Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

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

**From delivering newspapers in 4th grade to raising millions for real estate and co-founding a thriving co-working space—James Wahba’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.**🚀In this episode of Funds & Founders, James shares:✅ How his childhood paper route taught him business fundamentals 📈✅ Raising $13M at 25 for real estate development 🏗️✅ Building one of NYC’s most iconic co-working spaces 🚀✅ Lessons from working alongside startups like Uber, Instacart, Stripe, Airbnb✅ Why co-founder conflicts are one of the biggest startup killers 😨If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, real estate investor, or startup founder, you don’t want to miss this one!Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome to Funds & Founders!00:20 - James Waba’s entrepreneurial journey begins01:14 - Growing up in Connecticut and learning business from a paper route02:18 - The business lessons from his first job 📜03:14 - Learning about customer retention and revenue at a young age05:10 - From paper route to film school & shooting concerts 🎥06:35 - Starting one of the first online streaming sites (before YouTube!)07:54 - Partnering with Microsoft & early struggles of internet startups 💻09:12 - Raising funds & the early days of NYC tech12:22 - Competing in the pre-YouTube era—how streaming was built back then16:04 - Shutting down the startup and pivoting to real estate development17:08 - Converting industrial property to high-value waterfront real estate19:52 - Raising $13M for a real estate project at 2522:11 - The 2008 market crash hits—what happened next?25:46 - Lessons learned: How to survive market crashes28:49 - Bootstrapping vs. raising VC: What should startups do?31:07 - The reality of investor expectations & startup funding32:55 - Pivoting from real estate to co-working spaces 🏢35:49 - How James built one of NYC’s top co-working spaces39:32 - Uber, Instacart, and Airbnb worked here—what was it like?41:14 - Why taking equity over cash would have been the best move44:08 - The rise and fall of the co-working space model46:50 - How to build a real, engaged community (not just a Slack group)49:21 - Challenges of managing a co-working space & scaling it51:34 - What James is building in Austin & his new boutique hotel project54:45 - Rapid fire Q&A: Advice for founders, resources, and more58:07 - Best books for entrepreneurs 📚1:00:39 - What’s missing in the Austin startup ecosystem?1:01:34 - Final thoughts & where to connect with James

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Rajesh Sawhney—a seasoned investor, advisor, and the founder & CEO of GSF—who’s backed over 135 companies. Rajesh shares deep insights on what first-time founders need to know, the art of achieving product–market fit, and the unique dynamics of the Indian startup ecosystem. Whether you’re just starting out or already deep in your entrepreneurial journey, Rajesh’s practical advice on early validation, team building, and strategic execution is invaluable.Learn how Rajesh:Evaluates startup potential by spotting early traction and customer validationDetermines the right stage to raise funds and scale a businessSupports founders through hands-on mentorship and strategic guidanceNavigates the differences between local and global startup ecosystemsAdapts his investment approach in a rapidly evolving tech landscapeTimestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Rajesh Vijay and his journey as an investor and founder9:10 – From Idea to Product: How early validation sets the stage for success19:50 – Tips for First-Time Founders: Balancing passion with pragmatic execution27:45 – Understanding Product–Market Fit: Recognizing early indicators and challenges41:24 – Funding Stages: The importance of small validations before big bets51:20 – Evaluating Founders: Key traits like decision-making, team building, and adaptability63:10 – The Role of Angel Investors: Mentorship and strategic support for startups76:50 – The Indian Startup Ecosystem: Regional insights and the nuances of market dynamics87:30 – Regulatory Impact: Adapting to policy changes for sustainable growth95:45 – Final Thoughts: Embracing a long-term vision in an ever-changing landscape

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we welcome back Justin, founder of Fantasy Elect, a cutting-edge political gaming startup. Justin dives into his journey over the past year, tackling fundraising challenges, optimizing user acquisition, and building a trust-driven remote team. Gain actionable insights on scaling a startup in the political arena and preparing for upcoming elections.Learn how Justin:Navigated fundraising in a volatile marketTailored user acquisition for B2B and B2CLeveraged strategic partnerships and VC relationshipsSelected the best cities and events for growthPivoted from fantasy sports to political engagementFostered a remote team culture based on trustTimestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Year in Review2:50 - Fundraising Challenges5:32 - Choosing the Right City9:04 - Fundraising Lessons12:47 - Cold Emailing Strategies15:09 - Current Fundraising Focus16:53 - Event Optimization21:25 - Ecosystem Insights22:29 - Pivoting Customer Acquisition24:32 - Early Lessons25:44 - First Three Months vs Now29:45 - Importance of Marketing34:09 - Continuous Marketing & Feedback38:24 - Planning for Elections42:41 - Engagement in Off-Cycles46:04 - Exploring New Marketing Channels49:12 - Time Management55:09 - Team Culture & Trust57:06 - Remote Work vs In-Person59:04 - Future Plans & InsightsFollow Funds and Founders:Website: https://www.fundsandfounders.comTwitter: @fundsandfoundInstagram: @fundsandfoundersYouTube: Funds and Founders

