Greetings, Chief Storytelling Officers.

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The start of the busiest fundraising period is almost here. Post Labor Day through Thanksgiving is a full out sprint.

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I hope you’ve been preparing, reading up on the articles I’ve shared in our resource library, and going back through the over one hundred videos I’ve shared on YouTube to help you successfully raise your round and become a great storyteller.

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I’m in the trenches with a full client roster raising their seed, series a, and series b rounds right now so I’ll keep sharing what’s working and what you need to avoid. See you out there.

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-Robbie

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The Trident Strategy

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Many founders desperately rush to secure funds, revealing a lack of strategy and foresight.

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The key to a successful fundraise? Strategy, process, and execution.

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It's essential to approach fundraising with a well-thought-out plan. Let me break it down.

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My first murder case

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When I was a young trial lawyer nothing made me more excited than getting to try a murder case. It’s obviously high stakes and a win on this type of case is the type of thing that puts a young prosecutor on the radar of the big bosses.

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So when I was in my 3rd year, I was given my first murder case. This was ridiculously early as most of my colleagues didn’t see their first murder until year 5 or 6 if they ever saw one at all.

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When I got the case I almost blew it.

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I spent a few weeks going over all the evidence and decided that I was ready to go to trial. If there was a voiceover section of this newsletter it would be saying…”He was nowhere close to being ready for trial.”

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Luckily for me the chief of my court had been a criminal prosecutor for over two decades and grilled me on my decision. He poked, prodded, and proved to me that I had a whole lot more work to do if I wanted to stand a chance in trial.

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It was embarrassing.

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It took me 9 months to get the case to trial as I strategized, prepared, and then executed. The defendant was found guilty, sent to prison, and a 5 year old cold case finally had closure for the victim’s family.

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If I would’ve rushed into it the outcome would not have been one that the victim deserved.

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Drawing inspiration from legends

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Bill Belichick, often hailed as one of the greatest NFL coaches, especially in New England, stands out not for his playing prowess but his coaching acumen. He meticulously studies his opponents and prepares his team for victory week in, week out.

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Belichick's approach is influenced by Sun Tzu, the renowned strategist and author of "The Art of War." Through such strategic study, Belichick transformed the Patriots into a dominant force in football.

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So what does this mean for you when it comes to fundraising?

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I want you to think about what I call “The Trident Strategy”.

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The trident strategy

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1. Begin by creating an intro network and engage with investors even before you need funds. This proactive approach ensures investors are familiar with you and your vision, making them more likely to invest when the time comes.

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2. It's essential to set up multiple meetings in short succession. A higher frequency of meetings generates buzz, with your name frequently being discussed, leading to heightened interest and a competitive edge.

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3. Preparation is the key. Knowing answers to potential questions and communicating them concisely shows expertise and clarity, traits investors look for in founders. Sadly, many founders falter here, leading to a loss of investor confidence.

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Sure, there's more nuance to the process.

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But these three steps, coupled with diligent preparation, will lay the groundwork for a successful fundraise. Strategy is a universal tool, be it in sports, warfare, the courtroom, or business.

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Embrace it, perfect it, and success will follow.

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What I’m seeing from investors

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Please be careful with investors and don’t blindly trust they are doing what’s best for you. There are some great investors out there who do everything right but there are some amateurs and bad actors that will take advantage of founders.

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Get things in writing. Verify and document. Don’t let things drag on with just a verbal agreement.

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Good investors know they need to move with urgency and allow founders to operate. Protect yourself and always be in control of your own destiny.

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Resources for founders

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Investors want to know that a founder is “Special”. I’ve talked to hundreds of them about how founders can do this and I put it all into this video.

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***

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Many of the readers of this newsletter are pre-seed founders. If that’s you here’s a great breakdown of what’s happening in that market from Peter Walker who’s the head of insights at Carta (and also refers to himself as a data storyteller…which he 100% is and you can learn from).

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***

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This anecdote on how Steve Jobs was an absolute force of nature makes complete sense when thinking about what it takes to create one of the most successful companies in history. The tweet comes from David Senra of Founders podcast which I highly recommend as both informative and inspiring.

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Are you fundraising? Get on the waitlist now.

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If you’re currently fundraising or plan to soon and want to raise with less stress, backed by stronger investors, and master you storytelling while doing it, reach out to us.

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I’m currently at full capacity but as we close rounds new spots open up and I start at top of the waitlist.