Best Pre Seed Investing Podcasts (2025)

1
Discovering What Your Company Wants to Be with Mike Salguero, CEO of ButcherBox 1:12:26

8h ago1:12:26

1:12:26

Today’s conversation with Mike Salguero went in a direction I really wasn’t anticipating. Initially, I was interested in talking to Mike because he’s lived multiple lives as a Founder. First, buying and then raising 10s of millions for a crafts persons marketplace called Custommade.com. Then, after winding down Custommade, starting what he would te…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – The Pre-Seed Pitch Deck 2:05

6h ago2:05

2:05

The Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The pre-seed company raising funding faces a challenge. There are no revenue, traction, or performance metrics to show the investor. The startup basically has an idea, a team, and little else. For the pre-seed…

1
Investor Connect 819: TEN Capital Virtual Investor Education Series Part 2 16:28

6h ago16:28

16:28

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin chats with Mike Sloan, Founder, and CEO of Simple Labs. Mike introduces Cogni, an innovative device designed to tackle significant challenges in the wine and spirits industry, such as product loss due to evaporation and spoilage. Starting from his background in bourbon country and transitioning to…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Help the Investor Understand Your Pitch 2:06

3h ago2:06

2:06

Help the Investor Understand Your Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors hear a great number of pitches. In each pitch, the investor must figure out what the startup is doing and if it meets their investment criteria. In pitching, an investor considers the…

1
TBC119: The State of the Fundraising Market in 2025 8:36

11h ago8:36

8:36

Is pre-seed fundraising harder than ever? In this episode of The Backchannel, we break down how expectations for early-stage startups have shifted. Investors now demand more proof—traction, paying customers, and even product builds—before writing checks. Why? A mix of AI-driven productivity, global talent access, and the lingering effects of the po…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Negotiating the Valuation 2:09

24m ago2:09

2:09

Negotiating the Valuation Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Negotiating the valuation is a key step in the fundraising process. Here are some helpful strategies to consider in negotiating the valuation: Understand the comparable valuations in your space. These are ca…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Best Practices for Series A Fundraising 2:14

4h ago2:14

2:14

Best Practices for Series A Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fundraising for Series A is fundamentally different from fundraising for a seed round. In the seed round, the goal is to convince the investor you can sell it. In the series A round the goal is…

1
#30: OceanMade with Emily Power – From Microsoft to Kelp Pots, developing a biodegradable seed starter pot, designing a successful pre-sale campaign, navigating imposter syndrome and making decisions with ... 1:18:46

5d ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Send us a text Emily Power is the founder of OceanMade, who is bridging the gap between terrestrial agriculture and ocean innovation with her groundbreaking Kelp Pots. Sparked by Bren Smith's seaweed farming feature on '60 Minutes', Emily transitioned from her corporate role at Microsoft to ocean entrepreneurship. After pivoting from an initial sus…

1
How Brian Sheng Closed a $112M Round for Aquaria (Brian Sheng / Aquaria - Ep 55) 57:26

10h ago57:26

57:26

Raising money isn’t just about convincing investors—it’s about surviving long enough to do it. Brian Sheng, founder of Aquaria, bootstrapped millions of his own dollars, ran relentless product-market fit experiments, and faced rejection after rejection before securing a $112M round to scale his breakthrough water technology. We dive into the toughe…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Matching Risk To Reward 2:02

1d ago2:02

2:02

Matching Risk To Reward Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In choosing an investment, the investor matches risk to reward. A public stock may go down but most likely will not go bankrupt. A startup is much more likely to go under. Since the risk is low in a publicly t…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – The Secret Is in the Iterations 2:02

5h ago2:02

2:02

The Secret Is in the Iterations Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many founders try to tell everything to the investor in the first pitch. This is not possible as there’s no way to convey everything about the startup in one go. It’s best to break the information down…