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Garrett and Brian from Lucid, a consulting firm specializing in pitch decks and brand clarity. Garrett and Brian share how they combined their complementary skill sets—spanning design, operations, and growth—to help founders overcome the challenge of communicating complex ideas simply.Learn how they:Refined their own co-founder “dating” process before teaming upDeveloped a framework for uncovering a company’s true mission, vision, and valuesHelp founders craft investor-ready pitch decks—even for highly technical productsDistinguish “brand” from “culture” and why both matter for scalingApproach growth strategy differently for B2B vs. B2C startupsWhether you’re an early-stage founder seeking investment or a seasoned entrepreneur refining your pitch, Garrett and Brian’s insights on clarity, branding, and storytelling are not to be missed!Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction and overview of Lucid 2:05 – How Garrett & Brian met and became co-founders 7:00 – Defining “clarity” and why founders struggle with it 12:40 – Business philosophy: getting to the “why” behind your startup 16:35 – Why technical founders need help explaining complex ideas 21:05 – When to invest in brand clarity vs. staying lean 26:10 – B2B vs. B2C: differences in messaging and traction 30:40 – Examples of effective (and ineffective) mission statements 35:50 – Branding vs. culture: how they intersect and why both matter 40:35 – The “spark moment” behind launching a startup 45:10 – Avoiding “cargo cult” thinking and learning real lessons 50:05 – Pivoting and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship 55:00 – What VCs really look for in a pitch deck 1:00:05 – Essential resources: Sequoia format, Venture Deals, and more 1:05:00 – Growth strategies: Revenue Architecture and the brand canvas 1:10:25 – The personal “why” and mental health in entrepreneurship 1:15:30 – Early-stage brand vs. Series A brand requirements 1:20:15 – Staying focused on real revenue-driving activities 1:25:05 – Wealth building, skill development, and time freedom 1:30:10 – Support systems: the Austin startup community 1:35:00 – “What would make you quit?” Parachute question from the previous guest1:38:00 – Wrap-up and where to find Lucid Consulting#entrepreneur #company #venturecapital #investors #business #pitchdeck #brand #investment

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Moby, a seasoned paid ads specialist who helps startups and established businesses alike accelerate their growth through strategic advertising. Moby shares his journey and dives deep into:Determining the right time to start running paid ads—and why timing is crucialChoosing between Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms based on your audienceUnderstanding key metrics like CTR and conversion rates to gauge campaign successCrafting compelling offers, landing pages, and funnels that convertAvoiding common pitfalls and maximizing ROI with a data-driven approachWhether you’re looking to launch your first campaign or refine your existing strategy, Moby’s insights on funnel design, audience targeting, and the art of testing are not to be missed!Timestamps0:00 – Introduction and Moby’s paid ads background1:16 – When is the right time to invest in paid ads?2:36 – Finding product-market fit vs. message-market fit6:09 – The 80/20 of setting up your first paid ads campaign8:36 – Paid search vs. paid social: Key differences and considerations14:03 – Defining search intent and picking the right keywords18:05 – Budgeting for ads and what metrics to watch22:05 – Understanding funnels and lead qualification26:45 – Tracking ROI: Cost per lead, cost per meeting, and RoAS31:30 – Crafting offers and packaging: Why it matters36:55 – Common mistakes to avoid when running ads39:56 – Brand awareness campaigns vs. direct response tactics43:09 – The importance of creative testing and ad copy47:15 – Why landing page experience can make or break conversions50:42 – E-commerce vs. B2B: Ad strategy differences54:03 – Overcoming qualification hurdles with leads56:31 – Final tips to refine your paid ads funnel59:27 – Conclusion and wrap-up

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Aaron, a performance coach who helps founders and entrepreneurs optimize their business execution through OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Aaron shares deep insights on goal setting, prioritization, and creating effective business frameworks. Learn how Aaron:- Helps founders set realistic yet ambitious 12-month goals- Creates frameworks for breaking down long-term vision into actionable steps- Guides teams in implementing effective OKR systems- Balances personal and business priorities for sustainable growth- Transforms company execution through priority managementWhether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or leading an established company, Aaron's practical approach to goal setting and execution is invaluable for any business leader!Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction & The importance of strategic planning1:24 - Fundamentals of effective goal setting3:37 - Choosing the right time horizon for goals5:48 - Setting realistic 12-month targets10:41 - Balancing ambition with reality in goal setting15:44 - Priority management and maintaining focus21:25 - Taking action vs over-planning26:50 - Understanding and implementing OKRs34:37 - Getting leadership team alignment39:19 - Quarterly planning and execution strategies46:00 - Defining and tracking success metrics55:59 - When and how to adapt your vision58:30 - Recommended resources for goal setting1:00:24 - Creating freedom through effective business systemsConnect with Aaron:Website: performancemindsetcoaching.co