Robin Singhvi, founder of SmartCue joins me to talk about his experience with founding and fundraising. He reveals he secured 15 investor conversations, and shared his tips on how to create a personalised product demos that are relevant to buyers and prospects.
He advises founders to find 20 people who fit their persona and send them a cold email to validate their venture before seeking funding. He also suggested that they should start with smaller investors and work their way up, avoiding bad or dumb money. Robin recommended reading "The Mom's Test" to get meaningful responses in interview and emphasised the importance of understanding the emotional and social needs of product marketers to refine interview questions.
We cover several important topics related to entrepreneurship, including the challenges of fundraising, the importance of really understanding your customer, and how to create a successful business without raising a lot of money.
The interview also covered the challenges that solo founders face, and the importance of understanding the problem before attempting to solve it, while avoiding attachment to the outcome. Regarding fundraising, Robin discussed the dangers of accepting any money, and advised founders to think about the "right money," which includes not only the funding but also what else the VC can offer in terms of introductions, avoiding mistakes, and help with hiring, compliance, and legal. He discusses why to start with smaller investors and work your way up, rather than going straight to big funds.
Other topics discussed in the podcast included the importance of referrals, reducing CAC to LTV ratios, and how VCs can dictate salary and other terms when investing in a company. Robin and Marcus also discussed the importance of validating a venture before seeking funding, and how to tell the difference between good, bad, and dumb money. Overall, the interview provided valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and fundraising, and offered practical advice for those seeking to create successful businesses.
Contact Robin via linkedin.com/in/robinsinghvi
Websites
Email: robinsinghvi@gmail.com
Twitter: robinsinghvi
--
Book time with me to discuss what's not working in your career and your life> Let's see if some unconventional coaching might be what the doctor ordered for you - no risk, no charge, just an honest conversation and no bullshit - https://calendly.com/marcuscauchi/
Mike Maynard: Challenging the Status Quo: Reimagining Marketing Strategies for Business Growth
Ian Campbell: Why Buyers Really Buy and Uncovering What They Truly Value
Andy Cunningham: Messaging Lessons From Silicon Valley and My Time with Steve Jobs
Prof Ben Guttman: Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication: Embrace Minimalism and Unleash Your True Brilliance
Dan Pfister: Winbacks Deliver 200% Higher LTV, 5x Win Rate
Nicky Parker: Listening Your Way to Higher Profits, Improved Retention and Expansion
Dr Raymona Lawrence: A Conversation About Diversity, Profitability and Leadership
Al McBride: Why Good Negotiation Rarely Happens At The End of the Sale?
The AI Wild West: Can Laws and Ethics Tame the Frontier? with Mark Consigli
Are You Committing Marketing Malpractice? Diagnose the Problem and Discover the Cure with Aaron Hassen
Ep 500: Ask, Listen, Outclass your Competition - a Masterclass in Empathic Questioning
Tired of Hustling? How to Do Less and Earn More Using Clever Systems with Simon Severino
Unleashing the Power of Mental Toughness with Anthony Taylor
Master the Art of Future-Proof Marketing with Mark Schaefer: Unleash Your Supercharged Success!
Women Business Owners, preparing your business for growth and exit with Patty Block
Tal Paperin: Success Comes To People Who Plan, Execute and Adapt Not Those Who Talk About It
Could it be That Your Biggest Obstacle Might be the 6 Inches Between Your Ears
Peter Wheeler: Rebuilding Trust: How Businesses Can Win Back Customers’ Faith
”The Hidden Power of Contrast: How Your Sales Conversations Could Transform
Philipp Humm: Grow Your Business through Transformative Storytelling
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Aligned Money Show
Gorse Culture PODcast : The H.R. Detective Agency!
HCI Leadership Revolution
The Ramsey Show
Planet Money