Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

In this episode, Nomiki Petrolla founder of Theanna, a groundbreaking platform empowering women tech founders, unpacks the realities of startup success few talk about. She reveals why crossing major business milestones remains elusive for most founders and how a combination of grit, knowing your product inside out, and embracing rejection can transform your journey. What’s inside: • The systemic challenges and gaps women founders face in tech and funding • How to own your product vision without losing control • “Rejection therapy” - why being comfortable with failure is a superpower • The obsession and rapid experimentation mindset every entrepreneur needs • Building a supportive community that fuels growth and accountability • How to validate ideas efficiently and avoid costly missteps • Balancing cutting-edge AI tools with genuine human connection • Practical wisdom from someone leading a women-first startup revolution If you’re on the path to scaling your business, breaking barriers, or fueling unstoppable growth, this episode offers a raw yet hopeful blueprint for owning your vision and reaching new heights. 📌 Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, women founders, startup enthusiasts, and changemakers committed to making an impact. Connect with Nomiki Petrolla(Guest): LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nomikipetrolla/ Website: https://theanna.io/v2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Trailer 0:58 - Intro 1:23 - Why do only 2% of VC funds go to women? What’s Ana’s mission to change that? 1:42 - What inspired you to build Ana? What was the defining moment? 5:00 - Why does a business fundamentals skill gap exist for women founders? 7:40 - What top 2–3 skills should women focus on when starting a business? 12:30 - What did day one of building Ana look like, from idea to first revenue? 17:35 - What goals or KPIs drive Ana’s growth journey? 18:22 - How do you measure the real impact, are members actually launching? 20:11 - What key skills do founders need at each stage, launch, grow, scale? 23:08 - Why do so many founders overbuild before validating their idea? 26:20 - How do you decide when to ship or scrap an idea within 48 hours? 27:54 - What’s the 60-second version of your six-step founder framework? 28:43 - How easily can founders turn your framework into action? 30:28 - Why do most productivity or milestone tools fail to feel personalized? 34:13 - What tool or system gives you back the most focus hours each week? 35:36 - What are your most-used tools for productivity and growth? 38:05 - What happens when everyone uses AI for cold outreach? 39:21 - Will authentic voices get drowned out in the AI outreach era? 40:07 - What kind of merch should Theanna create for its community? 44:20 - Beyond funding, what hidden barrier slows women founders the most? 45:41 - What mindset cues reveal if a founder will stay the course or quit early? 46:16 - How important is a risk-taking attitude in overcoming rejection and failure? 48:24 - What was your experience hitting 10K MRR and dealing with investors? 49:40 - How do you approach fundraising, safe notes, valuation, or waiting it out? 50:21 - What should founders understand about investor incentives and FOMO? 53:12 - If you could send a 60-second voice note to your past self, what would it say? 53:39 - What’s the first validation step for someone with an idea in their notes app? 53:57 - Fast forward 3 years, what headline do you want to read about yourself and Theanna? 54:21 - Who’s your dream podcast guest to interview next? #WomenInTech #FemaleFounders #WomenEntrepreneurs #StartupJourney #ProductLeadership #WomenWhoBuild #Entrepreneurship #TechInnovation

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Harry Morton, the founder of Lower Street and host of Moneywise, to uncover the emotional reality behind wealth, success, and the often-overlooked emptiness that follows an exit. Harry’s company produces podcasts for some of the world’s top brands. But his journey started with waiting tables at Buckingham Palace while bootstrapping his agency from zero. From sound engineering to building a multimillion-dollar podcast business, Harry shares his honest take on: - How to build a real podcast brand in an oversaturated space - What billionaires and millionaires really feel after success - The biggest mistake founders make after an exit - Why 70% of second startups fail — and how to avoid the trap - What founders should know before starting a podcast - The power of differentiation and authenticity in podcasting If you’ve ever wondered how to use podcasting strategically, or what success actually feels like once you’ve achieved it, this episode is a must-watch. 🔗 Connect with Harry Morton Website: https://lowerstreet.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrymorton/ About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ 0:00 - Trailer 0:40 - Intro 1:47 - The Hidden Truth About High Net-Worth Founders 5:19 - The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship Nobody Talks About 8:02 - Redefining Success: Why a Chill Life Might Be Better Than a Billion-Dollar Company 12:55 - From Idea to First Client: The Real Startup Timeline 15:36 - Moving from Small Clients to Enterprise Deals 16:44 - Building a Face for Enterprise Podcasts 18:12 - Why Big Brands Are Turning Into Media Companies 20:28 - Rethinking Podcast Sponsorships 22:34 - The Harsh Reality of Podcast Growth 26:34 - Getting Real with Guests Without Alienating Them 29:07 - Should SaaS Founders Start a Podcast? 35:17 - Why 80/20 Episodes Perform Better 37:16 - Evergreen vs. Topical Content: What Works Better? 38:23 - What’s Missing in the Podcasting Industry 42:56 - The Future of Podcast Distribution & Authentic Content

