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The Art of Scaling, Fundraising & Making the Right Calls
Lessons from the frontline of venture capital and entrepreneurship
Alex Leigh
March 20, 2025
The only newsletter trusted to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and investors.
Welcome
Dear Reader,
Startups are full of tough decisions. Do you push forward, pivot, or step aside? Do you raise equity or debt? Do you take investor feedback personally or use it as fuel?
These decisions define success. This week, I’m diving into scaling, pitching, fundraising, and the mindset shifts founders need to thrive.
📍 From the stage at Access to Finance, Harwell—great discussions with founders and investors on what it takes to succeed.
🏆 Weekly Spotlight
What’s More Important—Your Ego or Your Bank Balance?
Technical founders often believe they’re the best person to be CEO forever. But scaling a startup requires different skills than building an MVP. The best founders recognise when to bring in leadership that can take the company further.
Refusing to step aside at the right time isn’t just an ego problem—it’s a money problem. Investors see it, your team feels it, and your company’s potential gets capped.
This was one of the big takeaways from Access to Finance, Harwell, where we explored the key mistakes startups make when raising investment and scaling.
🎥 Watch the discussion: LinkedIn Video
🎬 VC Perspective
Why Does Venture Capital Exist?
Why can’t startups just get bank loans instead of selling equity? Because VC funds the loss-making portion of a company’s journey. Any VC-investable business can’t get bank debt—so they sell equity to risk-tolerant investors who demand upside to compensate for that risk.
🎥 Explained here: LinkedIn Video
Investor Due Diligence Is Free Consulting
VCs don’t have perfect information. When they ask tough questions, they’re offering insights you’d normally pay thousands for.
Handling feedback well keeps the conversation open—even if a VC passes today, they might come back. If you get defensive, your chances drop to zero.
This was another key takeaway from Access to Finance, Harwell, where I joined an incredible panel discussion on startup mistakes.
🎥 Learn how to handle DD like a pro: LinkedIn Video
BVCA Foundation Course Wrap-Up
A fantastic day spent with great minds at BVCA’s training session, learning and sharing insights. The key takeaway? Help entrepreneurs—because it’s your moral responsibility, they need it, and it builds your track record.
🎥 Watch the recap: LinkedIn Video
💡 Entrepreneur Corner
Pitching: Practice Makes Perfect
Pitching to a live audience isn’t easy. At Space-Comm Expo, I watched founders deliver their ideas under pressure, and one thing became clear: the best pitches aren’t just well-rehearsed—they’re battle-tested.
Every time you pitch, you get sharper. You learn to handle objections, refine your message, and connect with investors.
🎥 Watch the lessons from the stage: LinkedIn Post
A Lack of Cash Runway Might Kill You—But So Will a Lack of Lift!
VC investment isn’t just about spending money—it’s about hitting commercial, technical, and operational milestones that launch your startup to the next level.
🎥 Watch here: LinkedIn Video
Say NO 🚫 to Panels!
Panels are a waste of time for entrepreneurs unless you’ve hit an exit. If you’re not in front of commercial customers, you’re not pitching to the right audience.
🎥 Why panels won’t help you: LinkedIn Video
How to Increase Your Valuation
Entrepreneurs always want a higher valuation. Investors want something they can defend. The key? A fundraising plan that’s credible—not arguing over numbers.
🎥 Watch how to position yourself: LinkedIn Video
📊 Common Ground / Industry Trends
BVCA VC Training March 2025
Super delivering this session alongside Malika Arshad. One key takeaway from Malika? VC is going fully data-driven—it’s no longer about who you know, but how well your online data is positioned for investors to find you.
🎥 More insights here: LinkedIn Video
💬 Ask Alex
What One Quality Makes Entrepreneurs Investable?
Malleability. Like spring steel. You can take feedback and flex, but you’re still strong enough to push back when needed. VCs need to know you’ll work with them—not be too rigid.
🚀 Closing Thoughts
Lessons from a Warship: Innovation with the Royal Navy & PwC ⚓
Yesterday, I stepped aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth for the PwC - Royal Navy Accelerating Innovation Event. The UK’s largest aircraft carrier is more than just military strength—it’s a hub for cutting-edge tech and collaboration.
🔍 Key takeaways:
⚡ Speed matters—defence innovation must match the pace of emerging threats.
🤝 Collaboration is key—startups, government, and industry must work together.
🌍 Dual-use tech is on the rise—commercial innovation has huge defence applications.
If you’re building in this space, let’s connect!
🎥 Watch here: LinkedIn Video
Mastering Content: 6 Minutes a Day for 4M Views
Video content doesn’t have to take long. 1 minute to record, 1 minute to upload, 3 minutes to engage. Done.
🎥 See how to do it: LinkedIn Video
Final Thought: The Hardest Thing in Startups
The hardest part of running a startup isn’t raising money, building a product, or hiring a team.
It’s knowing when to change.
Whether it’s stepping aside as CEO, tweaking your pitch, or shifting strategy when things aren’t working, adaptability wins.
This week’s takeaway? Check your ego, listen to feedback, and make the right calls—even when they’re hard.
Thanks for reading and your support. See you at the Tippy Top!
Best,
Alex
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