In this episode, Curtis Northcutt, MIT PhD and founder of CleanLab, shares his compelling journey from rural Kentucky to raising $25 million from Menlo Ventures and Bain Capital.

Curtis reflects on the challenges of growing up with limited opportunities, the loneliness of dreaming big in a small town, and how those experiences ignited his drive to build something meaningful.

He also dives into the complexities of raising capital during a downturn, balancing investor relationships, and making tough decisions about dilution.

With a mix of personal stories, sharp insights, and practical advice, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a startup from scratch and scale it with purpose.

--

If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: fundedpod.com/newsletter
If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: admnt.com