back-office work. Adam has invested in over 200 startups, giving him unique insights into why startups fail and what it truly takes to succeed.


Chore Webiste: https://www.hirechore.com/

Adam Spector LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamspector2/


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.



Show more...
7 months ago
51 minutes 4 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 77: How To Spot Massive Early-Stage Startup Trends With Katelyn Donnelly Of Avalanche VC

How do you identify and capitalize on the biggest upcoming trends?


Katelyn Donnelly, GP of Avalanche Ventures, unveils her unique investment strategy focusing on "avalanches" – inevitable market trends driven by societal and technological shifts. In this episode, Katelyn shares her insights on what VCs look for in early-stage startups, emphasizing the importance of founders building their life's work and understanding the nuances of early-stage venture capital. 

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

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=Episode77&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=Episode77&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


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

00:10 Avalanche Ventures Thesis

01:13 Identifying Market Trends

04:04 KatelynDonnelly's Background

06:28 Avalanche Ventures Investment Focus

07:28 Examples of Avalanche Investments

11:15 Solo GP Experience

13:03 Evaluating Investment Opportunities

14:41 Cold Emailing Advice for Founders

19:29 Austin's Startup Ecosystem

20:49 Venture Capital Insights

28:17 Future Market Trends

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ABOUT KATELYN DONNELLY

Katelyn Donnelly is the Managing Partner of Avalanche VC, an early-stage venture firm that invests in technology companies transforming how people learn, earn, and own. Her extensive background includes co-founding Delivery Associates, a leading public sector advisory firm, and serving as Managing Director of Pearson Ventures, a global EdTech venture fund. Donnelly's career also features time at McKinsey & Company, and she has been recognized for her achievements, including being named to Forbes 30 Under 30. She is actively involved in shaping the future of education and technology, and is a member of Duke University's Learning Innovation Advisory Council.


Connect with Katelyn:

Katelyn's Website: https://katelyndonnelly.com/

Avalanche VC Website: https://www.avalanche.vc/


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: Jason Kirby


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.


Show more...
7 months ago
32 minutes 22 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
EP 76: What VC Look For in Early Stage Startups with Dave Lambert Right Side Capital Management

Wondering what VCs look for in early-stage startups? In this episode, Dave Lambert, Managing Partner at Right Side Capital Management, shares insights on how to get funding for a tech startup, the importance of technical co-founders, and how to raise pre-seed capital while keeping control of your business.


With over 2,000 investments, Dave reveals the fundraising strategies that work in 2025, common mistakes founders make, and why capital efficiency matters more than high valuations. 

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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=Episode76&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=Episode76&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast


IN THIS EPISODE

[00:00] Dave Lambert from Right Side Capital Management and Early-Stage Startup Investing

[02:15] What VCs Look for in Early-Stage Startups

[07:34] Fund Size and Unique Approach

[15:40] Valuation Trends and Market Dynamics

[07:34] RightSide Capital’s Unique Investment Strategy & Fund Size

[15:40] Startup Valuation Trends & Market Changes|

[17:29] AI’s Impact on Early-Stage Startup Investments

[20:42] Fundraising Challenges & How Founders Can Overcome Them

[27:36] Venture Capital vs. Bootstrapping: Choosing the Right Path

[29:04] The Role of Transparent Communication in Startup Fundraising

[31:18] How CEOs Should Manage Investor & Board Relations

[36:13] How to Provide Investor Updates That Build Trust

[43:36] Why Low Cash Burn is Critical for Early-Stage Startups

[45:33] The Future of Early-Stage Venture Capital & Startup Funding

[49:42] How to Connect with Dave Lambert 


ABOUT DAVE LAMBERT

Dave Lambert is the Founder and Managing Partner of Right Side Capital Management (RSCM), a venture firm specializing in early-stage startup investing. With over 2,000 investments, RSCM focuses on capital-efficient tech startups, making fast investment decisions at valuations under $4M.

A former exited founder, Dave brings decades of experience in startup growth, fundraising strategies, and pre-seed investing.


Connect with Dave:

Right Side Capital Management Website: https://www.rightsidecapital.com/

Dave Lambert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlambert55/


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: 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.


Show more...
8 months ago
51 minutes 37 seconds

$100M Exits with Jason Kirby
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!