Capwave AI

VCs don’t always ask what they mean, and founders who miss the subtext will miss the check. 💬 We put together a breakdown to help you prep like a pro on a few common investor questions. Whether you’re pre-seed or raising your Series A, these questions will likely come up, so get ahead of them. 💡 Need extra help? Capwave’s AI pitch deck analysis and fundraising masterclass are built to teach you the investor language (without the guesswork). www.capwave.ai Drop a 💬 if you’ve been hit with one of these before, and save this post for your next pitch. #founders #fundraising #startups #venturecapital #pitchdeck #capwave

Most founders build their investor list like this: → Google top VCs → Scrape names from Twitter → Ask friends for intros → Hope someone bites But here’s the thing: You don’t need 100 intros. You need 10-15 that fit. The founders who raise quickly do one thing really well: They build a high-fit investor pipeline. Here’s how I recommend doing it: Step 1: Match on stage and check size If you’re raising $1M, don’t waste cycles on $10M+ lead investors. Start with funds that regularly lead or follow at your stage. Step 2: Go beyond the thesis Every VC says they invest in “mission-driven founders with bold visions.” Ignore the marketing. Look at actual portfolio companies. → Do they invest in companies like yours? → Have they backed similar business models or industries? Step 3: Find the partner, not just the firm The firm might be right, but the wrong partner = no deal. You want the one who leads in your space and gets excited fast. Step 4: Stalk them (professionally) → Read their blog posts → Watch their past interviews → See who they’ve backed recently This is how you show up to the meeting already speaking their language. At Capwave AI, we help founders find these exact matches by analyzing actual investor behavior, not just their website blurbs. No more guessing who might be a fit. You know who to build with, and why. Have you built your investor list yet? What tools, filters, or questions helped you narrow it down? #fundraising #venturecapital #startups #founders #capitalraising

Most founders pitch their startups like they’re telling a story to a friend. Fundraising is more than just sharing your story, it’s about helping investors understand the opportunity and why it’s worth their time. To do that, you need to address the real questions they have. Investors want to know: What’s the real value here? Why is this business worth backing? How are you showing growth and traction? Does your team have what it takes to scale? Founders often miss these key points because they’re telling the story from their own view, not the investor’s. Before you pitch, take a step back. Think about what investors need to believe, what concerns they’ll have, and how you can address them clearly and directly. By doing this, you make your pitch stronger, easier to understand, and much more compelling. Make sure your pitch speaks their language! #InvestorRelations #StartupFundraising #VentureCapital #FundraisingSuccess #Entrepreneurship

The story that got you your first check won’t raise your next round. Because investor fit isn’t just about sector or thesis, it’s also about stage. And the best fundraisers know how to evolve their pitch as they grow: 🔹 Pre-Seed → Is there a real problem? Show clear customer pain, early validation, and initial demand. 🔹 Seed → Is there traction and a path to scale? Prove market demand, revenue potential, and early growth signals. 🔹 Series A → Can this become a high-growth business? Demonstrate a repeatable sales process, strong unit economics, and momentum. Fundraising isn’t just about telling your story, it’s about telling the right story, to the right investors, at the right time. #FundraisingStrategy #StartupGrowth #VentureCapital #RaisingCapital #InvestorFit #PreSeed #SeedFunding #SeriesA

Raising $500k or $2M? Know how to make the right call. 📰 This week in The Capital Splash, we're diving into one of the biggest questions founders face: how much should you raise? In a market where round sizes are shrinking - but deals are still getting done - getting this number right matters more than ever. We're also breaking down what today’s cautious-but-active fundraising landscape means for you, the sectors (like AI and healthtech) that are still heating up, and the upcoming networking events worth keeping on your radar. #Fundraising #TheCapitalSplash #StartupTips #VentureCapital #AI #HealthTech #SeedFunding

