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Where founders meet investors. Host Chris Hines features early-stage companies raising capital and the emerging fund managers investing in them. Founders: Get discovered by 200+ active investors. Investors: Access committee-vetted...
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Where founders meet investors. Host Chris Hines features early-stage companies raising capital and the emerging fund managers investing in them. Founders: Get discovered by 200+ active investors. Investors: Access committee-vetted deal flow and build LP fundraising credibility. Your next round starts here.
show less
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
18 FEB 2026 · In this conversation, Chris discusses the challenges of cold emailing investors and emphasizes the importance of building relationships for successful fundraising. He shares insights from interviews with investors, highlighting that cold outreach is largely ineffective. Instead, he provides practical steps for founders to connect with investors through warm introductions and leveraging their networks, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn. Chris encourages founders to focus on specific areas of expertise and to make it easy for their connections to help them.
Chapters
00:00 The Intro
00:06 Cold Intros Suck
02:32 Building Relationships for Fundraising
05:40 Practical Steps for Warm Introductions Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
17 FEB 2026 · Marlon Evans shares his journey to investing, highlighting his diverse career background and the pivotal moments that led him to venture acceleration. The conversation delves into the entrepreneurial mindset, founder qualities, red flags in founders, the importance of networking and validation, pre-seed investment and traction, and the challenges in AI business models.Â
Chapters
00:00 Marlon Evans' Journey to Investing
02:27 The Mindset of a Startup Founder
05:38 Identifying Green Flags in Founders
08:23 The Importance of Thought Leadership
11:22 Red Flags to Watch Out For
13:55 Understanding Traction in Pre-Seed Investing
16:42 Navigating Business Models in a Fast-Paced Market Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
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16 FEB 2026 · In this episode, Chris interviews Itamar from Recursive Ventures, who shares his extensive experience in startups and venture capital. Itamar discusses his journey from being a serial entrepreneur to an investor, emphasizing his passion for supporting founders. He highlights the characteristics he looks for in ideal founders, the importance of balancing confidence with humility, and the red flags he notices in potential investments. Itamar also reflects on missed opportunities in his career and offers valuable advice for founders seeking investment. Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
13 FEB 2026 · The conversation with Yuko Oaku from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business covered the university's role in entrepreneurship, the impact of AI on startups, student engagement in entrepreneurship, and mentorship and support for student founders. The discussion also delved into the future of University of Washington in entrepreneurship, the preparation for entrepreneurship competitions, and the Dempsey Startup Competition she manages in the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as other events at the university. Yuko Oaku shared insights on the importance of business plans, the value of mentorship and feedback, and her favorite aspect of the program.
ChaptersÂ
00:00 Introduction to Yuko Oaku and the Burke Center
01:58 Programs and Opportunities for Students
05:04 The Importance of Business Planning
07:02 Mentorship in the Startup Community
08:46 AI's Role in Entrepreneurship
10:24 The Future of Entrepreneurship at UW
12:35 Student Interest in Entrepreneurship
15:03 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
16:55 Personal Insights from Yuko Oaku
18:39 The Dempsey Competition Overview
20:46 Engagement Opportunities for Founders Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
12 FEB 2026 · In this conversation, Chris interviews Isaac, the founder of Arklydian, about his journey from military service to entrepreneurship. Isaac shares the inspiration behind Arklydian, a tool designed to help founders and executive teams gain insights from their data to make informed decisions quickly. He discusses the challenges he faced in building the product, the traction they've gained through early partnerships, and their fundraising strategy. Isaac emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and distribution strategies for startups, particularly in the AI space.
