Precious P. Drew

🚨 NEW! Fundraising Playbook: 10 Steps to Fundraising Success In partnership with our friends at Forecastr, we are excited to share a new FREE resource for founders who are looking to step up their fundraising game. The 10 steps outlined in this Fundraising Playbook will guide you through the entire process, from building an investor pipeline to crafting your pitch and closing the deal. These are the same steps Forecastr has successfully implemented to raise 4 consecutive oversubscribed funding rounds, even through some of the most challenging fundraising conditions ever. These tried and true fundraising tips and strategies have also been implemented by numerous clients that Forecastr works with to successfully raise capital from investors. To receive a FREE copy simply reply "FNF" in the comments.

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This is to announce that applications for the inaugural cohort of the FastTrack Innovation Scale Fund (FIS-Fund) Accelerator has CLOSED! This call was open to all youth-led Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) with a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy education. The FIS-Fund Accelerator is designed to revolutionize foundational learning in Nigeria and Africa, particularly for low-income, out-of-school children and refugee migrants. We are happy to announce that we received over 100 applications from individuals and organizations passionate about driving systemic change in the foundational learning ecosystem, one that ultimately helps to unlock the full potential of every child. The submissions were inclusive and span organizations who already drive active engagements in the North West, North East and North Central States of Nigeria; specifically across the 10 states in focus namely: FCT, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Yobe and Zamfara). We excited to dig into these applications narrowing down them to successful applicants for the cohort this year. #AREAi #AREAi4Africa #LearningWithoutBarriers #FoundationalLearning #FoundationalSkills #FastTrackInnovationScaleFund #opportunities #partnership #Literacy #Numeracy #EducationForAll #ImpactForChange #EducationChampions #EducationForAfrica #EducationInIDPs

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For most startups, their growth strategy depends upon their ability to raise money. SKU's mentor community includes mentors who can help founders with their fundraising strategy. Spring '24 mentor Karen Howland has been a wonderful addition to SKU. She joined Rose Park Advisors as a Managing Director in 2023 through an acquisition of CircleUp Growth Partners. At CircleUp, and now at Rose Park Consumer, she led the investment team focused on investing in early-stage consumer product brands. She works closely with her portfolio companies, advising on a variety of things including, capital structure, business trends, and key growth drivers. Before joining CircleUp, she spent over 15 years at top-tier international investment firms, including Citadel, Barclays Capital PLC, and UBS where she held positions in the Investment Banking and Equity Research divisions, focusing on the consumer and retail sectors in New York, London and San Francisco. Karen was also the founding member of hedge fund TWO OCEAN CAPITAL LP, which later merged into Citadel. SKU is currently interviewing potential mentors for the Fall '24 Track. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the SKU Mentor Interest Form: https://lnkd.in/grvpPD8e If you are a founder who is interested in being mentored by a team of CPG superstars, we are accepting applications for Fall '24 Track until May 31. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gizfPVVd Meghan Shookman Katie DeVito Elise Jacobs Blanck Bruce Hinson Abby June Richards, CPA-TX Scott Sanders Matthew LoLordo MS / SSGB Kristi Bridges Cassandra Hume Kelsi Petersen #foodservice #foodservicechannel #salesstrategy #channelstrategy #accelerator #cpgaccelerator #cpg #consumerpackagedgoods #micheladas #micheladamix #startup #cpgstartup #startups #mentoring #mentors #mentorshipmatters

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If you're a nonprofit building (or revamping) a digital fundraising strategy, here's 3 key metrics you NEED to be keeping a close eye on 👇 It can be a challenge to know exactly what to be tracking when launching (or re-launching) a fundraising channel. Thankfully, our friends over at NextAfter did a great job outlining what the 3 core digital-first fundraising metrics that nonprofits should be tracking from day 1 in their latest benchmarks report. Here's the metrics to watch 🕵‍♂️ 🖥 Website Traffic: This measures how many people are actually showing up on your website. 📋 Conversion Rate: This tells you how many of your site visitors end up donating. 🎁 Average Gift Size: This is the average size of an online donation. Here's the baseline benchmarks from NextAfter that your nonprofit can start measuring against today: ➡ Website Traffic: 125k organic traffic/month ➡Conversion Rate: .61% ➡Average Gift Size: $70.23 And finally, here's a quick formula to calculate your online revenue: >> Website Traffic x CVR Rate x Avg Gift Size = Online Revenue <<   Using the baseline numbers above, it would equate to $5,355,037/month coming in from online revenue. If you find your nonprofit isn't close to that number, don't worry. The big thing here is that your laying a solid foundation for measuring the impact that digital fundraising will have on your mission - and there's only one way to go from here (hint: that's up!) See the data from NextAfter's Benchmark report here --> https://lnkd.in/eK_knJJ5

