

Coaching Session: Raising $10M With A Small Audience | 079
37 snips May 29, 2025
Daren Smith, an independent film producer and author, aims to raise $10 million to create ten uplifting films over the next four years. In a fascinating discussion, he shares how writing books helped him gain credibility and funds. Daren explains innovative fundraising strategies for high-net-worth investors while avoiding burnout. He delves into creating effective outbound and inbound engagement flywheels, emphasizing targeted content to attract investors. The conversation also touches on leveraging personal networks and the significance of strategic planning in film production.
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Darren's Indie Film Funding Story
- Darren Smith produced "Faith of Angels" with an initially underfunded budget of $400K.
- Financing fell through, prompting Darren to raise $1.5M, enabling a successful production and release.
Outbound Flywheel For Investors
- Build an outbound flywheel with steps: identify, reach out, have a conversation, share vision, pitch, close, and onboard.
- Use referrals from closed investors to find more potential investors and keep the flywheel spinning.
Measure and Optimize Weekly Progress
- Track your weekly flywheel metrics like identified leads, outreach, calls, and closes to detect trends.
- Schedule dedicated time blocks for each activity and evaluate friction for continual improvement.