In this episode, host Ben Elowitz sits down with master fundraiser Dan Shapiro, currently the co-founder of CEO of Glowforge, and the author of Hot Seat: The Startup CEO Guidebook.

From his early days building laser light shows to raising over $200M (and counting) over his startups, Dan reveals how he’s raised capital at every stage by putting data—and his audience—at the center of his strategy. Dan shares his playbook for testing, iterating, and fine-tuning every pitch, using feedback loops, A/B testing, and relentless curiosity to turn rejections into actionable insights. You'll also get tactical advice on getting sincere feedback, building a narrative that resonates with investors while staying true to your mission, understanding founder market fit, and how to keep going when the going gets tough.

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