the question about fundraising
had a founder on the show who asked me straight up how to raise. here's what i told him.
a founder called in to my show and asked: "how do i convince someone to write a check?"
and i realized most founders ask the wrong question.
they're thinking persuasion. they're thinking "what do i say to make them say yes?" but that's bass-ackwards.
the real question is: "how do i become the kind of founder someone wants to give capital to?"
there's a difference. the first is rhetoric. the second is doing the work.
the founders who raise the easiest are the ones who don't need to raise. they're shipping. they've got customers. they've got growth. investors see it and try to get into the deal.
the founders who struggle are the ones who have a deck and a vision but nothing in the market yet.
so the answer i gave was simple: get a customer. build something small. prove you can execute on something. then the conversation changes.
capital comes to people who already have momentum, not people asking for permission to build.