Most founders don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of money, energy, or clarity in the first six months. In this brutally honest episode, Albert Behr, Founder of Behr & Associates and a veteran with over 30 years experience in corporate strategy, strategic partner development and technology commercialization, Albert Behr brings the expertise to ensure funding, early adoption and swift market penetration for your technology. Albert Behr has helped launch and scale dozens of technology ventures across North America and Asia, driving partnerships, licensing deals, and multi-million-dollar exits. Whether you’re in your first startup cycle or planning your exit, this episode will challenge how you think about money, risk, and success. 00:00 Intro 02:00 Leaving corporate life for entrepreneurship 05:00 The 6-month deal with his wife 08:00 Why the first 6 months define everything 14:00 “Go f***ing make money” — how Albert learned his core rule 20:00 VC vs. licensing: what actually creates wealth 30:00 Healthy paranoia and staying in the game 45:00 Why America breeds fearless entrepreneurs 55:00 The #1 mistake founders keep repeating Follow Albert Behr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-behr-3ab460/ 🔗 behrassociates.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/

In this episode of *Funds and Founders*, we sit down with a whiskey entrepreneur who has spent over a decade in the Scotch industry — building investment funds, luxury travel experiences, cask storage businesses, and more.From Scotch’s 600-year-old traditions to AI-driven forecasting tools, the whiskey industry is ripe for disruption.We cover:- The $6B Scotch export market & where the real money is- Why whiskey is a unique, high-value alternative asset- Tech & AI opportunities in distillation, warehousing, and customer engagement- How to break into traditional industries as an outsider- Building and exiting a whiskey private equity fundIf you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or simply a whiskey lover, this episode will change how you see the liquor business.📍 What You’ll Learn:- How forecasting works when your product takes 18+ years to make- Which markets (beyond the US) are booming for whiskey- Ways to attract a new generation of drinkers- The role of education & experience in luxury brandingTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & Guest Background00:46 – Projects in the Whiskey Industry01:33 – Scotch Whiskey Market Size & Growth03:08 – Why Forecasting is a 30-Year Game05:30 – Opportunities for Entrepreneurs & AI in Whiskey07:12 – How the Customer Experience is Changing08:48 – New Generation of Whiskey Drinkers09:45 – How Open Is the Industry to New Tech?10:53 – Building a Warehouse for Private Clients12:36 – Industry Adoption Curve: Big vs Small Players15:16 – Whiskey Trends in Global Markets (India, Taiwan, Middle East)20:12 – Go-to-Market for Selling to the Whiskey Industry24:07 – The Luxury Ladder & Aspirational Drinking25:28 – Whiskey Education as a Business Opportunity29:23 – Tastes, Palates & Evolving Preferences31:16 – The Power of Experiences in Luxury Branding33:33 – Speyside: The Napa Valley of Scotch35:30 – Building a Whiskey-Luxury Travel Vertical37:31 – Collecting, Investing & Niche Business Ideas in Whiskey39:10 – From Wine to Whiskey: Early Journey42:29 – Raising a $12M Whiskey Private Equity Fund45:47 – Legal & Fund Management Learnings48:42 – Finding the Right Team in Niche Industries50:31 – Fundraising Strategy & Deploying Capital53:01 – Turning Early Wins into More Investment56:08 – Exiting the Fund & Market Timing59:01 – Learning to Control the Exit Strategy01:03:13 – Why Whiskey is a Stable Alternative Asset01:05:08 – What Excites the Guest About the Next 5 Years in Whiskey01:06:48 – How to Work with Rare Whiskey Holdings01:07:26 – Expanding Your Business Horizons

