In this conversation, Craig Cummings, co-founder and general partner at Moonshots Capital, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship and venture capital. He discusses the importance of leadership, the pressure of delivering results, and the criteria for investing in startups. Craig emphasizes the need for effective communication with investors, the significance of understanding the VC ecosystem, and the value of building strong co-founder relationships. He also provides insights into what makes a successful pitch and the importance of choosing the right investors for long-term success.
In this engaging conversation, Chris and David Walker delve into the intricacies of the investment world, exploring David's journey from military service to becoming a seasoned investment professional. They discuss the challenges and grind of working in hedge funds, the importance of learning through experience, and the lessons learned from failures in starting hedge funds. David shares his insights on investing rules, the significance of scarcity in assets, and the evolving landscape of venture capital. The conversation wraps up with a focus on the future of finance and the necessity of having a solid investment strategy.
Connect with David:
https://www.jedburghadvisors.com/my-book
Join the Next Round community:
https://thenextround.online/
In this conversation, Chris and Stuart Webb discuss the importance of systems for founders, especially in the context of the growing influence of AI tools. They emphasize the need for clarity of vision, maintaining lead flow, delivering excellence, building a cohesive team, and knowing when to exit a business. Stuart shares his insights from his journey as a founder and the lessons learned from his experiences, highlighting the significance of mentorship and data-driven decision-making.
Connect with Stuart
Join the Next Round Community:
https://thenextround.online/
https://x.com/thecoachchris_
In this engaging conversation, Sam Sterling shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, detailing her transition from a corporate role to launching her own startups. She discusses the challenges she faced, including co-founder issues and funding obstacles, and how she navigated these to find innovative solutions. Sam emphasizes the importance of networking, validating assumptions, and the courage to start, regardless of age or background. Her insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring founders, particularly those who may feel marginalized in the startup ecosystem.
Connect with Sam:
https://www.instagram.com/theserialfounder/
https://theserialfounder.substack.com/
Join the Next Round community:
https://thenextround.online/
https://x.com/thecoachchris_
In this episode, Chris emphasizes the importance of distribution over product perfection. He shares insights on how great distribution can elevate a mediocre product, while a perfect product without reach remains unnoticed. Chris discusses strategies for founders to focus on distribution, including understanding channels, leveraging existing audiences, and the significance of storytelling and partnerships.
Join the community: https://nextround.online
In this conversation, Kelly Perdew, co-founder and managing partner of Moonshots Capital, discusses the critical role of extraordinary leadership in startup success, drawing from his military background and experience as a venture capitalist. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding for founders, the challenges of navigating government contracts, and the necessity of transitioning from a hands-on founder to a more strategic CEO role. Perdew also shares insights on identifying red flags in startups and the future vision for his investment firm.
More on Kelly Perdew
Kelly is the Managing General Partner of Moonshots Capital, a seed-stage VC firm that invests in technology companies founded by extraordinary leaders. He has been investing in and advising leading U.S. start-ups since 2004, including LinkedIn (LNKD), Pandora (P), TrueCar (TRUE), Gretel, and ID.me. He has invested in 114 companies, amassing 27 exits and 12 unicorns.
Join the Next Round community:
https://thenextround.online/tag/free-resource/
https://x.com/thecoachchris_
In this episode, Chris discusses the critical shifts in identity that founders must undergo to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, market influence, and building a strong team to achieve product-market fit. The conversation underscores the importance of founders articulating their vision, engaging with their target market, and entrusting others to help execute their ideas effectively.
Join the Next Round community:
https://nextround.online
In this conversation, Chris and Logan Weaver discuss the impressive growth of Surmount AI, transitioning from a B2C to a B2B model, and the strategies that have led to their success. Logan shares insights on distribution, content marketing, team dynamics, and the evolving funding landscape, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the right investors. The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities in the investment management sector, as well as Logan's vision for the future of the company.
Check out Logan:
https://x.com/LogWeaver
https://surmount.ai/
More from the Next Round brand:
https://thenextround.online/
https://twitter.com/thecoachchris_
Why Personal Branding Is Your Secret Weapon as a Founder
In this episode, Chris breaks down why personal branding has become non-negotiable for startup founders in 2025 - and it's not about follower counts or going viral.
⚡ Key Takeaways:
📋 Chris's Personal Branding Framework"
🎯 The Real Test of Your Personal Brand: "What do people say about you when you're not around?" If connections can refer you based on what you're known for, you're winning.