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What are the key questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves when considering raising outside capital? RAC’s Christian Stein sat down with the Made IT Podcast back in May to share his thoughts: https://lnkd.in/dRwxXeCb #GrowthCapital #Entrepreneurship

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Drop In Venture Funding To Black-Founded Startups Greatly Outpaces Market Decline Chris MetinkoGené Teare February 27, 2024 Venture funding to Black-founded U.S. startups last year totaled only $705 million — marking the first time since 2016 that the figure failed to even reach $1 billion, Crunchbase data shows. The decline in capital to Black-founded companies greatly outpaces the overall decline in startup funding. While total venture dollars in the U.S. fell 37% last year, funding to Black-founded startups dropped a staggering 71%, according to Crunchbase data. Last year’s total investment in Black-founded startups in the U.S. marks the lowest amount since such startups raised only $582 million in 2016. The drop in total dollars also meant Black-founded startups received their lowest share in the venture market since at least 2016, per Crunchbase. Black-founded startups received less than 0.5% of the $140.4 billion in venture funding all U.S.-based startups received last year. In 2021, Black-founded startups received 1.4% of all U.S. venture funding. In 2022, it was 1.1%.

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Attention all investment groups, angel groups, deal flow networks, etc: Join the 20,000+ people signing up for DFX in Q2 via Communities (already being built out). DFX is launching Communities May 1st. Communities, white-labeled on DFX, are a central location for these networks to share deal flow and gain more members/visibility. Here are some customizable aspects: 1. Your Logo/Branding 2. Your Content 3. Your Deal Flow (Deal Flow can also opt-in to being displayed across all of DFX) 4. Directory if Desired 5. Your Thought Leadership (Can be displayed across platform if desired) 6. Text/Phone/Video Chat Built In for Easy Communication We will feature your Community to provide more visibility (if desired). The Community Director (owner) runs the Community, controls content (we build it all out), and accepts/denies new prospective members. Communities are built out for free for networks of 50 or more members. Here is a link to an example version of our Communities - https://lnkd.in/dBs-GYJQ #investors #lenders #dealflow #angelinvesting #vc #pe #deals #communities #community #DFX #dealflowxchange

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"Raising public capital should be accessible for all, not just a privileged few." Our CEO and Founder Joe Cecala published an op ed in Entrepreneur Magazine this week about the public capital market landscape. A must read for anyone in the capital markets industry. #funding #capitalmarkets #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #dreamex #dreamexchange https://lnkd.in/gJpvBXP7

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🌟 Join WeTheChange May 29th 2-3:30 PM for Magic Money: Financial Innovation and Impact Investing! 🌟   Impact Finance Center is on a mission to channel $1 trillion into social ventures by leveraging the successful model pioneered in Colorado. It aims to transform interested individuals and organizations into impact investors, while also building community platforms like Impact Days, the Impact Investing Institute, and more, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for financial innovation.   Dr. Stephanie Gripne, CEO of Impact Finance Center, has crafted Magic Money: Financial Innovation and Impact Investing, a multifaceted three-part learning series. May 29 marks the final workshop in this series with a 90-minute deep dive into impact finance.   🔍Workshop Objective: This workshop is dedicated to providing you with groundbreaking insights and practical tools. Our goal? To help you significantly reduce expenses, boost your revenue, and elevate the impact for yourself, your B Corporation, and your team.     💡 What to Expect at the Magic Money Workshop: Full Spectrum Capital 101: Are you maximizing the full power of your businesses capital? What if there were ways to make your capital go further? Would you pay your employees more? Give yourself a living wage? Dive into the world of Full Spectrum Capital where our experts will guide you through a methodology that will help reimagine your approach to cash flow -- including loans, equity investments, and revenue-based financing.   Financial Innovation and Impact Investing 101: Build upon the fundamentals and direct your attention to the intersection of financial innovation and impact investing. We'll analyze case studies of successful B Corporations led by women, showcasing how strategic financial decisions can lead to debt reduction, revenue growth, and amplified impact.   Opportunity Scan: In our final module, we'll explore real opportunities within the 'WeTheChange' and B Corp communities. Learn about creative financial strategies for refinancing worker debts, increasing wages, and facilitating home ownership -- all aimed at creating sustainable, positive change.   🚀 Who Should Attend: This workshop has been created specifically for B Corp and purpose-driven leaders in the WeTheChange community.   🌐 Network and Collaborate: Engage with like-minded individuals and experts in the field. This workshop isn’t just a learning experience—it’s a chance to connect, collaborate, and spark change in your community.   ✨ Want to join us? ✨ Check out our membership options to get access to our meetings and more: https://lnkd.in/gdhpKJ9V Already a WeTheChange Collaborator, Changemaker, or Catalyst member? You'll find the details on Hylo.   Already a Signatory? Check your welcome email for a link to register.

