



18 episodes
by Mat Vogels · English
Welcome to Fun Raising, the podcast where the best early-stage investors pull back the curtain on the fundraising process, one founder question at a time. If you're a pre-seed or seed-stage founder trying to figure out how to get your first check, navigate a term sheet, or just understand what VCs are actually thinking when you walk out of the room — this is the show for you. Every episode, we sit down with top early-stage investors and put them on the spot with real questions from real founders. No fluff, no recycled advice, just honest, tactical conversations about what it actually takes to raise in today's market. From crafting your pitch to closing the round, we cover the moments that make or break a fundraise. We put the "fun" in fundraising. Because someone has to.









Alex Moore (partner at 8VC) discusses what 8VC invests in, how founders should pitch and fundraise, how to choose the right VC, and what to do after closing a round.
13 Oct 2026 · 30m · 13 chapters
Overmatch’s approach to early-stage fundraising for defense and deep tech, including what they look for in pitch materials, how diligence works, and how founders should navigate pricing/FOMO and…
6 Oct 2026 · 33m · 16 chapters
Growth-stage fundraising and investing in hardware/climate/energy.
29 Sep 2026 · 38m · 12 chapters
Michael Gibson, general partner/co-founder of 1517, discusses 1517’s pre-seed investing thesis (backing founders without credentials), how universities and private companies shape innovation, and a…
8 Sep 2026 · 45m · 14 chapters
Ian Rountree (Cantos) explains how early-stage venture fundraising works, what Cantos looks for in founders, and how to get meetings and close rounds without hype or misrepresentation.
3 Sep 2026 · 48m · 19 chapters
Industrious Ventures’ deep-tech, industrial-focused investing and practical fundraising guidance for early-stage founders, including how Taylor Sargent evaluates pitches, approaches diligence, and…
1 Sep 2026 · 46m · 22 chapters
Patty Wexler, founder/managing partner of Avila VC, explains why she invests in re-industrialization, energy abundance, and “physical AI,” and gives practical advice on fundraising: building a VC…
20 Aug 2026 · 46m · 21 chapters
Arkady Kulik (Arkane) discusses fundraising for early-stage deep tech: how to translate technical work into VC language, how to build a VC target list, what to include in outreach and decks, how to…
13 Aug 2026 · 40m · 18 chapters
Earthshot Ventures’ climate-tech investing thesis and fundraising advice, focused on “clean intelligence stack” companies spanning AI supply chain (critical minerals, data center energy, compute…
6 Aug 2026 · 43m · 16 chapters
Sarah Kuntz (Clio Capital) explains how Clio invests (pre-seed to Series B), what makes a startup compelling, and how founders should approach fundraising—from getting “in the room” to closing and…
4 Aug 2026 · 49m · 24 chapters
Jason Gray, founder/managing partner of Pioneer Fund, discusses how Pioneer Fund (a YC-alumni fund) invests in YC and some non-YC deals, typical check sizes, and practical fundraising advice across…
30 Jul 2026 · 47m · 21 chapters
Ellen Chisa of Bold Start Ventures explains how founder empathy, “inception” investing, and authentic outreach shape fundraising.
28 Jul 2026 · 45m · 26 chapters
Celesta Capital’s approach to early-stage deep tech fundraising—how to get meetings, craft outreach and decks, run first calls, and navigate diligence/term sheet/closing, plus post-close…
21 Jul 2026 · 49m · 28 chapters
Fundraising for deep tech founders, from choosing VCs and standing out in inbound to what Alexandra looks for in meetings, negotiating term sheets, and what to do after closing.
16 Jul 2026 · 46m · 19 chapters
Paige Finn Doherty (Behind Genius Ventures) explains how early-stage fundraising works from a VC’s perspective—how to get in the room, craft outreach and pitch materials, run the first meeting…
14 Jul 2026 · 39m · 16 chapters
FirstMile Ventures’ pre-seed investing approach and fundraising playbook, focused on non-coastal markets (Colorado and Austin/Texas).
9 Jul 2026 · 49m · 26 chapters
Kirby Winfield, founding general partner of Seattle-based Ascend, discusses pre-seed fundraising strategy and how to evaluate founders for enterprise AI and deep tech.
7 Jul 2026 · 46m · 18 chapters
Roadrunner Capital’s CEO Adam Hammer explains how Roadrunner Venture Studios (deep-tech “company creation factory”) and the adjacent Roadrunner Fund work together, and shares fundraising guidance for…
2 Jul 2026 · 40m · 24 chapters