From VC to founder: Lessons on how to pitch your start-up

In this episode of Seed to Success, Alastair sits down with Piotr Pisarz, the brains behind Uncapped, a revenue-based finance provider. He shares his journey from Venture Capitalist to founder/CEO and his insights into securing non-equity financing for start-up growth. Piotr's experience and out-of-the-box thinking led him to identify the untapped potential of the debt market, offering valuable lessons for start-up founders and CEOs seeking funding.

When Uncapped hit serious speed bumps trying to raise a Series B, Piotr and his team were forced to take a hard look in the mirror and make some tough decisions. Without easy access to piles of cash, Uncapped started operating more lean leading to profit and growth!

Piotr gets straight to the point in this episode - from handling cofounder breakups to the importance of sleep, diet and training like an athlete so you can go the distance as a founder.

If you're in the game of start-up financing or aiming to fund your venture without sacrificing equity, consider this a must-listen.

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Show notes:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:07 – What is Uncapped?
00:02:50 - Benefits of debt vs. equity
00:06:31 - Transition from VC to Founder
00:13:55 - Pitching strategy
00:15:32 - Fundraising lessons
00:17:20 - Hiring and customer acquisition
00:21:54 - Rapid product development
00:24:59 - Business growth and expansion
00:28:53 - Expansion challenges and mistakes
00:29:31 - Investor pressure
00:33:40 - Founder breakups
00:35:14 - Managing stress and self-care
00:37:11- Dysfunctional team dynamics
00:44:08 - Series B process
00:45:24 - The intersection of fast growth and profitability
00:45:42 - Key metrics for business success
00:46:27 - Long-term perspective in entrepreneurship
00:46:53 - Balancing work and personal life
00:47:36 - Conclusion