Michael’s entrepreneurial journey started at 12 with a paper route and grew into building Thrive Pet Healthcare into a billion-dollar company. In this episode, he shares exactly how he scaled from one affordable vet clinic to 250+ locations, the mistakes and pivots along the way, and how he’s now tackling home services with the same playbook.We talk market opportunities, raising private equity, scaling operations fast, and the mindset needed to push through slow starts and build industry-leading businesses. Whether you’re building your first startup or scaling your 10th, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Watch the full episode  @FundsAndFounders  What you’ll learn:- How to spot and validate opportunities in massive markets- The business model behind affordable pet care- Scaling from zero to $1B top line in 5 years- Why acquisition can outpace building from scratch- Lessons on being relentless as a founderTimestamps0:00 – Intro & Michael’s first hustle at 123:25 – Early lessons from the paper route7:48 – Baseball card collecting & the value of collectibles11:40 – From M&A to starting Thrive Pet Healthcare15:28 – Identifying the affordable pet care gap21:02 – Building the first clinic: model, pricing & efficiency27:44 – Surviving a slow start & hitting profitability31:55 – Scaling to multiple locations & hiring the right team38:19 – Raising capital & accelerating growth42:56 – Inside the pet care market size & opportunity48:03 – From 20M to $1B revenue in 5 years54:32 – Challenges of scaling fast & integrating acquisitions1:00:50 – Industry consolidation & competing with giants1:05:24 – Why Michael moved into home services1:10:12 – Parallels between pets & HVAC (and the crazy costs)1:15:30 – AI opportunities in vet care & home services1:20:15 – Michael’s #1 lesson for founders: Be relentless1:24:07 – Where to connect with Michael

James Brewer went from being Import Yeti’s 3rd user to its co-founder—and helped scale it to 150K+ paying users and 2M monthly visitors. In this episode of Funds and Founders, he breaks down how import/export data can power sales, how to turn sweat equity into real ownership, and the systems that helped build a multi-million dollar bootstrapped SaaS.💡 Whether you're in logistics, SaaS, or trying to break into tech—this episode is packed with actionable frameworks on:- Sales with data- Startup equity- Scaling without VC- Automation stacks that save 10+ hours/week- And the power of never taking “no” as the final answer📬 Want to try Import Yeti’s premium tools? Watch the full episode  @FundsAndFounders  Timestamps:00:00 – James Brewer on retention and the surprising start of Import Yeti01:20 – From user #3 to co-founder: the cold email that changed everything03:10 – The pitch mistake that taught James how to actually sell05:00 – Using import/export data to close million-dollar clients07:00 – What makes global logistics shockingly inefficient09:00 – The sweat equity deal: how James negotiated his way in11:15 – Building trust without funding: early growth, first users, and retention13:30 – The automation stack that saves him 10+ hours/week15:45 – Why James still handles support tickets personally17:20 – Growth without VC: systems, obsession, and ownership19:50 – Customer feedback vs. product focus: what they say “no” to22:00 – How Import Yeti avoids getting outpaced by copycats23:30 – The three biggest use cases driving 2M monthly visits26:00 – Sales vs. product: how to balance short-term wins and long-term moat28:10 – Lessons from scaling a “boring” SaaS in a niche market30:00 – Founder conflicts, and why their partnership actually works33:00 – Most SaaS founders get sales wrong — here’s what to fix35:15 – How to earn founder-level equity even if you weren’t there day one37:30 – Final advice: Build something useful. Stay in the game. Get obsessed.39:30 – Where to find James + how to access Import Yeti’s premium features

