Shaily Baranwal is the Founder and CEO of Elevate K-12. She’s an incredible entrepreneur and CEO, and I can attest to her ability to rapidly scale a company. Elevate K-12 provides engaging virtual classroom instruction from certified live teachers to ensure every student receives a high-quality education regardless of zip code. In the episode, Shaily shares the inspiring journey from her childhood in India as a special education student, to becoming a classroom teacher. She discusses founding two other companies before Elevate K-12, including a chain of preschools for low-income students in rural India. Shaily also talks about her fundraising experiences starting Elevate K-12, scaling the business, and her passion for problem-solving and rule-breaking in entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

[2:32] Shaily’s background.

[6:00] Shaily embraces both her scientific and artistic side.

[8:09] Solving problems is Shaily’s motivation.

[11:00] “Principles” by Ray Dalio.

[12:22] Learning from advisors and leaders. And choosing them wisely.

[14:05] Creating an ecosystem of success.

[18:01] Shaily’s past in teaching.

[18:33] Elevate - the fundraising journey.

[20:56] Why fundraising was a nightmare.

[22:08] Getting the first million from a hedge fund founder.

[26:04] The importance of a great investor.

[26:48] Discovering non-dilutive funding.

[29:27] Screening potential investors and choosing Novel.

[32:18] Asymmetry in the power and information dynamic.

[36:31] Advice for entrepreneurs and investors.

[39:35] Why did fundraising almost break Shaily?

[41:18] What surprised Shaily throughout the journey.

[43:05] The impact Shaily’s dad had on her career.

Resources:
RBF Network
Keith’s Twitter

Keith’s Linkedin

Shaily: Website | LinkedIn

Marshall Lebovits is an advisor at Asset Based Funding Solutions with almost 35 years of experience in the secured financing and alternative capital industry. In the episode, Marshall shares more about his passion for helping grow companies that typically lack access to capital with non-dilutive asset-backed financing solutions. Marshall discusses how he built a network of connections around the world, the importance of carefully evaluating your lending partners to make informed decisions, and the importance of accuracy in financial reporting.

Key Takeaways

[3:05] Marshall’s career background.

[[9:51] Asset-Based Funding.

[10:07] Sourcing deals.

[14:25] Case Study: A healthcare staffing company Marshall helped during the pandemic.

[22:15] Investing in the right types of relationships.

[29:35] Case Study: A protein drink client that stood out in the Better for You CPG space.

[34:58] What Marshall is both advising entrepreneurs on and warning them to be vigilant about.

[38:13] The importance of accurate financial reporting.

[47:21] Building Asset-Based Funding Solutions.

[47:38] Relationships matter. Make sure you trust who you work with.

Resources:
RBF Network
Keith’s Twitter
Keith’s Linkedin

Marshall: LinkedIn | X

This week features Brendan Cosgrove, Co-Founder and Director of Catalyze, a unique national nonprofit dedicated to democratizing access to LP and institutional capital networks and resources for underserved investors and GPs. With his extensive experience guiding LPs at Cambridge Associates, and as Investment Director at the Kauffman Foundation's Capital Access Lab, Brendan brings a unique perspective to the table. In our conversation, Brendan shares insights into the challenges of introducing innovative funding methods like RBF and the importance of supporting diverse fund managers. He talks about Catalyze's Fund Fellowship program, aimed at empowering capital entrepreneurs to build investment solutions for underserved businesses. Brendan also sheds light on the long-term commitment needed to build institutional-quality investment firms and provides valuable insights into funding vehicles for impact investors. He also demystifies MRI vs PRI for foundation investors.

Key Takeaways

[3:13] What led Brendan to Catalyze.

[7:15] Brendan’s interest in alternative capital.

[13:43] The importance of underwritable track records and the ability to benchmark.

[17:33] Getting more institutional LPs to write those anchor checks.

[20:45] The opportunity for big foundations to step into alternative capital.

[25:00] Capital Access Lab.

[27:12] Catalyze’s approach of being an anchor for underrepresented founders.

[30:25] MRI vs. PRI.

[33:22] How Catalyze helps capital entrepreneurs.

[35:46] Catalyze’s Fund Fellowship Program.

[37:46] GP Runway fund.

[39:34] What managers learn at the Fellowship Program.

[53:09] What Brendan sees in the emerging space.

[55:09] Embracing the learning curve with innovative models.

Resources:
RBF Network
Keith’s Twitter

Keith’s Linkedin

Brendan: Catalyze | LinkedIn | Blueprint Local | Capital Access Lab