Don't Raise Venture Capital: Hiten Shah's Route to Riches

May 13, 2024

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Are you seeking invaluable tips on becoming a successful startup CEO?

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In this episode, Mark MacLeod gets into an engaging discussion with Hiten Shah, the co-founder and CEO of Nira, exploring the myriad facets of leading and funding a startup. Hiten shares his experiences and philosophies, ranging from the necessity of aligning product development with customer feedback to the intricacies of venture capital and self-funding.

Discover the profound insights on venture capital investment, the vital importance of investor-founder alignment, and Hiten's unique approach to product innovation and company culture. This episode is perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned executives alike, who are eager to learn from someone who has walked the challenging path of startup success.

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Key moments:

05:10 How to Build a Startup from Scratch

11:20 Advantages of Self-funding versus VC

14:45 The role of Investors

19:30 Strategies for Handling Risk and Investors

29:10 Remote Work and its Impact on Company Culture

32:40 Discussion on Customer Obsession

37:50 Challenges of raising money and the timing of investment pitches.

42:05 Understanding and Leveraging Investor Expectations.

47:00 Accountability in Remote Work and Transparency in Business.

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Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/