Lucy Banks went from corporate banking to becoming a top 1% OnlyFans creator — and now runs a PR & marketing agency for adult creators. In this episode, she exposes the harsh truths about building in the creator economy, why most OnlyFans accounts fail, and what it really takes to scale in the adult space.We go deep into:- The business behind OnlyFans- Why creators need more than “just looks”- Payment platform struggles in sex tech- How Lucy made $1M+ on OnlyFans without going full-time- Building tech & startups in taboo marketsFollow Lucy:Instagram: [@imlucybanks](https://www.instagram.com/imlucybanks)Agency: [@millionbillionmedia](https://www.instagram.com/millionbillionmedia)LinkedIn: [Lucy Banks](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucybanksmbm/)Timestamps00:00 - Intro: Lucy Banks on Funds & Founders01:00 - What people get wrong about OnlyFans in 202503:30 - The myth: “Being hot = success”06:12 - Why 99% of creators make less than $300/month08:40 - OnlyFans approval process and creator struggles11:20 - Meet Million Billion Media — helping adult creators14:45 - Censorship, shadowbans & banned bank accounts18:40 - Why Stripe and Mailchimp block this industry21:00 - Is sex tech the next billion-dollar wave?25:12 - How to build a Stripe alternative for adult creators29:00 - Go-to-market in a censored industry (no ads allowed)34:35 - How to get creators to trust your startup38:10 - Rev share models, affiliate structures, creator feedback42:00 - Lucy’s story: From banking to OnlyFans46:00 - Making $1M+ on OnlyFans (without going all in)49:20 - What OnlyFans doesn’t do for creators52:05 - Break down of revenue streams: subs, tips, chats55:50 - Why OnlyFans still wins despite lacking features58:30 - Top 5 growth tactics for new creators01:07:30 - Closing thoughts & where to find Lucy

Newsletters are not dead, Dylan from Growth in Reverse breaks down how indie founders and B2B operators are building 5-figure audiences and monetizing with just email.He shares the underrated metric every newsletter creator should track, how to launch a newsletter from scratch, and why owning your distribution is your biggest unfair advantage.We also go deep on - Sponsorships - Paid ads - Personal vs Company branding - How to stay consistent even when life gets in the way.Whether you're just starting or scaling, this episode is a must-listen.Timestamps:00:00 - Quick intro & Dylan plugs01:30 - The most overlooked truth about newsletters02:55 - One North Star metric every founder should track05:00 - Why owning your distribution is non-negotiable06:45 - How to start a newsletter from zero08:30 - Educate, Inform, Entertain: The content trifecta09:40 - How to *sell* through newsletters without annoying your readers11:55 - When to start thinking about sponsorships13:45 - Monetizing early: ads, partnerships & paid growth17:00 - Newsletter commitment: Why 10+ editions matter20:05 - Favorite growth channels: Paid, organic, lead magnets24:00 - Facebook ad hack that landed 20+ subscribers before launch27:10 - Building your system: SOPs, templates & content blocks30:00 - Should you steal playbooks? How to filter growth tactics33:00 - Writing vs Talking: Choosing the right medium36:00 - Guest posts, collaborations & ownership issues38:05 - Smart ways to collect feedback from your audience42:10 - Building brand: Personal vs Company vs Thematic45:30 - When personal branding blocks startup acquisitions47:00 - Behind the scenes at Growth in Reverse50:00 - Final tips for founders building in public

What drives a founder to go back into the grind after a life-changing exit?In this episode, we sit down with Ganesh, a serial founder who bootstrapped his AI startup to millions in revenue, cracked the toughest enterprise clients like TCS and KPMG, and rebounded from losing 85% of revenue during COVID.We cover:- Why he didn’t raise VC early on- Building an assessment company without asking a single question- Selling into TCS, Indian Army & QSRs like Universal Studios- Losing millions in revenue overnight and still surviving- Exiting to a strategic buyer- Why he's back in stealth mode building a sales AI companyTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & how Ganesh and the host met00:21 – Why build another startup after a successful exit?01:06 – Spotting the opportunity with generative AI02:12 – Cisco days & the shift to entrepreneurship03:00 – Building culture at scale — the early inspiration04:29 – From network optimization to people analytics07:13 – Mistake: Building before validating10:03 – First break via Plug and Play, no customers yet11:08 – Breakthrough with DBS & positioning as a “cultural DNA” company12:13 – Landing TCS, Byju’s, KPMG for large-scale assessments13:25 – Pricing challenges in enterprise SaaS18:15 – First funding — how Mitsubishi Ventures found them20:32 – Crazy story of a 12-person Sunday 7AM investor meetingt26:00 – QSR boom: Universal Studios, restaurant chains, & rapid growth29:07 – COVID wiped out 85% of revenue overnight33:00 – Why founder salaries matters even in bootstrapped companies34:36 – Pivoting back to B2B — TCS saves the business38:48 – Rebuilding revenue, landing Byju’s, scaling again43:00 – Learn at Forbes, cultural learning styles, and the acquirer46:32 – Post-exit reflections on taxes, dilution & what he’d do differently51:10 – Starting again: the new stealth startup in AI Sales57:00 – Early adopters welcome: Join Ganesh’s next journey