1
Investor Connect 818: Scalable Startups and Effective Marketing Strategies with Jason Kutasi 28:25

5h ago28:25

28:25

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin engages in a conversation with Jason Kutasi, a prominent member of YPO, a global leadership community for young presidents. Jason discusses his journey from exiting a D2C children's book publisher to Scholastic, to establishing an ad agency post-exit. He shares his expertise in marketing, emphasizing…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – What Not To Say in a Fundraise 2:11

6d ago2:11

2:11

What Not To Say in a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, startups should avoid these statements to investors. “We have no competition.” If there’s no competition, then there is no market. Instead, the founder should talk about how the star…

1
TBC118: How to Create Urgency and Set Deadlines in Fundraising 8:03

2h ago8:03

8:03

Setting deadlines in fundraising can be a powerful tool—or a costly mistake. In this episode of The BackChannel, we break down how founders should think about creating urgency without scaring off investors. Learn why setting deadlines too early can backfire, how to structure a process that keeps investors engaged, and why a well-placed deadline can…

1
From First Meeting to Funded in One Week 50:41

3h ago50:41

50:41

By Bryce Roberts

1
Startup Funding Espresso – What Is a Value Proposition 2:01

2h ago2:01

2:01

What Is a Value Proposition Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A value proposition is a feature that makes the startup valuable to the customer. It’s not your mission statement, which is the overarching goal of the business. It’s not your mantra that shows what your b…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Don’t Overhype It 2:00

1d ago2:00

2:00

Don’t Overhype It Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it’s important to articulate all the values in the deal. If you don’t mention it, then it doesn’t exist in the investors' minds. Investors only know what you tell them. Include the values in the …

1
Update: New Chapter Coming Soon 2:44

7d ago2:44

2:44

Send us a text This is a brief update episode where I share my plans for the direction of the podcast going forward and the thinking behind it. New episode coming later this month! In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts; feel free to reach out on social media with your feedback or suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover. Many thanks,…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Enhance an Investor Update 2:07

2d ago2:07

2:07

How To Enhance an Investor Update Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In writing an investor update, include the status of the business, key milestones achieved, and upcoming challenges. Here are some additional elements to add to the update to enhance it. Remind the i…

1
Skipping from Pre-Seed to Series A with Dreadnode 1:09:02

5d ago1:09:02

1:09:02

"Would you be mad at us if we raised more money?" That was the text I got late one night from Will Pearce, co-founder and CEO of Dreadnode, a company we'd funded about nine months prior. I'd gotten to know Will through a cold DM he sent me. The DM had nothing to do with tech or investing, just starting a conversation. At the time, Will was working …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Add Investor Relations to Your Website 2:06

12d ago2:06

2:06

Add Investor Relations to Your Website Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, prospective investors use your website to learn more about the business. It’s often the case that the investor will use the website to connect with the founder. To facilitate…

1
Investor Connect 817: Insights from Christopher Ezold of Wisler Pearlstine, LLP 27:46

12d ago27:46

27:46

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin speaks with Christopher Ezold, a partner at Wisler Pearlstine, a Pennsylvania-based law firm specializing in business employment and corporate law. Christopher provides valuable insights into the common types of lawsuits startups and growing businesses face, such as violations of non-compete agree…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – The Importance of Your Website in a Fundraise 2:03

6d ago2:03

2:03

The Importance of Your Website in a Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Your website plays a key role in your fundraising. The first place an investor goes after hearing a pitch is your website. Make sure it is up to date and looks professional. Pitch slides …

1
TBC117: What Are the Toughest Questions Asked When Pitching? 6:46

6d ago6:46

6:46

Investors love to test founders with tough questions—but what if you don’t know the answer? In this episode, we break down a real pitch meeting where a simple misunderstanding derailed the conversation. Learn how to handle tricky investor questions, when to ask for clarification, and why truly knowing your business makes all the difference.…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – How To Use Round Closings 2:09

