Overview
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Join tech founder and advisor Josh Devon alongside seasoned investor David Luk in this 25-minute talk that demystifies the capital raising process specifically within Philadelphia's tech ecosystem. Explore the realities of fundraising by examining the trade-offs between autonomy and equity when seeking investment, understanding institutional capital dynamics and venture market cycles, and navigating the complete fundraising process from start to finish. Discover how Philadelphia's unique tech ecosystem operates and learn strategies for building virtuous cycles within startup communities while bridging the gap between available capital and emerging tech startups. Gain insights into creating commercially viable companies, including discussion of less glamorous but profitable middleware businesses, and understand the practical challenges entrepreneurs face when seeking funding. The conversation addresses common fundraising myths and provides actionable advice for tech entrepreneurs looking to raise capital in the Philadelphia market, covering everything from initial funding challenges to building sustainable business models that attract investor interest.
Syllabus
00:00:00 - Nobody’s giving you money
00:02:44 - Giving up Autonomy and Equity in Fundraising
00:05:21 - Raising Institutional Capital and the Venture Market Cycle
00:08:11 - The Fundraising Cycle
00:10:59 - The Philadelphia Tech Ecosystem
00:13:31 - Building a Virtuous Cycle in the Startup Community
00:16:09 - Bridging the Gap between Capital and Tech Startups
00:18:59 - Creating a Commercially Viable Company
00:21:45 - The Unsexy Middleware Company
00:24:31 - Like, comment, and subscribe!
Taught by
Philly Tech Entrepreneurs