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Michael, co-founder of Q Branch and Populace, who shares how he's helping international startups enter the U.S. and launching a fintech platform to fight financial inequality. From federal contracts and government culture to empowering underserved Americans through passive investing and discount networks, Michael breaks down the hard truths of money, persistence, and building in Austin.What You’ll Learn:- Why Most Startups Fail to Enter the U.S. Market- The Broken Banking System and a Grassroots Fix- Real Talk on Financial Literacy- Startup Persistence & the 18-Month Grind- What U.S. Founders Can Learn From International BuildersTimestamps:00:00 - Intro & How They Met00:30 - What Is Q Branch?01:30 - Helping International Startups in the U.S.02:10 - Government Contracts & Go-to-Market03:20 - Populist: A Fintech for the 99%05:00 - Breaking Down Financial Literacy06:00 - How Populist Reverses the Bank Model07:40 - Making Passive Investing Accessible09:10 - Michael’s Entrepreneurship Origin Story11:00 - Lessons From Federal Contracting13:00 - How Q Branch Got Its First Deal15:00 - Founder Persistence & Mentality17:00 - Talking About Ideas Early19:00 - U.S. vs International Founders21:00 - Austin’s Startup Community25:00 - Picking the Right Ecosystem29:00 - Building Populace: From Idea to Launch32:00 - Real Cost of Building a Fintech Startup34:00 - Launch Strategy & What’s Next35:00 - Final Advice for Founders

From building apps at Best Buy to getting into Techstars, this episode is a masterclass in startup grit. Our guest, a Toronto-based founder and ex-Apple/IBM engineer, walks us through building 35+ projects, what failed, what made money, how he learned sales from scratch, and why he’s now obsessed with solving go-to-market problems for B2B startups.We go deep into:- How to know when to kill an idea- Lessons from making $0 to 5-figure MRR- The truth about VC pressure vs bootstrapping- Building SaaS + service hybrid models- Staying sane while building soloTimestamps:00:00 - Intro: From On Deck to 35 Ideas01:00 - Why most technical founders fail at sales04:00 - Best Buy hack: Gaming ad revenue with Android apps06:30 - First “real” win: Canada Top 10 apps08:00 - Building “Spotify for News” (and shutting it down)10:30 - When to kill your startup13:00 - Side hustle to 1k MRR → quitting full-time job16:00 - Why learning sales changed everything18:00 - Selling blueberry honey to learn sales21:00 - Cold email agency that failed — what went wrong24:00 - SaaS vs. service models: What scales?28:00 - “My platform did 10 things. Users wanted 1.”31:00 - Mission-driven idea testing35:00 - The 5K/month rule & building in public38:00 - Should you raise VC or bootstrap?41:00 - Burnout, support systems & staying sane45:00 - AI tools stack: Cursor, Claude, Replit & more50:00 - What actually keeps him going after 35+ tries

Cody Anderson is back for Part 2! In this episode, we dive deep into what actually works when it comes to go-to-market (GTM) strategies — especially for early-stage startups. Cody shares lessons from scaling Carta to $9B, building Tommy Homes, and advising multiple startups on GTM, brand building, and AI-led growth.We cover:- B2B vs B2C GTM approaches- Why most startup advice is noise- Personal brand vs company brand- Building AI agents for sales, marketing & ops- The future of one-person billion-dollar companies🔗 Guest: [Cody Anderson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyanderson)Timestamps:00:00 – Cody's journey: From Carta to Tommy01:48 – Why Cody’s GTM perspective is unique03:38 – GTM strategies: B2B vs B2C05:45 – The myth of "funnels" and what works now08:16 – Tools, outbound, and unit economics09:55 – Personal brand vs company brand12:02 – How narrow should your ICP targeting be?15:09 – B2C GTM: Channels, content & challenges17:54 – Finding what works for you as a founder20:16 – Shift to content is greater than followers (thanks TikTok)23:13 – Niching down and the rise of shareable content24:07 – Tommy Homes: Challenges in educating the market26:34 – Building trust in a complex real estate model28:49 – Services-as-Software: AI as the co-founder31:05 – The one-person Slack-powered startup34:00 – Why personal stories is effective than generic advice38:18 – What’s next for Tommy42:10 – Final advice: Ignore the noise, trust your path

