
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

Aug 4, 2023 • 55min
Ep. 263 How I Raised It with Laura Sicola of Vocal Impact Productions
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders, investors and consultants.
This episode is with Dr. Laura Sicola, Founder of Vocal Impact Productions (https://vocalimpactproductions.com/) a leadership training and communications firm. She is also host of the "Speaking To Influence" podcast (https://speakingtoinfluence.com/) and author of a book by the same name.
In this episode we delve deep into how entrepreneurs can improve their communications skills. We discuss how to connect with your audience and command the room, how the combination of appealing to the "head" + the "heart" = the wallet, the importance of being authentic, how to speak with authority, tips for your verbal delivery, tips for pitching virtually, 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 $9.7 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

May 24, 2023 • 1h 6min
Ep. 262 How I Raised It with Robbie Crabtree of Founder Fundraising
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 Robbie Crabtree of Founder Fundraising (https://www.founderfundraising.com/) a business that helps startup founders become a "Chief Storytelling Officer."
In this episode we go deep into why creating a memorable "Founder Story" is the key to successful fundraising, how to paint a compelling vision, how to create a memorable opening hook, tips for drafting the pitch deck, how to build relationships with investors, tips for 1st, 2nd, 3rd meetings, 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 $9.7 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at www.foundersuite.com.

May 12, 2023 • 40min
Ep. 261 How I Raised It with Sterling Pratz of CarIQ
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 Sterling Pratz of CarIQ, a payment platform for fleet vehicles (https://www.gocariq.com/).
In this episode we talk about raising capital from strategic investors such as Visa, State Farm, Circle K and others. Sterling shares tips for dealing with strategics and how the pitching process is different from pitching VCs. He also shares some great tips for going into a VC meeting with a short slide deck that is like a "movie trailer" and more.
CarIQ most recently raises a $15M Series B led by Forte Ventures with participation from Visa, State Farm Ventures, Telus Ventures, Avanta Ventures, Bridgestone, Navistar, and Circle K.
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.

May 5, 2023 • 29min
Ep. 260 How I Raised It with Ethan Agarwal of The Coterie
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 Ethan Agarwal of The Coterie (https://www.thecoterie.co/), a fintech company that builds financial products for high income people in tech and finance.
In this episode we talk about the unique wealth management needs of founders and tech workers, what he's doing differently when it comes to raising capital as a repeat entrepreneur, tips for maintaining physical, mental, and financial health, and much more.
The Coterie has raised nearly $50 million in capital from Andreessen Horowitz, Initialized, Pear VC and Google’s Gradient Ventures, as well as DoorDash founder Stanley Tang and AngelList founder Naval Ravikant.
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.

Apr 28, 2023 • 39min
Ep. 259 How I Raised It with Sarah Dusek of Enygma Ventures
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 Sarah Dusek of Enygma Ventures, an investment fund for female entrepreneurs and women founders, focused on Southern Africa. See more at https://www.enygmaventures.com/
In this episode we talk about her previous "glamping" startup called Under Canvas, the startup scene in Africa and what cities generate the most founders, how she's fostering an entrepreneurial culture for women, what types of deals she's looking for and how her team screens applicants, and much more.
Enygma has deployed $10 million into startups thus far and is now raising a $30 million fund to continue investing. Enygma screens over 10,000 applications per year from African founders.
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.

Apr 21, 2023 • 37min
Ep. 258 How I Raised It with Max Aniort of Le Collectionist
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 Max Aniort of Le Collectionist (www.LeCollectionist.com), a website for renting exceptional vacation homes with concierge services.
In this episode we talk about how he acquired 6 companies and how he built a playbook for making acquisitions, the French startup and VC scene, tailoring your pitch to suit each meeting, and more.
Le Collectionist has raised over $80 million in capital. The most recent round was a $60 million raise led by Highland Europe along with OLMA, Famille C, the venture office of the Courtin and Clarins families, Pictet and Lombard Odier and several angel investors.
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.

Mar 28, 2023 • 44min
Ep. 257 How I Raised It with Joe Vrankin of Puttshack
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 Joe Vrankin of Puttshack.com, a technology enabled miniature golf and dining franchise.
In this episode we talk about Joe's previous experience as CEO of Topgolf and how that led to founding Puttshack, why he raised a $40 million "seed round" to build the proof of concept, raising a growth round in the middle of the pandemic, what investors expect to see when you raise a senior debt round of financing, advantages of Family Offices vs. VCs, and much more.
Puttshack most recently raised a $150M senior debt round from BlackRock and Promethean Investments. Previous rounds include a $63M growth equity round and a $40M seed round.
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.

Mar 21, 2023 • 41min
Ep. 256 How I Raised It with Kareem Dabbagh of Volo Earth (Climate Tech Venture Fund)
Kareem Dabbagh of Volo Earth Ventures talks about opportunities in climate tech, transitioning LP hunt, raising capital from foundations and fund-of-funds. Volo Earth raised $90M with multiple LPs. They discuss Volo Earth Ventures' investment strategy, check size, and areas of specialization. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in clean tech, including storage and HVAC technologies. The impact of cryptocurrency on climate, specifically the energy consumption problem of Bitcoin mining, is also discussed.

Mar 13, 2023 • 41min
Ep. 255 How I Raised It with Mir Hwang of GigFinesse
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 Mir Hwang of GigFinesse, a startup that connects live music venues with thousands of artists from across the country, allowing them to curate shows (www.gigfinesse.com).
In this episode we talk about being scrappy and how to tap non-dilutive funding sources, raising capital in a down market, getting to "no" as fast as possible, what to do when a Junior Analyst at a venture firm calls you, his "33% Rule" for living, and more.
GigFinesse most recently raised a raised a $3.6 million seed round. Investors included Bessemer Ventures Partners, and Cosmic Venture Partners. Other investors include Montero Ventures and the NYU Innovation Venture Fund.
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.

Mar 1, 2023 • 40min
Ep. 254 How I Raised It with Sebastian Baier of Buynomics
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 Sebastian Baier of Buynomics, a revenue optimization platform that helps companies with pricing, promotion, and other commercial decisions.
In this episode we talk about blue ocean strategy - how to define a new market category that investors may not have heard of before. We also talk about the German startup scene, raising capital in Europe, optimizing valuation over a 10 year horizon, preparing for due diligence and more.
Buynomics most recently raised €13M in Series A funding from Insight Partners with participation from existing investors LaFamiglia, Seedcamp, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures), and Tomahawk.
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.