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Tips on Effective Ecosystem Development for Small Businesses 1. Foster strong partnerships and collaborations within your community - By building relationships with local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations, you can create a supportive network that drives mutual growth and innovation. 2. Sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise - Can help all participants thrive and contribute to a resilient, interconnected business ecosystem. By working together, we can create a resilient and interconnected business ecosystem where all participants can flourish. 👉🏾 info@breakingtheice.co 👉🏾 buff.ly/3VoI4Ci #EcosystemDevelopment #SmallBusinessTips #CommunityPartnerships #BusinessGrowth #BeYourOwnBoss #ConsultingServices #BusinessMentorship #DreamBigWorkHard #SuccessJourney #DareToVenture #CreativeEntrepreneurs #InspireAndEmpower #BusinessMindset #ElevateYourHustle #StartUpLife #GrowWithPurpose #SuccessMindset #TheEntrepreneurLife #freeconsultation #proconsultant #strategyplan #consultationservice #breakingtheice

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Applications are now open for the next cohorts of the Praxis Business and Nonprofit Accelerators. Praxis is looking for founders of 12 early-stage ventures for each cohort who are serious about their faith and want to address the major issues of our time. They’re interested in ventures that are: >>Led by serious Christian founders who are leading their venture full-time >>Pursuing an innovative solution to a major issue of our time >>Designed for scale Praxis https://loom.ly/jZ6tr0U

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Mike Preuss, founder and CEO of Visible.vc, started his company in a venture studio...before venture studios were even a thing. Today, his platform serves founders with tools for fundraising, investor updates, and tracking KPI's, while simultaneously helping investors with their decision making. Listen below to hear why he chose not to go with VC, and instead used Lighter Capital to help him scale his platform. #entrepreneurship #bootstrapped #podcast https://lnkd.in/d9ccysUU

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We couldn’t be more excited to announce that Stream Financial Technologies is now set to launch in June and commencing our fundraising process on 4/24 at The Founders Chair event hosted by James Wong in Dallas, TX. Driven by a "what if" mentality, our founders envisioned a single platform to empower insurance distributors with best-in-class solutions to grow their businesses. Today, independent distributors struggle to manage fragmented technology options, lack cost-effective professional services to be competitive, and face both consolidation and regulatory pressures that threaten their success.  Stream’s platform is combining all the technology, marketing, recruiting, finance, and HR required to accelerate the growth of any level of distribution… to form the industry’s first Insurance Growth Organization. Building on acquired businesses with proven insurtech capabilities and leveraging an innovative revenue model to subsidize costs, there is now a more effective way to market and manage insurance distribution businesses. This is Stream - the unifying force transforming the insurance distribution landscape, empowering agencies of all sizes with professional technology and tech-enabled services. Visit www.StreamIGO.com to learn more. #thefounderschair

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📣 Last Call: Our webinar on tech startup fundraising is tomorrow! Tune in to learn how to land your pitch with financials and forecasts. Forecastr's Jeff Erickson will share: ✅ Expert insight on fundraising strategies ✅ How to craft compelling financial projections that resonate with investors ✅ How to navigate investor dialogue and address key concerns 🔗Register for FREE: https://fndrs.net/3UsES83 #venturecapital #startupfunding #tech #startups