🔥 Hot Takes:
Every founder should make their own content (AI can't replace your voice, face, and presence)
Don't rely solely on social media - many successful founders aren't "killing it" on social
Your personal story matters as much as your product to VCs
Let's connect:
https://x.com/thecoachchris_
https://thenextround.news
In this episode of Next Round Ready, Jon sits down with Dana Robinson, a seasoned founder and investor, to explore how startups can refine their pitch to not just raise money — but to make an impact. Dana shares hard-earned insights on connecting with investors, aligning your story with your mission, and standing out in today’s competitive funding environment.
Whether you’re a first-time founder or preparing for your next round, this conversation will give you tactical advice on how to craft a pitch for impact that resonates.
Key Takeaways
* Clarity over complexity – How to simplify your pitch so anyone can understand it in 30 seconds.
* Mission-driven storytelling – Why investors care about more than numbers and how your vision can be your edge.
* Common mistakes founders make – The “data dump” vs. the “story gap.”
* Investor psychology – What’s really happening in the mind of a VC when you’re pitching.
* Actionable frameworks – Dana’s proven methods for structuring your deck and conversation.
Timestamps
* 00:00 – Intro: Why “pitch for impact” matters in today’s startup climate
* 04:15 – The power of founder storytelling
* 09:40 – Numbers vs narrative: Striking the balance
* 15:20 – The biggest red flags investors see in pitches
* 22:45 – Dana’s step-by-step framework for structuring a pitch
* 31:10 – Closing thoughts and advice for founders heading into fundraising season
Quotes from Dana Robinson
“A great pitch doesn’t just get you funding — it gets people believing in your mission.”
“Investors invest in people and purpose, not just in projections.”
Resources & Links
* Connect with Dana Robinson:
https://pitch4impact.com/
* Learn more about Next Round Ready: https://HinesightMarketing.com
* Related episode: https://www.hinesightmarketing.com/blog/start-content-marketing-guide
👉 If you’re a founder preparing for your next round, subscribe to Next Round Ready for more expert insights.👉 Share this episode with a fellow founder who’s polishing their pitch.👉 Want help with your fundraising content strategy? Visit Hinesight Marketing!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehinesight.substack.com
Let’s breakdown exactly how you can use content as leverage. This episode gets super tactical.
Build in Public — Show the Journey
* Share product updates, wins, and lessons learned weekly
* Create “mini case studies” of customer results
* Transparency builds trust — especially with early adopters and investors
Create Educational Content for Your ICP
* Teach, don’t just sell — solve your target audience’s problems in your content
* Use blog posts, short-form videos, and webinars to establish authority
* Leverage customer questions as your content calendar
Leverage Other People’s Platforms
* Guest on podcasts in your niche
* Partner with aligned brands for webinars or content swaps
* Tap into industry newsletters with guest articles or sponsored features
Get your free Thought Leadership Scorecard! We’ll breakdown exactly where you rank and how you can improve practically overnight.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehinesight.substack.com
In this episode of Next Round Ready, I sit down with Shaun Gold — venture capitalist, author, and serial connector — to unpack what founders really need to know when approaching investors. Shaun shares candid insights from the VC side of the table, including how deal flow is evaluated, why storytelling is critical in pitching, and what separates the founders who get funded from the ones who fade away.
Whether you’re raising your first round or planning your next, this conversation will give you a clear, insider view of the fundraising process.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
* How VCs filter and prioritize deals from the hundreds they see
* Why pre-existing relationships matter more than cold outreach
* The one thing most founders overlook in their pitch decks
* How market positioning can increase your chances of funding
* Why timing and narrative can be as important as traction
Key Quote from Shaun:
"It’s not just about the numbers — it’s about the story behind the numbers and whether I believe the founder can make it happen."
Founders Tune InStartup founders preparing for their next raise, entrepreneurs building their investor network, and anyone curious about the venture capital mindset.
Links and Resources
* Connect with Shaun Gold on LinkedIn
* Follow Next Round Ready for more conversations with investors, founders, and startup operators.
Get Started NowIf you’re ready to turn your vision into a compelling investor pitch, start with your free Thought Leadership Scorecard now/.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehinesight.substack.com
There’s really only two things you need to build a media brand for your company. By the way, these things work together. You can create content around your company as you’re building and growing.
Commit to a Format - Video is king! You can’t create great content without video. Most of the other great content comes from video first. Once you record a great video, you can develop different pieces of content from that.
Build a Schedule - Scheduling is very important. You have to show up consistently for your audience. Build the connection with them by always answering questions and engaging with them intentionally.
