PinnedIntroducing Sterling Road Fund 3: Deploying $20M through early-stage founder coachingToday we’re introducing Fund 3, a $20M fund backing pre-seed stage founders of B2B startups, that have gone through our coaching program. Since day one, we’ve taken a different approach to early-stage venture investing. Rather than investing first, then offering to help, we partner closely with founders before making an…Founder Coaching3 min readFounder Coaching3 min read
PinnedHow to Build a DeckFor most founders, the deck is a cornerstone of their seed fundraising process. Unfortunately, most decks are terrible. They’re often difficult to understand, too detailed, or missing key details. The goal of the deck is to provide a clear, simple overview of your company and encourage investor questions to begin…Founders5 min readFounders5 min read
3 days agoPitch Practice with FeaturewaveIn the latest Pitch Practice session, Joe Parlett showcased Featurewave, a sales efficiency platform built on Salesforce. The platform uses AI to guide sales reps through every stage of the process, streamlining content management and boosting overall sales effectiveness. Here were the key takeaways: #1. Solid team and initial customer base…Pitching1 min readPitching1 min read
3 days agoBest Opportunities Come From OutreachToday, I want to talk about the importance of doing outreach when considering new opportunities. When you’re thinking about what’s next, it’s easy to only consider roles that hit your inbox. However, proactive outreach opens up many more possibilities. 1. Outreach generates new opportunities. Even if you get lucky with an unsolicited offer, reaching out…Networking1 min readNetworking1 min read
Sep 2190 Days for Seed FundraisingToday, we’re discussing how long seed fundraising typically takes for startup founders. While we all hear stories of miraculously fast rounds, what’s most common? 1. Plan for 3 months from start to finish. That means delegating all your other responsibilities so you can stay focused on fundraising. 2. Don’t get discouraged if it takes time. Having a tough time fundraising is practically a rite of passage for…Seed Funding1 min readSeed Funding1 min read
Sep 14How One Investor Can Close Your RoundToday we’re talking about how just one investor can essentially fill up your entire round. Of course, they could simply write a check for the whole amount, but that’s quite rare and it’s actually advisable to have a few different investors, even if you have lots of demand. So here’s…Startup2 min readStartup2 min read
Aug 31Checklist for Fundraising Before Demo DayIf you’re fortunate enough to be generating strong demand before demo day — you don’t need much to complete the fundraising process, but it certainly helps if these materials are great. 1. Pitch Decks. I like to have 2 versions, one is long form that you pitch in a meeting and the other…Demo Day1 min readDemo Day1 min read
Aug 31Pitch Practice with OurFitIn the latest Pitch Practice session, Ohi Dibua and Andy Nguyen demonstrated a collaborative pitch for OurFit! Strong synergy between the founders and good preparation evident. Here were the key takeaways: #1. Seamless presentation, well-prepared 🖥️ #2. Enlarge team slide logos 🔍 #3. Focus on one problem per slide ❗️ #4. Hire a deck designer 💸 #5. Showcase one…Investor Pitch Deck1 min readInvestor Pitch Deck1 min read
Aug 29Management is RepetitionAs a manager, repetition is critical. It’s all too easy to assume your key messages have sunk in after communicating them once. Unfortunately, you will have to regularly reinforce priorities and goals to maintain your team’s focus. Here’s why you need to repeat yourself, the right ways to do it…Management3 min readManagement3 min read
Aug 24Accelerator Interview PrepToday, we’re talking about preparing for your accelerator program interview. They require unique preparation because it’s different from a standard pitch. 1. Try to get 3 to 5 mock interviews. Start by tapping your network for alumni you know, but it’s also fine to hustle for them on social media. Once you land an interview, lots of people will…Accelerator2 min readAccelerator2 min read
