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Alex Wittenberg sat down with Eric Bahn from Hustle Fund for the latest episode of Funded! They dug into Hustle Fund's *unique* brand voice, what actually moves Eric to invest, and how Hustle Fund supports founders beyond writing checks. ▶️ Watch the full conversation (now live): https://lnkd.in/gcEsJYkA

In the latest episode of Funded, we sat down with Eric Bahn, Co-Founder of Hustle Fund (50,000 companies evaluated, 620 investments), as he shares what separates successful startups from the rest. 1️⃣ Missionary vs. Mercenary Founders: The best founders solve problems for people they truly care about, not just chase returns. 2️⃣ Hustle as the Leading Indicator: Great execution meets high velocity. The most successful teams experiment constantly and measure relentlessly. 3️⃣ AI is Changing Startup Economics: Founders are raising less because they need less. One engineer can now manage dozens of AI agents, helping companies reach profitability faster with smaller checks. 👀 The best early indicator of startup success? It’s not the idea, or market size. It’s hustle. Full episode drops tomorrow.

This is a fantastic conversation with Ali Hussain of Tabs is now live! It provides a crystal-clear, actionable framework for AI in finance. We believe this framework is spot on. For AI agents to work sustainably in complex finance environments, you simply can't skip steps.🚀 Catch the full episode for great insights on the future of finance roles and tactical fundraising tips. Check it out here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eBHi3pk4

Following their $55M Series B, Ali Hussain of Tabs shared key insights on how AI is turning finance from a blocker to a strategic enabler. Here's the future: 🤝 Strategic Focus: AI handles tactical work, freeing finance for growth analysis and cross-functional strategy. 📈 New Roles: It's not "zero-person finance," but new roles focused on orchestrating AI agents. 💰 New Revenue: AI unlocks complex models like usage-based pricing, which manual processes couldn't support. 📊 CFOs as Stewards: CFOs are now leading AI adoption for the entire organization, not just their own team. Want to hear how to build production-ready revenue automation? Listen to the full episode tomorrow!

Budgeting isn't just for big companies - even early-stage startups should build and maintain a budget to contextualize their financial performance. Many founders might dismiss budgeting as a waste of time given how quickly things change in the startup world, but it's actually an incredibly useful tool. A well-crafted budget helps founders answer a crucial question: "How should we feel about our financial results from last month or quarter?" This insight allows them to course correct if things are veering off track and make smarter decisions about resource allocation moving forward. Setting a budget and tracking against it also leads to more productive conversations with your leadership team and board members during quarterly meetings. It's a powerful way to elevate your startup's financial and operational hygiene, ultimately helping you run a more effective business. So if you're not already budgeting, it's time to start. Your future self (and your investors) will thank you for having this financial roadmap in place as you navigate the unpredictable waters of startup growth. Don't know how to get started? Check out our budgeting toolkit here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eTFAitY8

Budgeting isn't just for big companies. Many founders might dismiss budgeting as a waste of time given how quickly things change in the startup world, but even early-stage startups should build and maintain a budget to contextualize their financial performance. A well-crafted budget helps founders answer a crucial question: "How should we feel about our financial results from last month or quarter?" It's not about crunching numbers; you're creating a framework for better decision-making and strategic planning. So, if you're not already budgeting, it's time to start. Your future self (and your investors) will thank you for having this financial roadmap in place as you navigate the unpredictable waters of startup growth. For budgeting resources check out our Budgeting Toolkit here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eTFAitY8

Tired of endless, unqualified investor outreach? Your fundraising strategy is about to get a massive upgrade. 🚀 We're excited to share our updated Fundraise Toolkit, designed to help founders navigate the complex world of securing capital. The centerpiece? Our VC Matchmaking Tool! This isn't just another directory—it's an intelligent engine that instantly matches your startup with the most relevant VCs based on your stage, industry, and funding criteria. 🤯 Ready to find your perfect investor match? Get the full toolkit and try the VC Matchmaking tool now: https://lnkd.in/gDJ6UXh2 #Fundraising #VentureCapital #Startups #VCFunding #Investormatching #Entrepreneurship

Building what he calls “Whoop for your poop,” Scott Hickle 🚽, co-founder and CEO of Throne, recently raised $4 million in just 2.5 months for his company. Throne, a smart toilet seat, aims to become an early detection device for colon cancer. He shared some key lessons from his journey: 🔹 Build a meticulous tracking system. Scott used a detailed spreadsheet to track over 250 investors. 🔹 Prepare for self-selection. With over 130 conversations resulting in 76 passes and 26 outright rejections, Scott learned to quickly identify investors with genuine conviction for his unique product. 🔹 Sequence your story to build momentum. Initially, Scott's pitch focused on the long-term vision of a cancer detection device, which confused investors. Flipping the narrative to start with the immediate wellness product before revealing the bigger medical opportunity created a much stronger pitch. 🔹 Physical presence still matters. Scott relocated to San Francisco for two and a half months to focus solely on fundraising. Despite many Zoom meetings, his physical presence demonstrated a serious commitment and led to crucial in-person connections. 🔹 Founder-market fit is your strongest differentiator. Scott’s background in mechanical engineering, his co-founder’s expertise in computer vision, and the team's personal ties to gastroenterology and ulcerative colitis created a story of undeniable credibility. 🔹 Emotional resilience requires intentional practices. Facing 3-4 rejections a day while staying enthusiastic was emotionally demanding. Scott managed this by journaling, taking long walks, and having honest conversations with his support network. Scott's experience proves that building conviction around unconventional ideas requires finding investors bold enough to believe in an ambitious vision before proof exists. To hear more of his story and his systematic approach to building Throne, check back for the full conversation tomorrow.

Nicolas Kopp just raised $95 million in 11 days of actual fundraising work. That's not a typo. The Rillet founder compressed his Series A into 8 days and followed it with a preemptive Series B just 3 months later. But the real story isn't about speed. It's about what happened before those 11 days. "The bulk of the work around your Series A was done well in advance of actually starting to have your investor conversations," Nicolas told me on Funded. "We built relationships way before you actually enter a process." While Rillet was in stealth mode for almost 2 years, Nicolas was quietly building connections with VCs. When portfolio companies started using Rillet's AI-native ERP platform, investors took notice. I've seen too many founders try to fundraise part-time or play political games with investors. Nicolas took the opposite approach. He focused on building a business customers love, then shot straight with VCs about what they were building. "If you have a good business, if your customers like what you're doing, just shoot them straight," he said. The takeaway isn't that you should raise back-to-back rounds. It's that fundraising success happens long before you send your first pitch deck. Listen to our full conversation about compressed fundraising timelines and the future of AI in finance here: https://lnkd.in/eqRDP5HH

Check out the full Funded episode with Nicolas Kopp of Rillet here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eqRDP5HH