Build your brand today. Start with our free Thought Leadership Scorecard.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehinesight.substack.com
In this episode of Next Round Ready, Coach Chris sits down with an insightful guest Steph from OpenVC to explore how authentic relationships with fellow founders, operators, and investors can unlock growth and funding opportunities.
They unpack the power of community in the startup space, from deal flow and strategic partnerships to gaining clarity before a fundraise. You’ll hear how real conversations, not just content, help founders accelerate their journey and build trust in the market.
What we discuss
* The mindset shift from content as marketing → to content as a credibility signal
* Why community-led growth isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a strategy
* How warm intros still drive most of startup fundraising
* Mistakes founders make when chasing attention instead of traction
* Tactical ways to engage with peers and potential investors before you're ready to pitch
Connect with Steph on LinkedIn
Resources & Mentions:
* Score yourself with the Next Round Ready Scorecard
* Follow Coach Chris on Twitter
* Subscribe to the Hinesight Newsletter
Content isn’t just about generating leads — it’s about building investor trust.
Before a single pitch meeting, most VCs are already watching you from a distance. They’re checking your updates, reading your posts, and evaluating your ability to communicate, lead, and build in public.
So how do you earn that trust before you ever ask for a check?
You’ll learn:
* Why VCs are silently watching your moves online
* The specific signals that scream “this founder is fundable”
* How to build a trust funnel that makes investors reach out to you
This episode includes examples of founders who built their brand publicly — and raised millions because of it.
In this episode of Next Round Ready, Dan Banning joins me, Coach Chris, to unpack the marketing mindset founders need before they raise money, launch campaigns, or hire agencies. Dan brings years of experience working with venture-backed startups and shares actionable lessons on building traction without wasting time or budget.
We had a great discussion on brand awareness and how it gets confused with real marketing channels. Then we talked about “minimum viable marketing” and what it looks like in practice.
Key Topics we Covered
* Why your marketing strategy should be tied to your GTM model
* What to do before hiring a marketing agency
* How to create a message that lands with your ideal customer
* Why content is the fastest path to founder visibility
* What successful early stage marketing actually looks like
Episode Highlights:
* “You can’t outsource strategy if you don’t know your story yet.”
* “A founder who knows their customer wins even if the product isn’t perfect.”
* “Most startups don’t need more awareness—they need more clarity.”
Join the Discussion
Enjoyed the episode?💌 Subscribe to the Hinesight Marketing newsletter for founder marketing breakdowns📞 Get your Thought Leadership Scorecard → Get your scorecard here.
Content isn’t seen as important to most VCs but the biggest companies in the world are taking content seriously now. a16z and Y Combinator are putting out videos and podcasts everyday. Let’s breakdown how you can use your expertise as a venture capitalists to scale your brand.
This episode covers:
* How to think about content as a VC
* Why 1 post per week can shift your inbound
* What the best in the game are doing differently
You might be great at sourcing, supporting, and spotting winners. But if nobody knows what you stand for, you’re forgettable. Content helps you show up before you need to show up.
Amplify Your Portfolio 💼Every win, insight, or market shift is a chance to shine light on your founders—and position yourself as the one who spotted it early. Content turns portfolio success into pipeline leverage.
Why Start Content Now? ⏳Because reputation compounds. The earlier you start, the sooner your name is top of mind for top-tier founders, LPs, and co-investors.
If you’re a venture capitalists ready to get into content, let’s connect. Get your Thought Leadership Scorecard now.
Every startup founder I know is fighting the same battle: What’s the strategy to stand out, build trust and create momentum without a massive budget?
After 10 years of building content across YouTube, newsletters, and startup teams, I saw the same pattern over and over: Startups that win find ways to communicate. They usually do that through content. It could be shitposting on Twitter, daily TikToks or fancy YouTube videos. No matter what, these companies take content seriously.
That’s why I started Next Round Ready. I want to help companies use content to get results.
🎯 What You’ll Get From This Show
Each week, I’ll drop two episodes:
* Tuesdays: In-depth conversations with founders, venture capitalists, and angel investors
* Thursdays: Tactical solo episodes. I want to share what I learn behind the scenes from these experts
This isn’t theory. It’s the real stuff you can apply now. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the idea phase or focused on raising.
💡 Who This Is For
This show is for you if:
* You’re a founder, marketer, or early operator at a startup
* You’re tired of spamming VCs on LinkedIn and never getting a response
* You want to prioritize content that will help you get more leads, build a real presence and get Next Round Ready
Whether you’re pre-seed or heading into a Series A, Next Round Ready will give you the tools to make content your unfair advantage.
🔥 Let’s Get Connected
I’m active on Twitter, YouTube, and of course ol’ faithful LinkedIn.
