We're privileged to have Dan Reich join us in this episode - a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with an impressive track record of successful exits. From his humble beginnings selling bouncy balls in high school, he's gone on to found and exit companies in diverse sectors including technology and beauty.

In our conversation, Dan talks about the intricacies of startups, fundraising strategies, and the art of pivoting. He shares candid reflections on his experiences with ventures like Spinback, Tula Skincare, and Troops.ai, each representing different industries and fundraising approaches. Whether you're a first-time founder or a veteran entrepreneur, Dan's story and insights offer valuable lessons for navigating the complex world of startups and venture capital.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 Intro

• 05:19 Choosing the right business partners

• 08:38 The power of the internet and social media

• 12:58 Pivoting from beauty to tech

• 31:17 Building on top of Slack and the acquisition by Salesforce

• 37:07 Post-Acquisition experience and building new ventures

• 43:03 Lessons on fundraising and capital allocation

• 53:40 Angel investing and giving back to the startup ecosystem

• 58:14 Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT DAN REICH

Dan Reich is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a track record of building and exiting successful companies across tech and beauty industries. His notable ventures include TULA Skincare (acquired by Procter & Gamble), Troops.ai (acquired by Salesforce), and Spinback (acquired by Buddy Media, later Salesforce). Dan's entrepreneurial journey, which began in his teens, has earned him recognition as one of the "coolest people in New York tech" by Business Insider.

Beyond his business acumen, Dan is an active angel investor, advisor, and philanthropist. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has contributed to publications like Forbes and Harvard Business Review. When not building companies, Dan can be found at New York Giants games, on the golf course, or volunteering for rescue operations at Mount Snow, Vermont. His life philosophy is simple: "I am, and will forever be, a student."

Connect with Dan Reich on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danreich/

• X : https://x.com/DanReich

• Website: https://danreich.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

In this episode, we're thrilled to talk with a true tech veteran, Chris Gladwin, a serial entrepreneur and currently the CEO and co-founder of Ocient. Chris shares his journey through multiple successful ventures, including Cleversafe (acquired by IBM for over $1.4 billion) and MusicNow. He provides valuable insights into raising capital, navigating market cycles, and building resilient tech companies.

Chris offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, having raised hundreds of millions of dollars across various market conditions. He discusses the challenges of fundraising during different economic climates and shares strategies for success. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Chris's practical advice and real-world stories will surely resonate.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00:00 - Intro

• 07:54 - Strategies for raising capital vs. selling companies

• 11:03 - Navigating fundraising in different market cycles

• 23:43 - Understanding valuation models and market trends

• 30:17 - Avoiding overvaluation and excessive burn rates

• 37:38 - The benefits of being bought rather than selling

• 39:35 - How Circuit City acquired Music Now

• 48:35 - Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT CHRIS GLADWIN

Chris Gladwin is a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits under his belt. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of OCIENT, a software company providing solutions for the world's largest data analyzing systems.

In 2004, Chris founded Cleversafe, which became the largest and most strategic object storage vendor in the world. Under his leadership, Cleversafe had over 1,000 patents granted or filed. After raising over $100M, Chris led the company to a $1.4B exit in 2015 when IBM acquired the company.

Before Cleversafe, Chris founded MusicNow and Cruise Technologies startups and led Zenith Data Systems' product strategy. He started his career at Martin Marietta as a database developer and holds an engineering degree from MIT. Chris's experience spans various sectors, including data storage, digital music, and enterprise software, making him a valuable voice in the tech startup ecosystem.

Connect with Chris Gladwin on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gladwin-7ba42b/

• Website: https://ocient.com/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

In this episode, we're sitting down with Alex Pattis, general partner at Riverside Ventures and author of the newsletter "Last Money In". Alex shares his journey from sales director to launching a syndicate that has completed over 300 deals and deployed $75 million in capital.

Alex provides valuable insights into how syndicates operate, their advantages for both founders and investors, and the common pitfalls to avoid. He also discusses the current trends in the syndicate market and offers advice for founders considering working with syndicates.

Here's what you're in for:

• 00: 00 - Intro

• 04:53 - Demystifying syndicates: Understanding LPs and SPVs

• 07:54 - The value of syndicates for founders

• 14:11 - The importance of transparency in the syndicate process

• 18:37 - Current trends in the syndicate market

• 32:36 - Common mistakes in the syndicate market

• 38:01 - Strategic fundraising with Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)

• 47:19 - Outro

  
  

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders

Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT ALEX PATTIS

Alex Pattis is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a diverse background in both operations and venture capital. He is currently a co-founder of Last Money In Media, producing the most actionable VC newsletter focused on explaining Special Purpose Vehicles within the

Venture Capital ecosystem. He is also a General Partner at Riverside Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies. To date, they have deployed over $70 million.

Alex's operating background includes nearly a decade of scaling early-stage startups, focusing on growth and commercial strategy. In venture capital, Alex has invested in over 250 companies as a General Partner at Riverside Ventures. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in the early stages of their businesses. His experience spans both operational and investment roles, giving him a unique perspective on the startup ecosystem.

Connect with Alex Pattis on:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-pattis-1709011a/

• Newsletter: https://lastmoneyin.co/

  
  

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/