Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats 906: Tech Startups and Raising Money with Dan Levine (Vercel, Sentry, Mux…)
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May 28, 2025 Dan Levine, a VC at Excel and former co-founder of Chartio, shares valuable insights on raising venture capital for tech startups. He discusses what investors seek in early-stage companies and the importance of personal connections in securing funding. Levine compares bootstrapping versus fundraising, emphasizing that great ideas often begin as side projects. He also explores the balance of power between founders and investors, the dynamics of investor involvement in business, and the exciting yet challenging landscape of AI opportunities.
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Dan Levine's Career Journey
- Dan Levine shared his journey from math student to software engineer to VC at Excel.
- He highlighted investments in companies like Vercel, Sentry, and Dropbox as personal experiences.
How Developers Can Raise Money
- Developers should email investors with links to their projects to raise funds.
- Getting introductions from trusted contacts or applying to accelerators like Y Combinator helps raise money.
What Investors Look For
- Founders don’t need business plans but must have a strong team with good culture and hard work ethic.
- Investors look for large market potential and a clear initial product-market wedge.