Funded | How They Raised Millions

Hosted by Jason Yeh

Business Investing Education

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Episodes

223

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The tech media loves a splashy funding announcement - millions of dollars injected into a hot startup primed to become a unicorn. But what about the work behind those headlines? Host Jason Yeh, a former VC and venture-backed startup founder, talks with entrepreneurs about how they raised the capital to launch world-changing startups. Their conversations uncover incredible stories including cautionary tales, inspirational memories, and even some insightful tips. Keep up with us on social @fundedpod to learn more.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 15711 min

TBC 157: When Cold Outreach Actually Works in Fundraising

Cold outreach fails when it makes an investor ask, “If this deal is so good, why did it reach me cold?” Jason breaks down the situations where cold outreach can work, including travel, real calendar density, and the rare company whose traction speaks for itself. He also explains why warm introductions should still make up most of a fundraise and why a VC saying “we accept cold decks” does not mean cold is equally useful for every founder.

August 17, 2026Episode 15612 min

TBC 156: How AI Is Changing the Rules of Building a Startup

AI isn't just changing how fast startups build. It's changing who can build, how companies find product-market fit, which software moats survive, whether building in public still makes sense, and what kinds of businesses are worth starting. Jason works through the implications for cofounders, community-led distribution, feature-sized startups, product development, and why waiting for the AI landscape to settle is the worst move.

August 13, 2026Episode 1555 min

TBC 155: The Two Types of Founders and Why Their Fundraising Paths Are Different

Fundraising advice often assumes every founder starts with the same level of credibility. They don't. Jason breaks down two paths: the founder with a built-in credibility halo who can run a targeted process, and the first-time founder who needs volume, calendar density, and competitive dynamics to overcome doubt. Knowing which category you're in changes how you should build your investor list and run the round.

August 10, 2026Episode 1544 min

TBC 154: What Your Existing Investors Need to Hear Before Your Next Round

Before your next fundraise, your existing investors need to believe the next-round story too. Jason explains how to shift from purely asking for help to sharing milestones and momentum that make your current backers excited enough to introduce you, talk about you, and carry the story into rooms you're not in. The investors on your cap table can be more than advisors; managed well, they can become part of your fundraising distribution.

July 11, 2026Episode 1534 min

TBC 153: Your Pitch Narrative Will Tell You What's Missing in Your Company

Working on your narrative isn't just about making a better pitch — it's about exposing the gaps in your company. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason breaks down why the holes in your story are actually a roadmap for what you need to go build. If your narrative is begging for traction, go get traction. If it's begging for a co-founder, go find one. The best version of your pitch is the best version of your company — and this episode shows you how to use one to build the other.

July 10, 2026Episode 1526 min

TBC 152: Why Your Pitch Deck Needs a Flow, Not Just a Slide List

Most founders treat their pitch deck like a list of data points investors will absorb from start to finish. That's not how it works. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason breaks down the concept of narrative flow — why you have to constantly re-earn an investor's attention, how to know where to start based on your industry, and what the goal of every deck should actually be (hint: it's not a yes, it's an 'I need to learn more'). If your deck isn't making investors nod along, this episode explains why.

July 4, 2026Episode 1475 min

TBC 151: VCs Are Rooting for You — Here's How to Use That

Every VC you pitch wants you to be great. Not because they're generous — because your success is their success. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason shares a quote that reframes the entire investor relationship, and breaks down what it means for how you show up in pitch meetings. When a VC asks you hard questions, that's not a bad sign — it's the opposite. Here's how to stop getting defensive and start using those moments to your advantage.

July 3, 2026Episode 1507 min

TBC 150: Why VCs Say They Love Cold Email (And What They Actually Mean)

Venture capitalists who say they love cold email aren't lying — but they're not telling the whole story either. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason breaks down the three types of founders who reach out cold, why VC cold submission forms mostly work for the best and worst founders, and why the messy middle — the founders who need that first leap of faith the most — are the ones cold email fails. If you've been debating whether to go warm or cold, this episode will make the answer obvious.

June 15, 2026Episode 1478 min

TBC 149: How to Actually Use Startup Advice You Find Online

Not all advice is created equal — and bite-sized content on Twitter or LinkedIn was never meant to be followed word for word. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason gets candid about his own content, why his takes are always directionally accurate but never fully comprehensive, and how founders should be filtering and applying advice they find online. He also shares why leaving a kind comment for a creator you follow might matter more than you think.

June 6, 2026Episode 1485 min

TBC 148: How Simple Is Too Simple for Your Pitch Narrative

Founders almost never cut their narrative far enough. In this episode of The Backchannel, Jason shares a lesson from one of the best negotiators he’s ever seen — push all the way to the line so you know where it is. Applied to pitch narratives, that means going so simple it feels dumb, and then layering complexity back in from there. If you’ve been gradually trimming your story and wondering if you’ve cut enough, this episode will change how you approach it.