In this conversation, Jacyln Siu of Starcycle shares her journey from growing up in Hong Kong to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the U.S. She discusses the emotional challenges of shutting down startups, the importance of community and networking, and how these experiences shaped her new venture, Starcycle. The conversation emphasizes resilience, learning from failure, and the significance of building supportive relationships in the entrepreneurial journey.

00:00 From Hong Kong to Entrepreneurship

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty 

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. 

In this insightful episode of Inside the Process, Helena Fogarty, interviews Samir Bakhru from Orrick, Harrington, and Sutcliffe. They discuss the intricacies of raising capital, the importance of choosing the right legal counsel, and the evolving landscape of early-stage investing. Samir shares his journey into the startup ecosystem, emphasizing the significance of having tough conversations early and the role of legal advisors in a startup's success.

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty 

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Inside the Process is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. 

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Ella Moloney-Cook, co-founder and COO of Upper Echelon, about her unique entrepreneurial journey from Australia to the US, the importance of strategic capital, and the role of mental health in entrepreneurship. Ella shares insights on building community, effective investor outreach strategies, and creating unique experiences for investors. She also discusses the challenges of navigating investor relationships and the surprising realizations she has had as a founder in the investor-backed space. In this conversation, the speaker discusses the significance of strategic capital in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for founders to align with investors who can provide more than just financial support. They share insights from their experience in the VCPE program at Columbia, offering advice for new founders on raising capital and building meaningful relationships within the startup ecosystem. The discussion also touches on the evolution of business models in response to changing market dynamics, the importance of mental well-being for founders, and the role of community in fostering success.

00:00 The Importance of Strategic Capital

02:15 Ella's Entrepreneurial Journey

05:21 Mental Health and Community in Entrepreneurship

08:02 Transitioning from Australia to the US

12:01 Building Upper Echelon: The Business Model

16:13 Effective Investor Outreach Strategies

18:26 Creating Unique Investor Experiences

23:38 Navigating Tough Conversations with Investors

30:49 Surprises in the Investor-Backed Journey

31:40 The Importance of Strategic Capital

34:10 Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Technology

35:43 Learning from the VCPE Program

37:14 Advice for Founders Raising Capital

43:39 Building Meaningful Relationships in Fundraising

44:39 Evolving Business Models Post-Funding

51:53 Controversial Insights on Fundraising

54:44 Leveraging Founder AI Labs for Success

57:39 Maintaining Well-Being as a Founder

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty

Ella's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellamolonycook/

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/

📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.

To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Ella Maloney-Cook, co-founder and COO of Upper Echelon, about her unique entrepreneurial journey from Australia to the US, the importance of strategic capital, and the role of mental health in entrepreneurship. Ella shares insights on building community, effective investor outreach strategies, and creating unique experiences for investors. She also discusses the challenges of navigating investor relationships and the surprising realizations she has had as a founder in the investor-backed space. In this conversation, the speaker discusses the significance of strategic capital in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for founders to align with investors who can provide more than just financial support. They share insights from their experience in the VCPE program at Columbia, offering advice for new founders on raising capital and building meaningful relationships within the startup ecosystem. The discussion also touches on the evolution of business models in response to changing market dynamics, the importance of mental well-being for founders, and the role of community in fostering success.

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty 

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. 

In this episode of Inside the Fund, host Helena Fogarty speaks with angel investor Katie Dunn about her journey into angel investing, her investment philosophy, and the importance of supporting underrepresented founders. They discuss the challenges of capital raising, the significance of building relationships, and the evolving landscape of startup funding. Katie shares insights on evaluating founders, navigating deal flow, and the role of AI in investor-founder interactions. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversity in investing and the value of building in public.

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty

Stefanie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniefrancis/

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/

📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.

To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Stefanie Francis, co-founder of Hootology, about the challenges of market research, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the importance of honesty and relationships in fundraising. Stefanie shares her personal story, the evolution of Hootology, and the emotional landscape of being a founder. They discuss the need for a supportive community and the potential for changing the investment ecosystem to be more inclusive and collaborative. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, mental health, and the power of asking for help in the entrepreneurial journey.

00:00 Introduction to Hootology and Market Research Challenges

02:51 Stephanie's Origin Story and the Birth of Hootology

05:57 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Entrepreneurship

08:51 Navigating the Role of a Founder

11:43 The Importance of Relationships in Fundraising

14:39 The Emotional Landscape of Founders

17:42 Rethinking the Investment Ecosystem

20:33 The Reality of Founding a Company

23:41 The Process of Raising Capital

26:47 The Power of Asking for Help

29:26 Building a Supportive Community

32:24 The Role of Honesty in Business

35:21 The Future of Hootology and Its Impact

38:22 Maintaining Well-Being as a Founder

41:18 The Importance of Team Dynamics

44:17 The Journey of Growth and Possibility

47:08 Creating Pathways for Others

50:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty

Stefanie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniefrancis/

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/

📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.

To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Stephanie Francis, co-founder of Hootology, about the challenges of market research, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the importance of honesty and relationships in fundraising. Stephanie shares her personal story, the evolution of Hootology, and the emotional landscape of being a founder. They discuss the need for a supportive community and the potential for changing the investment ecosystem to be more inclusive and collaborative. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, mental health, and the power of asking for help in the entrepreneurial journey.

Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty

Stefanie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniefrancis/

🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City

Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/

📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/

Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO.

To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/

In this episode of Inside the Fund, Helena Fogarty speaks with Christine Keung of J2 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on transformative dual-use technologies. Christine shares her unique journey from her family's restaurant to becoming a venture capitalist, highlighting her experiences at Dropbox and her role in public service during the pandemic. The conversation delves into the importance of supporting diverse founders, the challenges of fundraising, and the current trends in the venture capital landscape, particularly in defense technology. Christine emphasizes the need for founders to have conviction and the significance of maintaining personal well-being in a high-stress environment. 

In this episode of Inside the Fund, Jeff Becker from Antler shares his journey from selling copiers to becoming a venture capitalist. He discusses the importance of community for founders, the residency model at Antler, and the dynamics of fundraising. Jeff emphasizes the significance of resilience in founders, the balance between valuation and value, and the evolving landscape of deep tech companies. He also reflects on personal insights regarding mental health and the importance of support structures for founders. 00:00 The Loneliness of Founding 02:45 Jeff Becker's Journey to Antler 05:55 The Importance of Community in Startups 08:51 The Residency Model at Antler 11:44 Fundraising Dynamics and Challenges 14:44 Identifying Magical Founders 17:42 The Vibe Check in Venture Capital 20:52 Resilience in Founders 23:53 Valuation vs. Value in Fundraising 26:48 Lessons Learned the Hard Way 29:51 The Role of Team in Success 32:56 The Power Law in Venture Capital 35:53 The Evolution of Inception Stage Investing 38:33 The Importance of Founder Market Fit 41:33 The Future of Deep Tech Companies 44:47 Personal Insights and Mental Health 47:41 The Importance of Support Structures 50:42 The Balance of Work and Life 53:45 The Importance of Reflection 56:37 The Reality of Early Stage Investing 59:18 Final Thoughts and Reflections Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty Jeff's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylbecker/ 🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/ 📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/ Inside the Fund is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/