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

There are basic principles around fundraising that apply in every situation.

First, the most important step in fundraising is to build a relationship with the investor.

The more you know the investor and the more they know you, the better the outcome.

Second, demonstrate results in every contact.

Never show up without a currently relevant result or a proof point.

Third, be honest at all times.  

It only takes one deception to ruin the relationship.

Fourth, it’s the number of touches and consistency that counts, not how long the discussion or pitch deck runs.

It takes four touches for an investor to understand what you are doing and seven touches before they make a final decision.

Fifth, include the “Why?” -- why are you doing this startup?


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.
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Music courtesy of Bensound

In this episode, Hall welcomes Darren King, Fund Manager and General Partner at Unbridled Ventures.

Unbridled Ventures’ fund consists of accomplished angel investors who provide funding and expertise to help entrepreneurs fulfill their American dream.

Darren has spent a lifetime working for and consulting with small businesses in Indiana and Kentucky. The son of a small business owner, Darren has also had a passion for small businesses and has worked in various roles as a CEO, CFO, and CPA (inactive) to analyze, invest, and consult on various investment and acquisition opportunities.

During the past ten years, Darren has been an active angel investor and mentor to startups and small businesses throughout the Commonwealth. He has personally invested over $1 million in startups. He also has extensive experience with angel funds as a board member and as an investor. Successful angel investments include Hosting.com, Gun Media, Poseida (PSTX), and First Care.

Prior to his role as an angel investor, from 2000 until 2009 Darren was CEO of Hosting.com, a cloud service provider headquartered in Louisville with operations in San Francisco and Irvine, California. Hosting.com sold to Wachovia Capital in May 2009 for an 18x return on equity.

Prior to Hosting.com, Darren was a CFO and CPA. Darren holds a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University where he graduated with honors in 1992. He resides in Prospect, Kentucky with his wife and two children.

Darren discusses his investment thesis, the financial risk-reward, and some of the non-financial benefits of investing as an angel. He also advises investors and entrepreneurs and shares some of the challenges they face.

You can visit Unbridled Ventures at www.unbridled.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/unbridled-ventures/about/. 

Darren can be contacted via email at darren@unbridled.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/darren-king-295b2a2/. 

Music courtesy of Bensound.