From Pitch to Payday, The Hidden Costs of Fundraising: Featuring Sam Simpson

Have you ever found yourself drowning in fundraising legals and language? This is the interview you’ve been waiting for… 

In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Sam Simpson, Co-founder of FounderCatalyst, who's on a mission to simplify and accelerate the early-stage investment legal journey. Sam's not just talking the talk; he's walked the walk, having co-founded and exited several tech start-ups, including the 17th fastest growing company in Europe in 2017. Oh, and did we mention he took that company from £0 to £27m in less than 4 years? 

But Sam's not just a founder; he's also an active angel investor with 32 investments under his belt in just 6 years. Plus, he's a sought-after board advisor. In other words, when it comes to navigating the minefield of fundraising and investment, Sam’s who you want to learn from.

In this episode we discuss:

• Simplifying the early-stage investment legal journey
• Insider tips on SEIS/EIS and equity investment
• Strategies for finding the right investors for your startup
• Lessons learned from co-founding and exiting successful tech start-ups
• How to think about valuing your early stage startup
• What Sam looks for as an angel and what really puts him off even a seemingly “great” deal

So, whether you're a first-time founder trying to wrap your head around the legal jargon or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to optimise your fundraising game, this episode is packed with actionable advice and hard-won wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the people I trust most in this ecosystem!

Links:

1. All about valuation:                                      https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/all-about-funding-round-valuation-2
2. Toxic Term sheets:                           https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/avoiding-toxic-term-sheets-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-ask-answered
3. Understanding how an angel thinks: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/understanding-how-angel-investors-think-2
4. The end of an angel investment: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/the-end-of-an-angel-investment-from-the-magic-to-tragic-2
5. Founder Catalyst:                                                 https://www.foundercatalyst.com/company
6. Sam’s LinkedIn:                                            https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsimpson1/?originalSubdomain=uk