The Four Phases of a Pitch

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The successful startup pitch goes through four phases.

Start by capturing their imagination.

This could be a bold statement, such as we can solve cancer within ten years.

This sets the context for the problem to be solved.

Next, show your solution and how it will achieve the goal just set forth.

Show how the solution works at a high level.

Highlight the value proposition you have.

Next, make the case that shows how your business will be successful.

This includes the team and what they bring to the table.

Highlight the current traction.

This shows product and market validation -- the product works and customers will pay for it.

Finally, give the investor a call to action.

Instead of asking for the funding today, encourage them to learn more about the business.

This is basically asking for the next meeting.

Invite them to join the conversation.

There’s a natural arc to good pitches that takes the investor through your story.

Consider how to implement these four phases in your startup pitch.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

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In this episode of Investor Connect, we sit down with Ram Kolluri, Founder and Chief Investment Strategist at Expo-Wealth based in Austin, Texas. Ram shares his insights on navigating today’s wealth management landscape and how he's helping high-net-worth individuals access institutional-grade strategies. We talk about balancing traditional portfolio construction with exposure to private markets, and how families are increasingly looking for both performance and purpose. As Ram puts it, it’s not just about doing well — it's about doing good while doing it.

Ram dives into how Expo-Wealth approaches alternative investments like venture capital and private equity, especially in a world where clients demand real-time access, personalized dashboards, and responsiveness at the speed of a text message. He also discusses the evolution of investor education and how overcoming the fear of illiquidity is more about trust, communication, and introducing alternatives gradually. As the next generation steps up to manage family assets, Ram sees a growing appetite for impact, AI-driven opportunities, and proven sponsors with deep track records. The firm’s role, he says, is part educator, part fiduciary, and sometimes even part psychologist.

Looking ahead, we explore where the wealth management space is going — from the massive $50–60 trillion wealth transfer ahead to the increasing demand for transparency, digital integration, and high-touch relationships. Ram also hints at the next chapter for Expo-Wealth: blending high-caliber investment access with seamless technology and client empowerment.

Visit Expo-Wealth at expo-wealth.com/

Reach out to at rkolluri@expo-wealth.com , www.linkedin.com/in/ram-kolluri-7535396/ , and on 6099154338

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

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Researching Investors for Your Fundraise

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Before launching your fundraiser campaign, make sure to research your investor prospects.

Start with those who invest in your startup stage and sector.

It’s pointless to reach out to investors who have an investment thesis completely out of scope for your startup.

Once you have the investors who invest in your sector and stage, drill down to those who invest in your type of business.

Healthcare, for example, is a broad sector with many subsectors and applications.

Look for those who fund your type of business.

Next, check their geographical preference.

Some investors only invest in their local region, while others invest nationally.

Next, look for the right point of contact.

Who is the one most likely to have an interest in your deal?

VC funds often have multiple general partners.

Look for the right partner who is the best point of contact.

In the initial call, make it a two-way conversation.

Ask questions about what the investor looks for in a startup, as well as answer their questions.

This demonstrates you are working with them to make sure this is a good fit.

Consider these points in researching and contacting investors for your fundraising.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

Music courtesy of Bensound.

How a VC Fund May Shut Down Early

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles.

There are some conditions in which the VC fund may shut down early.

Here’s a list of reasons:

Key persons -- the Limited Partners invested in a fund that has a certain number of key persons.

If the number falls off, then the fund may suspend activities until a replacement is found.

The fund managers are found to be liable for fraud or gross negligence.

In this case, the fund may shut down and return the funds to the Limited Partners.

In other cases, the fund may replace the managers and continue on.

Limited Partners want to shut down the fund -- the market may have changed, or the investment thesis may no longer be viable.

In this case, the Limited Partners could demand their funds returned.

Alternatively, the Limited Partners could vote to fund a new investment thesis.

The VC fund managers may be found to have a conflict of interest.

The Limited Partners could demand the return of their uninvested capital.

Consider these points in running or investing in a VC fund.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

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Lifecycle of the VC Fund

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Venture Capital funds typically run on ten-year cycles.

At a high level, the VC fund takes in capital from the Limited Partners and deploys the first half of the funds in years 1 to 3.

The follow-on rounds are deployed in years 4 to 5.

The fund collects returns in years 6 to 10.

There may be early failures, in which case the allocated funds for the follow-on round are still available.

The funds not yet deployed or allocated are called ‘dry powder’.

This is the amount of funds available to deploy for new companies.

Investments made during the latter half of the fund are made in later-stage companies, which can achieve an exit faster.

Some portfolio companies fail to exit during the ten-year window.

The team must decide whether to delay the exit to gain a larger return or sell the company to remove it from the books.

During the latter half of the life cycle, the VC team helps the companies grow and then achieve an exit.

This is where the VC’s network comes in.

A good fit for a VC is a company in which they can help find additional team members as well as follow-on funding.

Consider the life cycle of the VC fund and how it impacts the time spent by the VC team.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

Music courtesy of Bensound.

On this episode of Investor Connect, we welcomed Mike Green and Nicholas, the co-founders behind Grid Matrix, a cutting-edge infrastructure intelligence company turning city sensors into powerful tools for real-time decision-making. Mike walked us through how Grid Matrix is using AI and computer vision to help large-scale operators—like airports, ports, and municipalities—optimize operations by turning existing infrastructure, such as legacy cameras, into smart, scalable data networks. No new hardware needed. With $550K in 2024 revenue and nine paying customers including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, the company is already proving traction and real-world value.

Mike highlighted how Grid Matrix is tackling a trillion-dollar civil engineering market, offering governments and infrastructure managers the ability to answer questions they couldn't before: curbside management, emissions tracking, pedestrian safety, cargo visibility, and more. Instead of installing costly new systems, their platform plugs into what’s already there—turning passive sensors into active intelligence. Their "crawl, walk, run" model starts with pilot deployments and quickly scales as trust and data value build, and their 100% customer retention rate is a powerful signal of product stickiness and strong fit in a space known for long sales cycles.

Backed by 8VC and with a priced round at a $9.2M pre-money valuation, Grid Matrix has already closed $2.2M and is filling the final $1M of this raise. With government interest in smart infrastructure growing and a pipeline of projects and RFPs accelerating, Grid Matrix is well-positioned for expansion. Learn more about the company and the raise at https://www.gridmatrix.com, and to explore funding opportunities with 10 Capital, visit https://www.tencapital.group.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

Music courtesy of Bensound.