Last week, we brought the heat to The LAB Miami with a no-fluff conversation on what it really takes to raise capital in today’s market, and our panelists did not hold back. 🌟 Huge thanks to the incredible speakers who shared real insights on what gets founders from interest to investment: Graham Stoddard — Investor, Exceptional Capital Melissa Mallah Dincher — Financial Advisor at UBS Santiago Rojas — Co-founder & CEO at UPVIEW VENTURES Zach Ellis, Jr. — Founder & Managing Partner at South Loop Ventures (unable to join due to travel delays, but with us in spirit!) 📣 And of course, shoutout to Danny Lafuente @ The LAB Miami + our amazing partner zant for helping bring the vision to life during #MiamiTechWeek. Founders: the fundraising landscape is evolving. It’s about clarity, traction, and long-term relationships, and Capwave AI is here to help you build all three. Let’s change the way capital is raised! #CapwaveAI #FundraisingStrategy #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #VCPanel #SeedToSeriesA #FounderTools

🎧 We've got our top 6 podcasts every entrepreneur should be listening to Whether you're building your first MVP or raising your Series A, these shows are packed with insights, hard-won lessons, and gritty stories that'll keep you sharp (and inspired). Here’s our personal must-listen list: 1. 20VC Hosted by Harry Stebbings, this is our go-to for raw, insightful convos with top-tier VCs and operators. 2. Masters of Scale Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, shares startup wisdom from iconic leaders and founders who’ve scaled to the top. 3. How I Built This with Guy Raz Guy Raz explores the stories behind some of the world's best-known companies and the entrepreneurs who built them. 4. This Week in Startups Jason Calacanis gives you an unfiltered view into startup news, founder journeys, and what’s trending in tech. 5. The Feedback Loop Hosted by Sherveen Mashayekhi, this podcast features early-stage founders pitching their startups to venture capitalists and receiving live, unfiltered feedback. 6. Acquired Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal unpack the playbooks behind world-changing companies in longform (and addictively deep) episodes. Got another podcast you swear by? Drop it below, we’re always looking for more gems. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Podcasts #Founders #VC #Fundraising

Seed funding is still flowing, but the game has changed. Founders, here’s what matters now: 1️⃣ Deals are getting done. Despite the headlines, early stage investors are still writing checks. Round sizes are up, valuations are holding strong, and capital is available for founders who know how to navigate the landscape. 2️⃣ Investors are more selective. The last few years have been a rollercoaster: market swings, bank collapses, rising interest rates, and cautious LPs have reshaped VC behavior. They’re moving slower, asking tougher questions, and backing only the highest-conviction deals. 3️⃣ What it takes to stand out. A big vision isn’t enough. Today’s investors want proof. Flawless execution, clear demand for your product, and a go to market strategy that actually works The bar has been raised, but founders who can back up their story with real traction are still winning. If you’re gearing up to raise, be prepared, move fast, and own your numbers. #StartupFundraising #InvestorFit #ScalingStartups #VentureCapital #GrowthStrategy

Fundraising is hard enough, don’t let jargon slow you down. Ever felt lost in conversations with investors? SAFE, pro rata, liquidation preference, dilution… The startup world has its own language, and if you don’t speak it fluently, it can cost you. That’s why we put together The Startup Fundraising Dictionary: a breakdown of the most important terms every founder needs to know. 💡 Access the full dictionary here: https://lnkd.in/gesB3R-X Speaking the investor language puts you miles ahead: - Understanding key terms helps you negotiate better deals. - Investors take founders more seriously when they speak the language of venture. - Misunderstanding terms like liquidation preference can lead to costly mistakes. Whether you're raising your first round or prepping for Series A, this guide will help you cut through the noise and approach fundraising with confidence. Swipe through to level up your fundraising vocabulary. What’s a startup term that confused you at first? Let’s discuss in the comments. #Fundraising #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #RaisingCapital #FounderAdvice #StartupGrowth #FundraisingStrategy #Entrepreneurship

⏳ Final Call! Want a direct line to the right investors? Capwave AI’s MATCH DAY is your chance. Applications are closing soon! Skip the cold outreach. Forget the dead-end intros. We’re bringing your top investor matches to you. What you’ll get: 1. Matched with investors who fit your startup 2. Expert coaching to sharpen your pitch and strategy 3. A live pitch session with your matches: no gatekeeping, no guesswork Only 5 founders will be selected. Don’t wait! Apply now before it’s too late: https://lnkd.in/gDgKMPpt *Must be a Capwave AI Growth or Premium user to qualify.