How do you actually sell to enterprises? Why do most startups fail at it? In this episode, we talk to the founder of DataColor.ai — a serial entrepreneur who built and sold his last company and is now building in the enterprise AI space. We dive deep into how enterprise sales really work, how to tap into communities for feedback, and the mindset shift between your first and second startup.💡 Learn about:Enterprise sales psychologyHow to build with feedback loopsWhat most founders get wrong about VC moneyHow second-time founders think differentlyTimestamps:00:00 – Intro: From Bing to DataColor.ai01:15 – What is DataColor.ai building?02:00 – Role of community for startup founders04:00 – How to extract value from founder communities06:00 – The real way to reach out cold (and get replies)08:50 – What excites him about AI in enterprise10:30 – The real enterprise AI opportunity12:15 – What a Chief Data Officer really does13:30 – Selling to enterprise vs SMBs – explained with a car analogy15:00 – Why product matters the least in enterprise sales17:00 – Should startups even try selling to enterprise?19:00 – Smart marketing and how to build trust early21:00 – Second-time founder mindset: What he’s doing differently24:00 – The startup trap: Solving tomorrow’s problem today26:00 – Fundraising strategy: Not all money is equal29:00 – Should you avoid VCs early on?32:00 – Real stories: Founders who raised too soon34:00 – Why he chose strategic angels only37:00 – Is cap table dilution really a problem?39:00 – What’s holding back growth today?40:00 – Favorite tools, tech stack & startup habits41:00 – His big lesson from the first startup42:00 – The question every founder should answer

What happens when a startup sales pro burns out and decides to start a podcast? In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Pat Killoren — host of Lone Startups who shares his wild journey from scaling beer brands and influencer platforms to building community-led content in Austin.🎙 We go deep into:Building sales teams as a founderThe mistakes startups make in GTM strategyBurnout, pivots, and personal reinventionHow to monetize podcasts through real partnerships (not just ads)Whether you're a builder, creator, or investor, this episode will leave you with tangible lessons on growth, niche branding, and sustainable success.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro: Who is Pat Callaghan?01:00 – Why he chose Austin and non-tech founders03:30 – His journey from beer to blockchain06:00 – What is Go-To-Market ?08:00 – The Enterprise Trap: Why startups jump too soon10:00 – How scrappy founders should build sales14:30 – Why you shouldn’t send proposals too early16:00 – How founders waste time chasing the wrong customers18:00 – Picking the right channels: The Web3 sales story21:00 – Cold outreach vs sniper sales: What works today23:00 – How to hire your first sales hire (without getting burned)25:00 – Why he quit sales and started a podcast28:00 – The admin pain of podcasting no one talks about30:00 – The monetization struggle: why brands hesitate32:00 – Seasons vs weekly: how he’s structuring Lone Startups36:00 – Format talk: from nature podcasts to 3D LED sets40:00 – Roundtable format: a future idea for deep-dive episodes44:00 – The mental blocks of podcast production quality46:00 – Tools + Tech Stack for running the show52:00 – Why video editing has become his new obsession54:00 – Question for the next guest56:00 – Where to follow Pat & closing thoughts

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Andrew Ackerman, a seasoned founder, venture studio operator, and author of The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey. Andrew shares real, gritty stories from his journey building startups, transitioning into VC, launching a venture studio, and why he decided to write a novel-style business book that actually teaches while entertaining. He breaks down the harsh truths of buyouts, mistakes first-time founders make, the fundraising game, and the one question every VC is silently asking—why now?If you're a first-time founder, a startup dreamer, or someone trying to raise your first round—this episode might just save you years of pain.Watch the full episode on  @FundsAndFounders  Timestamps00:00 - Intro to Why Andrew wrote The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey01:15 - The "Goal" book inspiration & startup storytelling01:59 - How Andrew actually wrote the book04:11 - Using GenAI for book marketing 08:10 - Prompt engineering and AI frustration10:56 - Andrew’s unfiltered startup journey15:00 - The myth of glamorous exits20:00 - Behind-the-scenes of sourcing Facebook stock24:15 - Portfolio performance and founder expectations26:27 - Fundraising truth bombs & understanding VC incentives28:00 - How VCs actually evaluate founders30:20 - What Andrew is up to now & why construction tech excites him32:00 - Thoughts on building standout VC firms33:30 - The #1 question VCs ask: Why now?35:05 - Should you build a better version of a mediocre product?38:00 - Who the book is really for (first-time founders & their moms!)39:13 - Fundraising advice for first-time founders41:00 - Why cold emailing VCs doesn’t work42:30 - How to actually do VC outreach the right way47:00 - Final thoughts + how to reach Andrew49:10 - Why most business books suck (and how Andrew wrote differently)50:16 - Bonus: Get access to his startup masterclasses54:06 - Closing words from Andrew#vcfunding #podcast #startup #business #entrepreneur #invest #funding

