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Slidebean

@slidebean

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A show about the everyday technology you use, but don't actually understand. Hosted by @caya_here.

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One of those two photos was shot with an iPhone… the other, with a Sony a7c. Can you guess which is which?

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Startup valuations aren’t what you think

Early stage valuations aren’t about your idea.

They’re about equity.

Investors usually target 15–20%.
The valuation? Just the math to get there.

Raise more → higher valuation
Same % → same dilution

That’s how founders end up owning ~56% by seed.

Valuation isn’t magic.
It’s a formula.

👉Want to understand your startup valuation? Join our live webinar on March 25 at 12 PM ET. LINK IN BIO.

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Why founders leave millions on the table

Selling your startup isn’t just about the company.
It’s about the process.

Many first time founders jump into acquisitions without a strategy.

They don’t control information.
They don’t create competition between buyers.

And that can cost millions.

A disciplined sale process can increase the final price by up to 30%.

👉 We help founders prepare for fundraising and strategy through Accelerate: https://slidebean.com/accelerate

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The funding instrument that almost killed our startup

Our first funding round was a convertible note. It’s fast, cheap but it’s also a loan.

If you don’t raise the next round before the maturity date, investors can demand repayment.For a startup that’s still burning cash, that can be fatal.

That’s why many founders now use SAFEs instead, similar structure, but without the repayment risk.

👉Raising with a convertible note or SAFE? Make sure you actually know how much you need to raise and what it does to your runway: https://slidebean.com/financial-modeling-services

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Am I doing trailers now?

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Fundraising isn’t a cold email campaign

One of the biggest founder mistakes?
Blasting your pitch deck to strangers.

Fundraising is a network game.

Find investors in your space.
Use LinkedIn to map mutual connections.
Ask for a warm introduction.

Access is earned, not spammed.

👉 Curious who’s investing in startups right now? Check our Investor Finder : https://app.slidebean.com/investor-finder

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Are accelerators worth it?

The money isn’t the point.
It burns fast.

The real value is the network.

The first accelerator I did, I focused on product, not people.
When the company failed, I realized I didn’t know anyone.

I had to give equity again just to rebuild connections.

If you’re already inside a startup hub, maybe you don’t need one.
If you’re an outsider, it can compress years of networking into months.

👉 Get ongoing feedback with Accelerate: https://slidebean.com/accelerate

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Dilution isn’t the problem. Bad math is.

After Series A, founders often own 36%.

That only makes sense if:
• You know your valuation.
• You understand your cap table.
• You’ve modeled future rounds.

Most founders dilute without modeling the outcome.
Equity decisions should be calculated, not emotional.

👉 Equity mistakes are expensive.
Learn how to set up your cap table the smart way: https://slidebean.com/knowledge-base/article/getting-started-with-the-cap-table

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Hope is not a financial strategy

Most founders think they have a revenue plan.
They don’t.

They have a growth assumption and a dragged formula.

When I almost ran out of money, I realized something brutal:

Bad modeling kills companies faster than bad product.
If you can’t explain your runway, your burn, and your path to profitability in one spreadsheet, you’re not ready for investors.

👉 Learn how to build your model in our Financial Modeling Bootcamp: https://slidebean.com/financial-modeling-bootcamp-for-startup-founders

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Build your first financial model step by step with our bootcamp. Link in our bio👀

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Stop forecasting revenue like this ❌

Revenue last month × 110% = disaster waiting to happen.
If your forecast doesn’t explain why revenue grows, it’s not a forecast.

Real growth comes from:
• Paid marketing spend
• Sales hires
• Conversion rates
• Customer acquisition cost

Model the drivers.
Not the vibes.

That’s how you build numbers that make sense.

👉 Stop guessing your numbers with the Financial Modeling Bootcamp: https://slidebean.com/financial-modeling-bootcamp-for-startup-founders.
👉Take a look at the free lesson: https://youtu.be/C4uHS2dyYR0

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Raising money is not marketing.

One of the most common rookie mistakes founders make is blasting their pitch deck to strangers.

Fundraising is not a cold email campaign.
It’s a network game.

If you’re sending your deck to someone who doesn’t know you, doesn’t expect it, and didn’t ask for it, you’re already lowering your odds.

The real move is systematic relationship building:
• Make a list of relevant investors
• Map second-degree connections
• Ask for warm introductions
• Ask for permission before sending the deck
Access is earned, not blasted.

👉Find the right investors and map your connections with our Investor Finder: app.slidebean.com/investor-finder

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