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🚀 Check out this week's venture capital investment summary (11 featured companies!) spanning early & growth-stage US based Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startups! 🎯 Every Monday, the team here at Bearhug Recruiting aggregates, researches, and publishes a recap of the prior week's fundraising activity within the early and growth-stage Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startup ecosystem. 🌎 This research not only allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the type of startups we serve, but also benefits others who, like us, enjoy analyzing the latest trends that signal investor confidence AND startup growth within what we believe are the most exciting and impactful market segments. ❤️ We also hope the people and companies we feature enjoy both a virtual fist bump from the team at Bearhug, plus benefit from some additional free market exposure to amplify their mission. Click the link below to get caught up, and make sure you reach out to any that are interesting/relevant that you might be able to help! 💥 Link: https://lnkd.in/da6hY3Rm 👈 #CajuAI #WindBorne #Xcimer #SiTration #RisingTeam #Whizz #OneScreen #HyperSpectral #Understory #Sixfold #Tobiko #BearhugRecruiting #EnvironmentalTechnology #Sustainability #ClimateTech #CleanTech #DeepTech #FrontierTech #IndustrialAutomation #EnergyTech #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseSoftware #StartupFunding #Startup #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Funding #StartupNews #VentureCapital #Technology

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🤔 Curious about diverse paths to fundraising success for impact startups? Wondering if there's more to success than just valuation? Dive into the article by Allie Burns, Aunnie Patton Power, and Nathaly Botero. Discover innovative strategies beyond traditional venture capital unlocking new possibilities for growth. Explore how to navigate the fundraising landscape with confidence. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/evKFsh-R What innovative fundraising approaches have you used or encountered? Share your experiences below! . . . . #ImpactEntrepreneur #ImpactEconomy #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Fundraising #Innovation #SocialImpact #VentureCapital #FinancialStrategies #BusinessGrowth #ImpactInvesting #Empowerment #SocialChange #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityBuilding #UnlockPotential

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🌟 A Big Thank You to Our 2024 Fundraising.AI Summit Sponsor: Kindsight! 🌟 Fundraising professionals know the challenge of the Fundraising Blindspot all too well. The lack of data-driven insights and strategic tools has left many nonprofits struggling with clunky donor data and manual processes. Kindsight is changing the game with their innovative fundraising intelligence platform, purpose-built to address these challenges. Kindsight’s platform offers: 🔹 iWave: Tap into the world’s largest real-time donor database to find and engage the right donors at the right time. 🔹 Nonprofit Operating System: Leverage AI to create authentic, empathy-driven content and build stronger donor relationships. 🔹 UC Innovation: A CRM designed specifically for advancement, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations to manage your donor pipeline and gifts seamlessly. Their tools are transforming how nonprofits, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations connect with donors, making fundraising smarter and more effective. With Kindsight, fundraising professionals can focus more on building meaningful relationships and less on manual data management. We’re excited for the impact Kindsight will have at the 2nd Annual Fundraising.AI Global Summit and in the nonprofit sector at large with their support of Responsible and Beneficial AI. Thank you, Kindsight, together we Generate Good! 🔗 Checkout this session from lats year's summit with Kindsight: https://lnkd.in/gVFjkYzF ... and register today for the FAI Global Summit 2024 https://lnkd.in/ghQbPV7M #FAISummit2024 #Nonprofit #FundraisingIntelligence #DataDriven #AI #DonorEngagement #Kindsight #ThankYouSponsor #ResponsibleAI #BeneficialAI #EhticalTech #Nonprofit

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Outcomes-based Finance (OBF) is a powerful tool that brings about change by flipping the traditional way of funding social or environmental programs to focus on outcomes rather than outputs or inputs. For Raven, OBF offers a direct pathway to the realization of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples & the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada 94 Calls to Action. For more information on how OBF is currently working in Canada, the benefits of this finance model and recommendations for how it can be better utilized, read the new report from Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation & Sorenson Impact on the State of OBF in Canada in 2023. #OutcomesFinance #OBF #Canada #UNDRIP #TRC94 For report: https://riif.ca/research/ https://lnkd.in/gg7tHted

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Raising capital is a critical milestone for any startup, but navigating the fundraising landscape can be daunting, especially for early-stage founders. In my latest blog post, "The Startup Founder's Guide to Convertible Notes," I dive deep into the world of convertible notes – a popular financing instrument that offers a simpler and more flexible approach to fundraising. This comprehensive guide explores the advantages of convertible notes, such as avoiding lengthy valuation negotiations, aligning investor and founder interests, and streamlining the fundraising process. However, I also address potential drawbacks and provide best practices for negotiating favorable terms, including setting reasonable valuation caps, aligning with industry standards, and maintaining clear communication with investors. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and insights you need to navigate the convertible note landscape with confidence. Check out the full article on my blog and feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Link: https://lnkd.in/d8BmZarX #startupfunding #convertiblenotes #entrepreneurship #fundraising #venturecapital

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