Mastering Growth: From CFA Success to Scaling Startups

Welcome 👋

Dear Reader,

Welcome to The Startup-VC Insider, the only newsletter bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and investors. Whether you're scaling a startup, securing funding, or refining your financial skills, we're here to help you win.

This week, I’m sharing my CFA Level 1 study hacks, insights on why losing money well matters in VC, and how founders can amplify reach with employee-generated content. Plus, a reminder that the tax year is ending soon—don’t leave EIS/SEIS opportunities on the table.

Let’s get started!

Best,
Alex

📚 Weekly Spotlight: How I Beat the CFA Level 1 Exam (Free Notes Inside!)

CFA Level 1 is brutal. The syllabus is massive, and most people forget half of it by exam day. Back in 2013, I passed on my first attempt (only 27% did).

My secret? A3-sized visual summaries—condensed, high-impact notes that helped me recall everything when it mattered most.

📈 My results:
✅ 7 subjects above 70%
📊 3 subjects between 51%-70%
❌ 0 subjects below 50%

These notes won’t replace the hard work, but they’ll make it 10x more efficient.

📝 Get my CFA Level 1 Notes → here 

🎥 Watch: How I Created My CFA Study Notes (And Why They Work)

🔥 VC Perspective: How Well Do You Lose Money?

Startups lose money—a lot of it. But the best ones lose it strategically.

💰 Is your burn rate driving momentum?
📈 Is it funding smart growth?
🎯 Will investors believe you can eventually stop burning?

At the early stage, profitability doesn’t matter—but how you burn cash does. VCs don’t back reckless spenders, but they also don’t back founders who hoard cash at the expense of growth.

🎥 Watch: The Smart Way to Burn Cash in a Startup (VC Perspective)
💭 What do you think—how do you judge a "good" burn rate? Reply and let me know.

📢 Entrepreneur Corner: The Power of Employee-Generated Content (EGC)

If you’re a cash-strapped startup, one of the easiest ways to expand your reach is by leveraging your team’s voices.

👥 Employee-generated content (EGC) builds credibility, amplifies your message, and costs nothing.

I’ve seen firsthand how unpredictable content can be—sometimes my videos get 500 views, other times 2.5 million. The key? Consistency.

Encourage your employees to share insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and industry knowledge. More voices = more reach.

🎥 Watch: How Startups Can Use Employee Content to 100x Their Reach
📢 Tag a founder who needs to hear this!

💰 Founders, Don’t Leave Money on the Table!

The UK tax year ends soon, which means EIS/SEIS investors are looking to deploy capital.

📅 Many funds have targets to meet before the deadline—if you're raising, now is the time to act. Investors move fast in Q1, but slow down after April.

🎥 Watch: Why Q1 Is the Best Time to Raise Capital
⚡ If you’re raising, don’t wait—reach out now and make it happen.

⚡ Common Ground: Want to Improve Productivity? Work in Series, Not Parallel.

Multitasking is a myth. Task-switching drains energy and reduces focus.

Top turnaround consultants finish one task before starting the next—and it works under extreme pressure.

Try it for a week and see how much faster and more effective you become. Let me know how it changes your workflow!

🎥 Watch: The #1 Productivity Hack You Need Today
📌 Try this for a day and tell me if you notice a difference.

💬 Ask Alex: Stop Asking for Time—Ask for What You Actually Want!

Too many people send messages like:
"Hey, can I grab 30 minutes of your time?"

But time isn’t what you actually need.

💡 Want advice? Ask a specific question.
🔗 Want an intro? Be clear on who and why.
📑 Want feedback? Share what you’ve done so far.

Busy people respect clarity. The more precise your ask, the more likely you’ll get a response.

🎥 Watch: How to Ask for Help (Without Wasting Anyone’s Time)
✉️ Try this in your next cold email—let me know if it works!

🚀 Closing Thoughts

📊 18.5M views in 90 days.

That’s 18.5% of my goal—helping 100M entrepreneurs. 🚀

Video is taking over LinkedIn, and I’m doubling down. If you're not using video yet, now is the time.

Check out this article Fast Company wrote about my success.

🎥 Watch: Why Video Content is the Future of LinkedIn (And How to Start)
🎯 Thinking about starting video? Reply and let me know your biggest hurdle.

Thanks for reading The Startup-VC Insider!

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Here’s to reaching the Tippy Top—together.

Best,
Alex