Education
Are you struggling to raise capital to sustain your Software as a Service (SaaS) startup? If you want to raise money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money. Today’s episode features a panel discussion with founders from two early-stage SaaS companies in Toronto. Panelists are Roy Pereira, founder of Zoom.ai and mentor at Techstars, and Wes Moon, co-founder and COO of Wisely. The panel discussion is hosted by Jono Landon, founder and CEO of Hubbli. Topics Include: Elevator Pitch: Future plans and ideas from SaaS startup founders Wisely: Started with a prediction engine to help charities raise more money Zoom.ai: Targets mid-market companies with AI-powered meeting scheduling assistant What makes a safe (enough) bet for investors? Take money from friends or angel investors, but not family members—for now Team vs. Traction: Attributes depend on phase and problem to be solved by right people What KPIs and metrics drive SaaS companies? Stage sets story to make metrics Practice makes Perfect: When trying to raise capital, seek advice on what matters Lead Gen Ratio: It’s a numbers game; don’t give up on finding investors to raise capital Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series Fundraising: Who to ask and how much money to request How much time does it take to raise money? Go all in with complete focus and understanding because you don’t choose your venture partner, they choose you U.S. vs. Canadian Investors: Know your audience’s perspectives on deal flow and funds Accelerator and Roadshow Programs: Worth giving up equity to grow and gain validation How to start fundraising? Warm vs. cold call, network referral/intro vs. unscheduled visit Links and Resources: Hubbli Jono Landon on LinkedIn Wes Moon on LinkedIn Wisely Roy Pereira on LinkedIn Zoom.ai Techstars AngelList Crunchbase