We're thrilled to have Diana Heldfond, the solo founder and CEO of Parallel, join us in this episode. Parallel is a cutting-edge virtual care platform focused on aiding children with learning and thinking challenges such as dyslexia and ADHD. Under Diana’s leadership, Parallel has raised over $29 million and now works with numerous school districts across the US, integrating healthcare and education through innovative technology to provide tailored and effective support.

Diana discusses the unique challenges and strategies of fundraising as a solo founder. She talks about how she cultivated early relationships with investors, crafted compelling narratives to manage fundraising timelines effectively, and faced investor rejections head-on. Her strategy shows how crucial it is to be resilient and plan ahead when getting funding alone, without a co-founder.

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

00:29 - The mission and vision behind Parallel

02:06 - Diana’s personal motivation for founding Parallel

06:10 - Challenges and triumphs of being a solo founder

09:03 - The strategic decision not to wait for a co-founder

16:03 - Managing both fundraising and company leadership

24:35 - Key performance indicators that attract investors

40:47 - Understanding the process of fundraising and handling rejection

47:59 - Outro

This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders.

Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 

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Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc

ABOUT DIANA HELDFOND

Diana Heldfond is the visionary founder and CEO of Parallel, an innovative virtual care platform transforming the delivery of educational and healthcare services. With a background in business and finance, Diana combines her personal experiences and professional expertise to lead Parallel in enhancing educational outcomes for children across America. Her leadership and persistence have not only propelled the company through significant growth phases but also positioned it as a leader in the intersection of tech, education, and healthcare.

Connect with Diana on:

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/