In this episode of The Funding Blueprint, Miriam Altman-Reyes discusses her journey from leading Kinvolved through to its successful exit and now managing a portfolio at Brass Ring Ventures, focusing on the essential communication skills that define great founders. She emphasizes the importance of both internal and external communication, noting that motivating teams and engaging stakeholders are crucial for any startup's growth. Miriam highlights the need for transparent communication, not only in decision-making but also in sharing the impact of the company's mission with customers and investors. She believes that great communication is about over-communicating the 'why' behind decisions and ensuring that every stakeholder feels included in the journey. Miriam also underscores the importance of storytelling in fundraising, particularly for mission-driven founders, advising them to translate their impact into growth metrics that resonate with investors while demonstrating how their mission drives customer retention and expansion.
She discusses her experience on both sides of the table, offering advice to founders preparing for a raise, especially in sectors like edtech or workforce development. Miriam suggests that founders should frame their impact alongside their traction, ensuring that their narrative ties the social mission directly to business growth. For those considering partnerships or acquisitions, Miriam advises looking for signals like pre-existing relationships and mutual benefits, stressing the importance of early relationship-building and thorough preparation of business documents. On talent acquisition and retention, she shares lessons learned from her transition from founder to investor, cautioning against common mistakes such as being swayed by big-name candidates without assessing their fit for a startup environment. Instead, she recommends setting clear values and goals from the outset and fostering a supportive team dynamic that aligns with the company's mission.
In this episode you’ll learn more about: startup success, team building, strategic partnerships, scaling with integrity, mission-driven startups, miriam altman-reyes, brass ring ventures, effective communication, partnership acquisitions, nurturing teams, financial success, customer relationships, trust-driven business, human-centric team building, scaling impact, economic mobility, strategic leadership, startup culture, founder communication, impactful ventures, investor alignment, ed tech, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, social impact, venture growth, startup integrity, business growth metrics, customer infinity loop, executive communication, founder storytelling, partnership evaluation, acquisition opportunities, organizational growth, customer retention, mission alignment, government sales, reputation management, funding blueprint
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