VC-In-Residence for Funden, the #1 Fundraising Platform for Startups (Exited)

Company

Funden is the leading fundraising platform connecting startups with a partner network of over 1,000 global venture capitalists, family funds, angel networks, syndicates, and more. Rafael joined Funden during a period of rapid growth to help startups prepare for successful fundraising.

Situation

Startups often burn through cash quickly while developing products, entering the market, and scaling operations, making capital raising one of the most critical tasks for founding teams. However, securing funding can be daunting, often feeling like a full-time job for at least one co-founder. The fundraising landscape is complex and counterintuitive, with its own language and rules that can confuse even seasoned entrepreneurs.

In this context, Steve, Co-Founder & CEO, and Daniel, Co-Founder & CGO, invited Rafael to join Funden as VC-in-Residence and VP of Operations. His primary responsibility was to guide clients on their fundraising journeys, helping them prepare compelling investment cases for venture capitalists and other potential investors. Rafael and the team had a distinct advantage, having previously served as Principals at Roivant Health, a principal investment firm in New York that deployed $3 billion in capital from partners like Softbank Vision Fund, Founders Fund, and Palantir.

Actions

Rafael's work encompassed a wide range of customer-facing activities, including:

• Pitch deck reviews and pitch simulations

• Valuation advice and M&A guidance

• Pitch deck creation and financial modeling

• Narrative building and investor selection

• Onboarding sessions and team training

• Closing sales deals

He conducted one-on-one sessions with founders to refine their investment pitches, enhance their presentation skills, and build compelling narratives that resonated with investors. Additionally, Rafael provided strategic advice on valuation and market positioning, ensuring startups were well-prepared for investor meetings.

Results

During his tenure, Rafael worked directly with over 150 startups, advising both B2B and B2C companies across all stages (from Series Pre-Seed to Series B) and various verticals, including FinTech, web3, e-commerce, TravelTech, EntertainmentTech, RetailTech, PropTech, digital health, BioTech, MedTech, and marketplaces. These startups spanned multiple geographies, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Many startups that partnered with Funden successfully raised significant funding rounds. Ultimately, Funden was acquired by a private equity firm that was impressed by the company's strong performance and capabilities.

Context

• Capabilities: Venture capital, fundraising strategy, pitch deck creation, financial modeling, valuation advice, growth strategy, team management, customer success, sales, marketing

• Technologies: Loom, Google Slides, PowerPoint, Excel, Slack, Front, ClickUp

• Regions: North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia

• Industries: Venture capital, productized services, FinTech