Using Benchmarks as a Diagnostic with Kyle Poyar

On the twelfth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Jenny Fielding. Jenny is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, a global pre-seed fund backed by 500 founders and operators. She joins us to discuss how founders can build a fundraising process, from high-level strategy to tips for creating a strong data room.What You Can Expect to Learn from JennyWhy most founders don’t have a true fundraising process (and how to build one)The dangers of taking casual investor meetings when you’re not fundraisingHow to balance “always being ready” with clear periods of active fundraisingHow to prepare emotionally and tactically before launching a raiseHow to use progressive disclosure when fundraising 

On the eleventh episode of Thrive Through Connection, we welcome Evan Walden, the CEO and Founder of Getro, powering branded job boards and talent networks for venture capital funds, startup accelerators, professional communities, and governments across the world. Evan joins us to discuss how founders and VCs can tap into their networks to fuel relationships and growth.What You Can Expect to Learn from EvanWhat led to Evan starting GetroThe power of connections and communityLessons from Techstars and their “Give First” mentality Hard-earned lessons about fundraising, focus, and being a founder 

On the tenth episode of the Thrive Through Connection podcast, we welcome Lesley Ross and Jonathan Lowenhar of Enjoy the Work, a San Francisco-based startup advisory firm serving startup founders and CEOs worldwide. Jonathan and Lesley join us to discuss how great founders can turn into great CEOs. What You Can Expect to Learn from Lesley & JonathanThe difference between being a founder and being a CEOHow founders can purposefully train to become great CEOsHow best-in-class leaders make the transitionHow to maintain control of your board

On the ninth episode of the Thrive Through Connection podcast, we welcome Hunter Walk. Hunter is a Partner and Co-founder at Homebrew, a seed-stage venture capital firm backing mission-driven founders. He joins us to discuss emerging trends in the venture space since Homebrew’s founding in 2013.What You Can Expect to Learn from HunterHow seed-stage investing has changed in the last 12 yearsWhat’s driving the rise of secondaries in ventureWhy Hunter believes secondaries are here to stayHow founders can think about secondaries for their businessWhy Hunter helped launch Screendoor to invest in VC funds

On the eighth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Andrew Dumont. Andrew is the Founder and CEO of Curious, a long-term holding company that buys and grows software companies with empathy. Andrew joins us to discuss the economics of venture capital and what it means for founders starting companies today. What You Can Expect to Learn from AndrewHow the power law shapes venture capitalWhy many great businesses can’t raise their next roundAlternative paths for founders post-ventureHow Curious supports sustainable software companies

On the seventh episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Jonah Midanik of Forum Ventures. Jonah is the Managing Partner at Forum Ventures, the leading early-stage fund, program, and community for B2B SaaS startups. Jonah joins Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, to discuss how early-stage founders can best run a fundraising process. What You Can Expect to Learn from JonahHow pre-seed founders can build a fundraising processWhy the person at a firm matters more than the organization How to leverage storytelling to raise capital Why leading with your strengths is a key storytelling tactic Want more stories like this? Head to the Thrive Through Connection Hub for every past and upcoming episode. 

On the sixth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kristian Andersen of High Alpha. Kristian is a co-founder and partner at High Alpha, an Indianapolis-based venture capital firm that helps founders and the companies they lead reach their full potential. Kristian joins us to discuss how best-in-class leaders use storytelling to sharpen all facets of their business. What You Can Expect to Learn from KristianThe responsibilities and roles of a CEOThe similarities between selling and storytellingWhy the ability to tell stories across an institution is a competitive advantageWhat he looks for when it comes to a pitch meeting and deck How founders should think about benchmarking their business

On the fifth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kyle Poyar, the founder of Tremont and Growth Unhinged. Tremont is an early growth equity firm based in Boston. Kyle joins us to break down his career supporting companies at OpenView, how SaaS companies should think about benchmarks, and the future of SaaS investing.

On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work.What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to lifeHow mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early daysThe advantages of having a strong networkWhat it means to lead with vulnerabilityThe importance of aligning with investors and partners

On the second episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Brett Brohl, Managing Partner at Bread & Butter Ventures, an early-stage venture firm based in Minnesota. Brett joins us to dive deep into all things founder fundraising, sharing tactical advice on everything from cold outreach to evaluating if an investor is a true culture fit.What You Can Expect to Learn from Brett Why Finding a Cultural Fit With Investors is Essential Why the Best Communicators are Often the Best Performing CompaniesWhat it Means to Treat Fundraising Like a Sales FunnelHow to Maintain Momentum in a FundraiseThe Most Overlooked and Overrated Deck Slides