7d ago2:09

2:09

How To Use Round Closings Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In planning out a fundraise, it’s best to break the raise into a series of round closings. Communicate the overall fundraise amount to the investor but break it into steps. The first tranche is called the fi…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Steps To Plan Your Fundraise 2:08

8d ago2:08

2:08

Steps To Plan Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before you launch a fundraise, first plan out your investor engagement: Follow these steps to prepare: Create a timeline, giving yourself three to six months before launching the campaign. Make a list of …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Building the Fundraise Funnel 2:05

9d ago2:05

2:05

Building the Fundraise Funnel Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, it’s important to build a funnel into your fundraising. Just as you have a funnel for sales so you need a funnel for fundraising. At the top of the funnel are people you know but have…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Milestone Your Valuation Caps 1:57

12d ago1:57

1:57

Milestone Your Valuation Caps Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In strategizing your fundraising, it’s best to break your raise into tranches. Most raises start with a Convertible Note or SAFE Note so one uses a valuation cap rather than the actual valuation. Give th…

1
Investor Connect 816: TEN Capital Virtual Investor Education Series Part 1 22:35

12d ago22:35

22:35

In this episode of Investor Connect, host Hall T. Martin and co-host Kat Delvedio dive into TenCapital's initiatives and upcoming events aimed at bridging the gap between startups and investors. We emphasize the importance of building investor relationships and share details about key programs like the Family Office Roundtable, Virtual Quick Pitch …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – You’re Too Early for Us 2:08

15d ago2:08

2:08

You’re Too Early for Us Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders raising funding will often hear an investor say ‘You’re too early for us.’ Many founders believe the investor may be a candidate for a future raise. In reality, most investors who say you’re t…

1
TBC116: Finding the Perfect Blend of Data and Narrative 2:36

14d ago2:36

2:36

In this episode of the Back Channel, we explore the art of storytelling and the balance between hard facts and narrative. A founder’s question sparks a conversation about when to lean on data and when to let the story take center stage. Tune in for thought-provoking insights on crafting compelling narratives without getting bogged down in numbers.…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Keep Going Till the Money Is in the Bank 1:59

14d ago1:59

1:59

Keep Going Till the Money Is in the Bank Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising, the deal is not done till the money is in the bank. Many founders stop their fundraise when an investor says, “I’m in.” It’s important to continue the fundraising process even …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Fundraise Closing Rate 2:04

15d ago2:04

2:04

Fundraise Closing Rate Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In sales, the average close rate of prospects is 5% to 10%. This often seems low to first-time salespeople who view their product as superior to the competition. There are many reasons why customers don’t buy t…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Research Your Investors 2:05

16d ago2:05

2:05

Research Your Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Just as investors do research on the startup so the founder should do research on the investors. Research includes both primary and secondary research. Primary research comes from talking with the investors’ p…

1
Where Are They Now with Scott Heiferman, Founder of Meetup 57:47

19d ago57:47

57:47

It is incredibly rare to have your startup become a verb. Google and Uber immediately come to mind. But what about when a group of strangers or friends with shared interests decide they want to get together? They, Meetup. Scott Heifferman didn’t set out with becoming a verb in mind but he certainly started Meetup with the intent of building somethi…

1
Investor Connect 815: with Christopher Ezold of Wisler Pearlstine, LLP 25:31

19d ago25:31

25:31

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin is joined by Christopher Ezold, a partner at Wisler Pearlstine, a law firm based in Pennsylvania that specializes in business, employment, and corporate law. Christopher shares insights into the complexities surrounding non-compete agreements and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), especially as the…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Demonstrate Credibility With Investors 2:12

19d ago2:12

2:12

Demonstrate Credibility With Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding either as a startup looking for investors or a VC fund manager looking for Limited Partners, it’s important to demonstrate credibility. Investors love to be educated on a mark…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Identify a Champion in the Group 2:02