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with the co-founder and CEO of FletchPMM—a company that’s helped over 350+ B2B startups fix their biggest problem: nailing positioning and messaging.We go deep into:The $1.5M journey in just 20 monthsWhat most B2B startups get wrong about value propsWhy building distribution first beats productThe real meaning of product-market fitHow to use LinkedIn to grow a 7-figure businessWhether you're bootstrapping or venture-backed, this is the episode every founder needs to hear.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & Plug: What FletchPM does01:13 – LinkedIn as a distribution channel02:02 – The guest’s entrepreneurial journey03:14 – Origin story of FletchPM & the meaning behind the name05:30 – What is a value proposition?06:48 – Common mistakes B2B founders make10:24 – Specificity vs Scale: The 80/20 of niche selection12:06 – The importance of consistency in marketing14:33 – Distribution > Product16:47 – Building a founder brand18:09 – Lessons from being a generalist23:08 – How often should startups revisit positioning?25:13 – What is product-market fit really?27:00 – Go-to-market fit vs solution fit30:36 – DIY positioning: When & how to run the exercise32:16 – Why founders should think like marketers34:06 – Leaving a 9-5 to build a consultancy36:06 – How the co-founders met and got specific39:14 – Building distribution through a niche market map43:52 – Co-founder dynamics & communication styles46:03 – Decision-making heuristics50:35 – Competitive positioning done right52:12 – Leaving the agency & scaling up54:12 – The 3 paths they considered after early success56:48 – How the positioning evolved over time59:00 – Pricing journey: From $300 to $10K1:01:59 – What clients really get out of working with them1:05:20 – Founders can't outsource their thinking1:07:40 – Building a 7-figure business through LinkedIn1:10:14 – Tips for writing better LinkedIn content1:12:49 – Authenticity vs persona1:14:11 – Best time to post on LinkedIn?1:18:05 – 3 must-have resources for B2B founders1:19:10 – FletchPM's tech stack1:20:21 – What keeps him up at night1:21:07 – One question for the next guest1:22:03 – Final plugs & where to reach out

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of TrulyMadly, India's most trusted dating app, to explore the startup journey, fundraising pitfalls, growth hacks, and how TrulyMadly is solving the trust problem in Indian online dating.We dive deep into:- Competing with global giants like Tinder and Bumble.- How compatibility scores and trust-based algorithms changed the game.- The dark side of fake profiles and how TrulyMadly tackled it.- Fundraising regrets and the decision to stay profitable.- Building a brand people actually trust in a highly sensitive market.Whether you’re a founder, product builder, or just curious about the business of love.This episode is packed with insights. Watch the full episode on  @FundsAndFounders  Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:23 - The European backpacking trip that changed everything03:39 - Early career: From payments to dating06:35 - Building a product for Indian singles09:03 - How TrulyMadly started12:10 - Solving the dating trust problem in India15:12 - TrulyMadly vs Tinder: What makes us different17:30 - Revenue vs Users: The real startup pivot20:02 - Fundraising mistakes & hard lessons22:25 - Branding, logo, and product-market fit25:47 - Compatibility scoring & TrulyMadly algorithm28:10 - Marriage success stories from TrulyMadly30:17 - Why TrulyMadly charges users (and why it works)33:50 - Dealing with fake reviews and app store ratings36:04 - The importance of frugal innovation39:00 - Final thoughts, rapid fire & what’s next

