- Alex from The Startup VC Insider
- Posts
- Unlocking the Secrets of Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship
Unlocking the Secrets of Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship
The inside scoop on what actually drives startup success
Alex Leigh
March 13, 2025
Dear Reader,
How much do you really know about venture capital? Turns out, for most people, the answer is not much—and I was in the same boat when I graduated. That’s why VC and VC-backed entrepreneurship still feel exclusive. This newsletter is here to change that. Follow along, get educated, and thrive. Let’s go!
🏆 Weekly Spotlight
How Much Do You Know About Venture Capital?
VC is still an insider’s game, but it doesn’t have to be. The key to thriving? Knowledge.
🎥 Watch the breakdown here
🎬 VC Perspective
Investor Due Diligence Is Free Consulting—Use It Wisely
Investor DD can be invaluable feedback, but too many founders get defensive and derail their own funding rounds. I’ve seen deals collapse simply because an entrepreneur reacted badly to a report—even when the investor was still keen to proceed!
🎥 Watch how to handle DD like a pro: LinkedIn Video
What Keeps VCs Up at Night?
VCs love asking founders, “What keeps you up at night?”—but what about them?
The answer? Fundraising for portfolio companies. A good VC is a free fundraising consultant, highly motivated to keep their startups alive and thriving.
🎥 More on how VCs support founders: LinkedIn Video
Equity Is a Terrible Way to Fund CapEx & Hard-Tech Startups
There’s a better way. Kineo Finance is pioneering innovative funding solutions that make more sense than diluting ownership.
🎥 See the alternative approach here: TikTok Video
@thetippytopblog Alternative ways to finance your startup. Have you heard how Ben Graziano at Kineo Finance are shaking up the venture world? Thanks for ha... See more
💡 Entrepreneur Corner
What’s Your Board’s Dopamine-Cortisol Ratio?
Great boards energise startups. Dysfunctional boards drain them. If your leadership team is constantly stressed and anxious, execution will suffer—even if the strategy is right.
🎥 Learn how to balance your board: LinkedIn Video
Series A Milestones: Are You Ready?
Series A isn’t just “the next round after Seed.” It’s when meaningful business milestones have been hit. The best founders define these early, so they actually achieve them.
🎥 What does a VC want to see at Series A? LinkedIn Video
The 2 Plans Every VC-Backed Startup Needs
Startups need both a business plan (tech, sales, hiring, logistics) and a fundraising plan—and they need to sync. If one lags behind, the other will fail.
🎥 Why planning properly matters: LinkedIn Video
The BEST Fundraising Hack: Investor Newsletters
A weekly investor newsletter builds FOMO around your funding round. The best startups in Techstars use this play, and Toby Wilmington does it better than anyone.
🎥 How to keep investors engaged: LinkedIn Video
📊 Common Ground / Industry Trends
CVCs Are Filling the Funding Gap—But There’s a Catch
Corporate VCs are stepping up as funding sources, but many founders are rightfully wary. There’s a trick to mitigating risk: Get 2 CVCs.
🎥 How to manage CVC relationships: LinkedIn Video
💬 Ask Alex
Why Do You Need to Be Consistent on Social Media?
Not because of the algorithm. But because the algorithm is unpredictable. It surfaces content based on demand, engagement, and real-time trends.
The more you show up, the more chances you have to go viral.
🎥 See why consistency wins: LinkedIn Video
📈 Detours: MBA or Not?
The classic debate: Is an MBA worth it? I’ve been asked this for years, so I wrote two blogs outlining both sides:
🎥 What do you think? Let’s discuss: LinkedIn Video
🚀 Closing Thoughts
Thanks for reading and being part of the journey. Keep learning, keep building, and let’s reach the Tippy Top together!
Best,
Alex
Share this newsletter to help others. Subscribe here if you were forwarded this.