Thrive Through Connection
Visible.vc
Fundraising isn’t just about pitch decks, valuations, or growth curves. It’s about relationships. Thrive Through Connection is a podcast from Visible that explores the human stories behind the capital.
Founders don’t raise alone. They lean on their teams, advisors, peers, and investors to navigate the highs and lows of building something from nothing. In each episode, we sit down with founders and investors to unpack the setbacks, breakthroughs, and moments of clarity that shaped their journey. This is your inside look at what it really takes to thrive through connection.
Founders don’t raise alone. They lean on their teams, advisors, peers, and investors to navigate the highs and lows of building something from nothing. In each episode, we sit down with founders and investors to unpack the setbacks, breakthroughs, and moments of clarity that shaped their journey. This is your inside look at what it really takes to thrive through connection.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 15, 2025 • 42min
Building a Fundraising Process with Jenny Fielding
On the twelfth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Jenny Fielding. Jenny is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, a global pre-seed fund backed by 500 founders and operators. She joins us to discuss how founders can build a fundraising process, from high-level strategy to tips for creating a strong data room.What You Can Expect to Learn from JennyWhy most founders don’t have a true fundraising process (and how to build one)The dangers of taking casual investor meetings when you’re not fundraisingHow to balance “always being ready” with clear periods of active fundraisingHow to prepare emotionally and tactically before launching a raiseHow to use progressive disclosure when fundraising
Oct 1, 2025 • 43min
Unlocking the Power of Networks with Evan Walden
On the eleventh episode of Thrive Through Connection, we welcome Evan Walden, the CEO and Founder of Getro, powering branded job boards and talent networks for venture capital funds, startup accelerators, professional communities, and governments across the world. Evan joins us to discuss how founders and VCs can tap into their networks to fuel relationships and growth.What You Can Expect to Learn from EvanWhat led to Evan starting GetroThe power of connections and communityLessons from Techstars and their “Give First” mentality Hard-earned lessons about fundraising, focus, and being a founder
Sep 17, 2025 • 53min
Going From a Founder to CEO with Enjoy The Work
On the tenth episode of the Thrive Through Connection podcast, we welcome Lesley Ross and Jonathan Lowenhar of Enjoy the Work, a San Francisco-based startup advisory firm serving startup founders and CEOs worldwide. Jonathan and Lesley join us to discuss how great founders can turn into great CEOs. What You Can Expect to Learn from Lesley & JonathanThe difference between being a founder and being a CEOHow founders can purposefully train to become great CEOsHow best-in-class leaders make the transitionHow to maintain control of your board
Sep 3, 2025 • 52min
Understanding Secondaries in Venture with Hunter Walk
On the ninth episode of the Thrive Through Connection podcast, we welcome Hunter Walk. Hunter is a Partner and Co-founder at Homebrew, a seed-stage venture capital firm backing mission-driven founders. He joins us to discuss emerging trends in the venture space since Homebrew’s founding in 2013.What You Can Expect to Learn from HunterHow seed-stage investing has changed in the last 12 yearsWhat’s driving the rise of secondaries in ventureWhy Hunter believes secondaries are here to stayHow founders can think about secondaries for their businessWhy Hunter helped launch Screendoor to invest in VC funds
Aug 20, 2025 • 47min
The Power Laws of Venture with Andrew Dumont
On the eighth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Andrew Dumont. Andrew is the Founder and CEO of Curious, a long-term holding company that buys and grows software companies with empathy. Andrew joins us to discuss the economics of venture capital and what it means for founders starting companies today. What You Can Expect to Learn from AndrewHow the power law shapes venture capitalWhy many great businesses can’t raise their next roundAlternative paths for founders post-ventureHow Curious supports sustainable software companies
Aug 6, 2025 • 36min
Lead With Your Strengths with Jonah Midanik
On the seventh episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Jonah Midanik of Forum Ventures. Jonah is the Managing Partner at Forum Ventures, the leading early-stage fund, program, and community for B2B SaaS startups. Jonah joins Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, to discuss how early-stage founders can best run a fundraising process. What You Can Expect to Learn from JonahHow pre-seed founders can build a fundraising processWhy the person at a firm matters more than the organization How to leverage storytelling to raise capital Why leading with your strengths is a key storytelling tactic Want more stories like this? Head to the Thrive Through Connection Hub for every past and upcoming episode.
11 snips
Jul 23, 2025 • 54min
Storyselling with Kristian Andersen of High Alpha
Kristian Andersen, co-founder and partner at High Alpha, delves into the art of storytelling as a vital tool for leaders and founders. He explains how storytelling sharpens business communication and can transform a pitch into a captivating narrative. The discussion covers the pivotal role of storytelling in establishing brand identity and enhancing customer experience, essential for SaaS businesses. Kristian also reveals how compelling traction stories and data presentation can attract investors, emphasizing authenticity and connection as keys to success.
Jul 10, 2025 • 42min
Using Benchmarks as a Diagnostic with Kyle Poyar
Kyle Poyar, founder of Tremont and Growth Unhinged, shares his insights on B2B SaaS growth. He discusses the critical role of benchmarks for investment decisions and how they're evolving toward efficiency over hyper-growth. Kyle emphasizes the importance of relationships in venture capital, especially for founders scaling their businesses. He also delves into his journey with the Growth Unhinged newsletter, highlighting community engagement and the impact of AI on organic search, pushing for high-quality content over low-intent traffic.
Jun 25, 2025 • 49min
Building Trust and Vulnerability in Business with Max Yoder
On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work.What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to lifeHow mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early daysThe advantages of having a strong networkWhat it means to lead with vulnerabilityThe importance of aligning with investors and partners
Jun 3, 2025 • 27min
Finding the Right Investors with Laurel Hess, Founder of hampr
On the first episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Laurel Hess, the CEO and Founder of hampr. Hampr is an on-demand laundry service that will pick up your laundry and return it fresh and folded, right to your front door, within 24 hours. Laurel has raised over $10M for hampr across multiple rounds. She joins us to share her journey and the importance of building genuine relationships with investors.What You Can Expect to Learn from Laurel Why having the right people on your cap table mattersTactics for backchanneling and finding warm investor introsThe key questions she asks during investor conversationsHow she nurtures investors who initially say “no”Her approach to managing and interpreting investor feedback