In this episode, we dive deep into a candid conversation with a founder who shares how he stumbled into consulting, earned a year's salary in a single month, and built impactful startups straight out of college. From building websites for the price of a cigarette to launching mobile products before the smartphone wave, this is a raw and relatable story for every aspiring entrepreneur and product builder. 🚀 Watch the full episode@FundsAndFoundersSnehil shares:Accidental path to consultingLessons from early startup hustleBuilding in college with zero backupLaunching India's first e-commerce mobile appConviction-led product building in the matrimony spaceTimestamps: 00:00:01 – Introduction to the Guest 00:20:10 – Earning a year’s salary in one month 00:21:10 – How I accidentally became a consultant 00:23:52 – Building websites during college 00:28:41 – Balancing college with side hustles 00:33:23 – Inspiration from "Pirates of Silicon Valley" 00:40:04 – Realizing the power of getting businesses online 00:44:49 – Building India's first mobile e-commerce site 00:50:00 – Why service businesses can hold you back 00:55:06 – Building trust in online matrimony platforms#ecommerce #consultant #business #entrepreneur #podcast #entrepreneurship #startup #webdevelopment #siliconvalley #productdevelopment

How I Hacked College Admissions to get Into Top schools!descriptionIn this episode of Fundsandfounders, we sit down with Anthony Berryhill, the founder of Elite College Hacker, to discuss the insider secrets of elite college admissions. Anthony shares his personal journey from growing up in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward to getting into Stanford and Yale, and how he now helps students from diverse backgrounds navigate the college admissions process.🔹 How do top schools really choose applicants?🔹 What are the biggest mistakes students make in their applications?🔹 How is AI and tech changing the admissions industry?🔹 How can students stand out beyond grades and test scores?If you’re a student, parent, or entrepreneur looking to understand the evolving landscape of college admissions, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and practical advice.**** Timestamps:📌 00:00 - Intro to the episode📌 00:14 - Meet Anthony Berryhill & his company Elite College Hacker📌 01:10 - How Anthony’s journey started: From at-risk youth to Ivy League success📌 02:55 - The school-to-prison pipeline & how he escaped it📌 06:06 - The power of debate & how it changed his life📌 09:11 - What top schools REALLY look for in applicants📌 14:39 - The biggest mistakes students make in applications📌 20:44 - How he built Elite College Hacker from a side hustle to a business📌 25:24 - Is college still worth it? How the industry is changing📌 32:36 - How students can stand out in Ivy League admissions📌 39:50 - The red flags when hiring a college admissions consultant📌 48:56 - Where the real opportunities are in the college admissions industry📌 58:04 - The best resources for college admissions success📌 1:06:37 - Final thoughts & how to reach out to AnthonyConnect with Anthony: 📧 Email: Anthony@elitecollegehacker.com🌐 Website: www.elitecollegehacker.com📱 LinkedIn: Anthony Berryhill🔔 **Subscribe @fundsandfounders for more insights on entrepreneurship, funding, and business success!#CollegeAdmissions #EliteSchools #Stanford #Yale #IvyLeague #Entrepreneurship #AdmissionsConsulting #Fundsandfounders**

In this episode of Funds & Founders, we sit down with Ansh, co-founder of Quickreel, the AI-driven platform that helps content creators, brands, and marketers transform long-form videos into viral short-form clips.We dive deep into his entrepreneurial journey — from selling stickers in second grade to building a SaaS product with over 100K users. He shares his growth mindset, the ups and downs of building a startup, fundraising stories, and how Quickly stands out in the crowded content creation space.Ansh shares:💡 The inception of Quickreel and solving real creator problems💰 The grind of early-stage fundraising and finding the right investors🎯 Scaling from 0 to 100K+ users with minimal marketing⚡ The challenges of building in the creator economy📊 Pricing strategies, customer acquisition, and competition insightsIf you're a founder, content creator, or just love stories of building from scratch — this one's for you! Watch the full episode⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & Guest Introduction01:05 - What is Quickreel? Solving the short-form content problem02:30 - Early entrepreneurial spark: Selling stickers in 2nd grade05:00 - Choosing tech over family business08:15 - The idea behind Quickly: From agency work to product building11:45 - First MVP struggles and user feedback14:30 - Acquiring the first 500 users without ads17:20 - Fundraising journey: From self-funding to investor backing21:00 - Pricing strategies: Moving from free to paid users25:45 - Competing with Opus Clip & other clip generators29:40 - Balancing profitability vs. user growth33:00 - The future of AI in video editing36:15 - Expansion plans: APIs, agencies, and scaling globally40:00 - Rapid Fire Round: Tech stack, marketing tools & resources42:30 - Biggest startup challenges & what's next for Quickly44:20 - Advice for First-Time Founders46:00 - Question for the Next Guest