20d ago2:02

2:02

Identify a Champion in the Group Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding look for those who believe in your project and believe in you. Don’t spend too much time with those who don’t. In a group identify a champion who can galvanize others to action. Thi…

1
TBC115: Are You on the Right Fundraising Path? 6:26

28d ago6:26

6:26

Most founders assume venture capital is the only way to fund their startup, but is it really the right path for you? In this episode of The Backchannel, we challenge the default fundraising mindset, breaking down why so many founders skip critical early steps. We'll shares insights on evaluating your real needs, exploring alternative funding option…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – You Need To Have Thick Skin 2:00

1M ago2:00

2:00

You Need To Have Thick Skin Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the fundraising process, the startup founder will hear ‘no’ many times from investors. For the founder, this can be painful as the startup is their baby. Investors will say ‘no’ often and in many differ…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – It Takes Seven Touches 1:59

22d ago1:59

1:59

It Takes Seven Touches Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. It takes seven touches to close a sale. So it takes seven touches to close an investor. In the selling process, one starts by generating awareness of their solution with the prospective customer. So in fundrais…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Recruit an Expert To Help With the Fundraise 2:08

23d ago2:08

2:08

Recruit an Expert To Help With the Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the fundraising process, the first-time founder is at a great disadvantage. Investors and other startup founders have experience raising funding. The investors have seen many startups, …

1
Getting off the VC Treadmill with Brandon Arvanaghi, CEO of Meow 1:07:16

26d ago1:07:16

1:07:16

This is a spicy one! 🌶️ This week we sat down with Brandon Arvanaghi from Meow.com to discuss his journey from money burning crypto company to profitable fintech. His tweet last year about hitting the profitability milestone had some obvious, and some less intuitive, take aways from their experience. Everything from opting out of the VC treadmill t…

1
Investor Connect 814: Empowering Diversity and Efficiency in Angel Investing: A Conversation with Angela Lee of 37 Angels 14:52

1M ago14:52

14:52

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin hosts Angela Lee, founder of 37 Angels, a community designed to activate investors through comprehensive training with a mission to diversify angel investing. Angela shares her background as a former entrepreneur and a Columbia Business School professor, highlighting that 37 Angels seeks to bridge th…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Highlight the Investors Who Are Already in the Deal 2:04

1M ago2:04

2:04

Highlight the Investors Who Are Already in the Deal Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In a fundraising round, many investors do not want to go first. In fact, most investors want to be the last one to join the round as the risk of not closing is very low. In raising …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Show You Are Thinking About the Exit 1:58

1M ago1:58

1:58

Show You Are Thinking About the Exit Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, founders should show investors that they are thinking about the exit. While no one can predict the outcome the investors want to know you are building a company that can be sol…

1
TBC114: Holding Myself Accountable: 2025 Goals Check-In 6:39

1M ago6:39

6:39

In this episode of The Backchannel, I’m sharing some thoughts on goals for the year—what I’m focusing on, what’s working so far, and what still needs improvement. From business to personal challenges, I’m experimenting with new approaches and seeing where they lead. If you’ve set goals for yourself, I’d love to hear them. Let’s keep each other acco…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Tell the Story Why This Will Work 1:57

1M ago1:57

1:57

Tell the Story Why This Will Work Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching, many founders focus on how the product works or how the technology performs. In life science, the founder most often focuses on how biology works. It’s more important to tell why the bus…

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Show the Support for Your Fundraise 1:59

1M ago1:59

1:59

Show the Support for Your Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding from investors show the support for your fundraiser. In addition to talking about the amount invested so far, call out the interest and committed funds. If an investor indicates …

1
Startup Funding Espresso – Use Incentives To Attract Early Investors 2:03

1M ago2:03

2:03

Use Incentives To Attract Early Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Incentives can entice investors to join the round. In the early days of the raise, you may want to offer warrants to investors to come in early. Warrants give the investor the right to buy st…

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