Equity

Hey, stuck startups, reducing growth could make you less fundable

Jul 7, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Immad Akhund, CEO and co-founder of Mercury—a fintech that emerged as a crucial resource during the Silicon Valley Bank collapse—shares vital insights for startups. He reveals the ‘Startup Death Spiral’ and how companies can avoid it by prioritizing sustainable growth over aggressive strategies. Immad also reflects on his angel investing experiences, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing market dynamics. The conversation underscores the unique banking challenges faced by startups and the critical role of financial stability in today's economic climate.

28:58

Creator website

Episode guests

Immad Akhund

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Banking on Startups: Growth and Challenges

10min

Insights into Startup Growth and Personal Investment Experiences

2min

Navigating Startup Funding Challenges

11min

Navigating Growth and AI Hype in Startups

3min

We're switching things up and bringing you two interviews this week, so let's niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest.

Mary Ann took the lead this time, and she sat down (virtually) with Immad Akhund, the CEO and co-founder of Mercury. For those who are unfamiliar, the fintech made headlines earlier this year for how it stepped in to help fill the business banking void left in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.

Here's what the pair caught up on:

Mercury's impressive growth in the months since SVB crashed
Lessons learned from Immad's angel investing experience
What Immad calls the "Startup Death Spiral" and how to escape it

As always, Equity will be back for you bright an early Monday morning. Talk soon!

For episode transcripts and more, head to Equity’s Simplecast website.

Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto, a show that interviews founders, one that details how our stories come together and more!

Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.

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