
How I Raised It - The podcast where we interview startup founders who raised capital.
Produced by Foundersuite.com, makers of the leading software stack for raising capital: Investor CRM + VC/Angel database + Pitch Deck Hosting + Investor Update tools. Used by startups to raise > $2.5 Billion.
Latest episodes

Mar 12, 2024 • 44min
Ep. 273 How I Raised It with Jen Zeszut of Goodles
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Jen Zeszut of Goodles.com, makers of "stealthily healthy" mac n' cheese products.
In this episode, we talk about how to raise capital for a CPG startup, why she raised a $10M seed round to "launch big," how she recruited over 100 A-list celebrities to invest, tips for picking the RIGHT investor when you have many options, and much more.
Goodles most recently raised a $13M Series A led by L Catterton. Other investors include Springdale, Third Craft Partners, Willow Growth, Alumni Ventures, GingerBread Capital, IMG-Endeavor, Cosmic VC, and Electric Feel Ventures.
Celebrity and strategic investors include Gal Gadot, Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, DK Metcalf, Weston McKennie, Sergio Garcia, Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart, David Grutman, Ilana Muhlstein, Marissa Hermer, Matt Rutler, Christina Aguilera, Mau y Ricky, and The Montaners.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $17 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.
If you are a VC or investment banker, check out our new platform, www.fundingstack.com

Feb 9, 2024 • 37min
Ep. 272 How I Raised It with Hillary Bush of Pollen
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Hillary Bush of Pollen (https://www.runpollen.com/) a professional community for freelancers, consultants, and other independent operators.
In this episode, we talk about the future of work, how the entrepreneurial journey is "concurrent not linear," tips for scaling a consulting business, why it's important to find investors who don't shy away from the "tough parts" of building a startup, how to get to a no faster, tips for reducing friction in the fundraising process, and more.
Pollen most recently raised a raised $4M in funding from ANIMO VC, Founder Collective, XYZ Venture Capital, Precursor Ventures, and a group of prominent angels.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $17 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.
If you are a VC or investment banker, check out our new platform, www.fundingstack.com

Jan 24, 2024 • 42min
Ep. 271 How I Raised It with Samir Kaji of Allocate
Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital.
This episode is with Samir Kaji of Allocate (https://www.allocate.co/) a startup that enables wealth advisers and family offices to invest in venture funds.
In this episode, we go deep into what it takes for an emerging VC manager to raise funds from LPs. Samir shares an awesome 8-step playbook for emerging managers – definitely worth a listen.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite and Fundingstack customers have raised over $15 Billion since 2016. If you are a startup, create a free account at www.foundersuite.com. If you are a VC or investment banker, create an account at www.fundingstack.com

Dec 20, 2023 • 37min
Ep. 270 How I Raised It with Howie Diamond of Pure Ventures
Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital.
This episode is with Howie Diamond of Pure Ventures (https://pureventuresvc.com/) a VC fund that invests in early stage companies and the personal development of their founders. Pure typically invests roughly 50% in consumer startups and 50% in frontier technology startups.
Notably, Pure launched the Pilea platform to help founders improve their mental and physical wellness and improve their leadership skills. Learn more at https://joinpilea.com/individuals
In this episode we talk about how he got started investing, why he focused on founder wellness as a unique "hook" and how it helps him get into good deals, why it's so important to have a differentiated thesis, raising capital from family offices, and more.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $15 Billion since 2016. If you are a startup, create a free account at www.foundersuite.com. If you are a VC or investment banker, create an account at www.fundingstack.com

Dec 18, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 269 How I Raised It with Brian Gannon of Loop
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Brian Gannon of Loop, a private family network and home display that helps families stay connected (https://www.joinloop.com/).
Brian is a master networker so we cover tips for outreach, finding "believers" and building proof points, signaling momentum, how to effectively use deadlines, other tactics for creating FOMO, and much more.
Loop has raised $8m over 3 rounds from a variety of sources- angels, VC, high profile tech CEOs, and crowdfunding.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $15 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.
If you are a VC or investment banker, check out our new platform, www.fundingstack.com

Nov 8, 2023 • 30min
Ep. 268 How I Raised It with Anshu Sharma of Skyflow
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Anshu Sharma of Skyflow, a startup that makes a data privacy vault delivered as an API.
Anshu has raised over $70m for SkyFlow, but he’s also angel invested in over 70 startups so we talk about targeting the right investors, testing your thesis, asking for advice and more.
Skyflow's most recent round was a $45M Series B financing round. led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners. Other investors include Mouro Capital, Mitsui’s MS&AD Ventures, Canvas Ventures, Foundation Capital, and leading fintech angels such as Coinbase Board Member Gokul Rajaram
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $10 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

Oct 24, 2023 • 31min
Ep. 267 How I Raised It with Billy Thalheimer of Regent
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Billy Thalheimer of Regent, a startup making the Seaglider, a cross between a boat and a plane that uses "wing in ground effect" physics to enable efficient, all-electric coastal travel. Learn more at https://www.regentcraft.com/
In this episode we talk about the technology and physics behind the product, raising strategic capital, pitching Mark Cuban and Founders Fund and much more.
Regent has raised $90 million in total. The Company's most recent round was a $60 million Series A co-led by 8090 Industries and Founders Fund. Point72, Caffeinated Capital, Mark Cuban, UAE’s Strategic Development Fund, Future Planet Capital and others participated, as well as strategic investments from Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, Yamato Holdings and Lockheed Martin.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $10 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

Sep 26, 2023 • 32min
Ep. 266 How I Raised It with Quaid Walker of Bezel
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Quaid Walker of Bezel (www.getbezel.com) a marketplace for high-end watches such as Rolex, Omega, etc.
Bezel raised an $8m seed round from both VCs and several high profile folks such as John Legend, Kevin Hart and Michael Ovitz so in this episode, we get into the details of how to get connections and pitch to celebrities and other influencers.
Bezel's investors include VC firms BoxGroup, Courtside VC, Shrug Capital, Abstract Ventures, Operator Partners, Electric Ant, Impatient Ventures, Nomad Ventures, Litquidity Capital, and more.
Bezel also recruited celebrity investors and watch enthusiasts such as comedian Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures, singer and producer John Legend, DJ Steve Aoki, NBA champion Kyle Kuzma, founder of Fanatics Michael Rubin, philanthropist Michael Ovitz, former international head of watches at Christie’s John Reardon, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho, and cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens Marlon Humphrey.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $10 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

Sep 8, 2023 • 26min
Ep. 265 How I Raised It with Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences, a startup using genetics to bring back extinct animals such as the wooly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and the Dodo bird.
Learn more at https://colossal.com/
In this episode we talk about the technology and the "why" behind de-extinction science, raising capital for a moonshot, how to identify investors with a long event horizon and much more.
Colossal Biosciences has raised over $225 million in total. The Company's most recent round was a $150 million Series B led by US Innovative Technology Fund with participation from Breyer Capital, WestRiver Group, Animal Capital, In-Q-Tel, Animoca Brands, Peak 6, Bold Capital, Jazz Venture Partners and others. Previous investors include Thomas Tull and At One Ventures.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $9.7 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

Aug 17, 2023 • 47min
Ep. 264 How I Raised It with Zach Coelius of Coelius Capital
Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital.
This episode is with Zach Coelius of Coelius Capital (https://coelius.vc/) an early-stage VC fund that invests in B2B or B2B2C companies, with an average check size of $200k-1m.
In this episode we talk about how he got started angel investing(and how he leveraged that experience to launch his fund), how to get access to good startups, how to be useful, and much more.
How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $10 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.