Chapters
00:00 From Military to Entrepreneurship: The Genesis of ArcLydian
02:50 Building a Viable Business: Insights and Early Traction
05:28 Navigating Partnerships and Funding Opportunities
08:09 Product Development and Customer Engagement
11:14 Fundraising Strategy and Investor Relations
13:41 Market Entry and Distribution Strategy Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
11 FEB 2026 · In this conversation, Chris discusses the evolution of AI, focusing on the emergence of Vertical AI as a transformative force across various industries. He highlights specific companies and tools that exemplify this trend, such as Co-Pilot and workflow automation tools, and emphasizes the importance of data extraction and AI native platforms. Chris also explores the concept of the intelligence layer, which enhances existing software without replacing it, showcasing how these advancements are reshaping the way we work and interact with technology.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:25 Vertical AI Overview
03:06 Co-pilot
05:14 Workflow Automation
08:01 Data Extraction and Intelligence in AI
10:26 AI Native Platforms
13:03 The Intelligence Layer in AI Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
10 FEB 2026 · In this engaging conversation, Chris and Paul Anthony Claxton explore the world of investing and venture capital. Paul shares his passion for investing, describing it as a way to create destinies for both himself and the founders he supports. He reflects on his journey to becoming an investor, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and discipline. The discussion delves into what investors look for in founders, the red flags that can deter investment, and the significance of building genuine relationships. Paul offers valuable advice for founders navigating the fundraising landscape, highlighting the need for authenticity and strategic thinking.
Chapters
00:00 The Joy of Investing
02:37 The Journey to Becoming an Investor
05:24 Understanding the Investor's Perspective
10:24 What Investors Look for in Founders
15:51 Red Flags for Investors
21:29 Advice for Founders in Fundraising
27:07 Building Relationships with Investors Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
9 FEB 2026 · In this conversation, Chris and Logan Yonavjak discuss the critical aspects of founder readiness, focusing on the importance of hiring, risk management, and the assessment of founders' capabilities. Logan shares insights on how internal people problems contribute to startup failures and emphasizes the need for better tools to evaluate founders. The discussion also touches on the role of investors in supporting founders and the significance of understanding behavioral patterns in decision-making.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Founder Readiness
02:35 Understanding Risk in Startups
06:38 The Hiring Process and Founders' Challenges
12:18 The Importance of Founder Assessment
15:58 Key Patterns in Founders' Behavior
21:30 Flow State and Decision Making Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
6 FEB 2026 · In this episode, Chris interviews Trey Natherson, an investor from a family office, who shares his unique journey into investing and the insights he has gained from his entrepreneurial background. They discuss the importance of founder characteristics, red flags to watch out for in potential founders, the necessity of market validation, and the art of seeking feedback. Trey emphasizes the need for founders to focus on proof of concept and to connect with the right investors, providing valuable advice for those looking to raise capital.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Trey Natherson
00:29 Trey's Unique Path to Investing
03:41 The Importance of Founder Personality
10:23 Qualities That Scare Investors
14:59 Understanding Market Fit and Validation
17:49 The Importance of Early Feedback
28:12 Final Advice for Founders Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
5 FEB 2026 · In this conversation, Carolyn Haeler shares her journey from a stockbroker to the founder of a gluten-free cookie company, driven by her personal experience with celiac disease. She discusses the challenges of finding appealing gluten-free products and how her background in finance and baking led her to create a differentiated product. Carolyn emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer experience and the science behind baking, as well as her unique approach to funding and business growth. She outlines her future vision for expanding her brand into larger retail spaces and the strategies she employs to navigate the competitive food industry.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Founder Market Fit
00:26 The Journey to Entrepreneurship
04:44 The Impact of Celiac Disease
05:41 Identifying Market Gaps in Gluten-Free Products
11:19 The Science Behind the Cookies
14:26 Business Growth and Traction
19:43 Funding Strategies and Capital Raising
27:46 Future Vision and Goals Join the https://nextroundready.vc community
Follow the show on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7dNehsr0g-63d2lG8UHP6s31_rFY6_O5
Where founders meet investors. Host Chris Hines features early-stage companies raising capital and the emerging fund managers investing in them. Founders: Get discovered by 200+ active investors. Investors: Access committee-vetted...
show more
Where founders meet investors. Host Chris Hines features early-stage companies raising capital and the emerging fund managers investing in them. Founders: Get discovered by 200+ active investors. Investors: Access committee-vetted deal flow and build LP fundraising credibility. Your next round starts here.
show less
Information
| Author | Christopher Hines |
| Organization | Christopher Hines |
| Categories | Business , Business News , Investing |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| admin@nextroundready.vc |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
