Denise Lambertson’s Post

In supporting founders with fundraising I found building a target list to be one of the biggest challenges. So, here's where to start: 1. take your list of general supporters (if you don't have one - make one), and find your strongest supporters within your network 2. ask yourself "what investors can I get to through my strongest supporters?" and find out who they are connected with I devote a whole lesson to this in FWC b/c going through this diligently is very important 3. once you've found what investors they are connected with, start adding them to your target investor list I call this method the "bottom's up" method. You focusing on the investors you can most easily get to through your best supporters This is my favorite way to start to a target list - hope this helps!

Founders- do you watch other founders who are fundraising pitch? Last month we had 3 founders (all women!) pitch at the SLC Angels meeting. One was very polished and another used fuzzy language like “if we do” and “maybe”. While not the most important elements of any pitch, seeing the difference side by side was intersting. I see dozens of pitches a year and know that doing so helps me mentor and improve odds for future fundraising founders.

I've read through the webinar prep and this is going to be a good conversation. It's a) best practices but b) covers what's different about fundraising now. 11/30 at 2pm ET. Check it out!

The ultimate flattery: an audience member speaking up about your content & you having to tell the audience he wasn’t planted on purpose… When Katie Dunn and I were speaking on: •the current fundraising environment •how to tackle it •what founders should focus on as they’re raising… An active investor in the audience raised his hand to attest to the importance of the information we shared & that he wished more founders for to hear what we have to say. 😭🥹 I was so awestruck that I had to tell that audience that we didn’t pay him to say this 🤣 We educate and prepare founders so investors get better deal flow, equating to the right founders getting the right dollars. 🙌 It’s not that simple as stated within a short post, but having our methods supported by active investors speaks volumes.

💸 You have secured funding for your startup - now how do you manage your money? Our Head of Finance Mattheus Dias has shared 5 best practices for making the best use of your cash 💶 - check them out via link in comments👇!

Learn about capital campaigns and how capital campaign consultants can help your nonprofit. Watch our video now! #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

"Less than 0.39% of VC funding goes to businesses led by women of color." Shocked? No. Disappointed? Absolutely. Breaking economic disparities that started centuries ago is hard enough. Blocking people, companies, and initiatives from restoring this systemic injustice is just pure cruelty. What bootstraps can women of color pull from at 0.39%? Please take time to watch this video about the Fearless Fund and support their organization (if you're financially able to). If you are in a position of power, please bring these conversations to the board, trustees, and/or C-suite conversations because these are the battles that matter. https://lnkd.in/gAd9fb_N

I made a statement in the current newsletter issue about this coordinated, strategic attack on us in the funding world. Black Women seem to be targeted at the moment (like that's new). It keeps happening. We're not the only ones. Hello Alice was attacked, but won in court. You know about Fearless Fund. Some colleges and university programs are being sued. I refuse to name the culprit so he/they don't get any clicks from my platforms. But a simple Google search will bring you up to speed. I generally only offer Funding School™ and the Angel Investing Bootcamp 2-3 times per year. However, the best use of my voice and platform is to amp up as they amp up. Until further notice, both programs will be offered on a rolling basis. Meaning until we reach the goal of educating as many of us as possible, I will try to offer these programs monthly. Funding School is three sessions, once per week. Angel Investing Bootcamp is three sessions, three consecutive days. It's important for me to use my platforms to educate and prepare on BOTH sides of funding. Also, until the fall, I will be opening the programs up to the fellas as well. I am available for questions. What's understood doesn't need to be said. Stand up, stand strong. ✊🏽✌🏽

I made a statement in the current newsletter issue about this coordinated, strategic attack on us in the funding world. Black Women seem to be targeted at the moment (like that's new). It keeps happening. We're not the only ones. Hello Alice was attacked, but won in court. You know about Fearless Fund. Some colleges and university programs are being sued. I refuse to name the culprit so he/they don't get any clicks from my platforms. But a simple Google search will bring you up to speed. I generally only offer Funding School™ and the Angel Investing Bootcamp 2-3 times per year. However, the best use of my voice and platform is to amp up as they amp up. Until further notice, both programs will be offered on a rolling basis. Meaning until we reach the goal of educating as many of us as possible, I will try to offer these programs monthly. Funding School is three sessions, once per week. Angel Investing Bootcamp is three sessions, three consecutive days. It's important for me to use my platforms to educate and prepare on BOTH sides of funding. Also, until the fall, I will be opening the programs up to the fellas as well. I am available for questions. What's understood doesn't need to be said. Stand up, stand strong. ✊🏽✌🏽

Our next 5 Minute Funding Diaries entry is a 3-part series with Sophie O'Brien, founder of Pollen Careers. “I want to make sure that if I do fundraise that it is with the right investors who share my values, who believe in the impact we are trying to make, and who back me!" In part 1, Sophie muses on the challenges of fundraising as a female founder and the importance of prioritising her mental well-being over funding at all costs. Does Sophie's story resonate? What advice would you give a female founder fundraising right now?