I got rejected by 144 investors before raising $150M for my $200M rev/year startup. After 144 rejections, I started questioning our approach. Were we solving the right problem? What were we doing wrong? Why weren’t investors seeing what we were seeing? Were we the right team to build this? We tried everything: different pitch angles, new deck structures, and reframing the problem. Then came the 145th meeting, where we closed our first growth round. That yes made everything worth it. But getting there took years of mistakes and hard work. We went through a lot of trial and error just to figure out what resonates with investors. We tried dozens of approaches to figure out what made investors engage. Some landed, most didn't. But each iteration taught us something about what builds conviction versus what just sounds good on paper. And once we cracked that code, our Series C closed faster than expected. And today, I see so many founders in the exact same position I was in 10 years ago: grinding through rejections, questioning everything, and trying to figure out what works. So today I want to give you the resource I wish I had back then: Something that shows you exactly how to structure these conversations and navigate the entire process (because the fundraising cycle can be a big distraction and take a toll on you as a founder). So I've partnered with Notion's Startups Team to create the essential fundraising resource that helps you avoid the mistakes that cost me years. Here's what you are getting: • The actual decks I used to raise $150M for Super[.]com (Series B, C) • 50 real examples from funded startups like Eleven Labs and Artisan AI • A searchable database of 10,000 investors - angels, VCs, and accelerators you can reach out to immediately (this alone would take months to build manually) • An AI-powered fundraising agent built into Notion with step-by-step prompts (no separate ChatGPT needed) Want access? • Like and share this post • Comment "FUNDRAISE" • Follow me so I can DM you the link I'll send it over ASAP. P.S.: If you are serious about fundraising (now or in the future), you should grab it right away.

#indiancuisine has tastiest and diverse #vegan and #vegetarian food. 1.2 billion #dosa are consumed daily in India. It is the go to fast-food for millions of Indians. Very proud to bring this to #Prague and to take it to rest of the #Europe. Dookan #ethni…lnkd.in/gRBRS9tz

#inflation is wrecking havoc in the e-commerce world. The end consumer is unwilling to pay high product prices passed onto them due to increased pick, pack and #deliver costs. So, its time to pivot or #die. Dookan's pivot to #omnichannel is helping us #th…lnkd.in/ewKtZgN3

Indian #consumerbrands in the #fmcg and #foodandbeverage space are never going to become global brands. They have no intent to explore new #distribution channels except the traditional #momandpop ethnic stores. #primedtofail #itc #aashirvaad poorly trained #sales #bd teams

Shailesh Bhatt we should have put your pic as the father :) #dookan #desi #indianfood #aashirvaad lnkd.in/eYP9h_DR

Yep!! #bitspilani is the #entrepreneur factory of India Brendan Rogers. You will find #bitsian founder everywhere, even in #czechrepublic :) #bitsianforlife lnkd.in/e4fMCM3R

Y-2022 was one hell of a roller coaster ride for team Dookan. Incredibly proud how the team successfully pivoted from a grocery delivery business with ever decreasing #contribution margins to a very profitable #omnichannel #franchise and a waiting list of…lnkd.in/epmJkTFF

Wow 200 in 254b whilst playing 100th test. Take a bow #DavidWarner. But I bet you won't be doing your signature celebrations anytime soon after being #retiredhurt

Next decade will see a seismic shift in how #B2C businesses will be conducted. The path to #decentralization aka beginning of the end of platforms (#Amazon, #Target, etc.,) has started. #Adapt or perish.

Amazing how this artist captures the ups and downs of #startuplife and life in general :) lnkd.in/ePbsTEKc

Hey Revolut when are you going to put #paypal out of its misery? Atrocious service for merchants, outdated tech and abysmal handling of multicurrency. Its about time we have #european tech for European #merchants.

After bleeding #tons of #cash the #grocerydelivery companies are venturing into #brickandmortar. They couldn't possibly compete with the likes of Tesco, Aldi, Albert even with a big pile of cash. #Franchising would be their next stop I bet.

Founders: it's fundraising season 💰 Last year I posted a thread with links to 13 investor databases and 100k investors. Here's my 2022 list. More databases. More useful and all free to use 💪 Happy hunting 🎯

For the last 2yrs at Dookan, my primary focus was to #Mentor the next level of leadership and continuously #train our new staff. Thanks to all that #hardwork as a team, I could afford a month of #paternity break with my young family. #teamwork #familylife

Whoever came up with the idea of "Best Before Dates" (aka Expiry dates in common world) for food is barking mad. Humans are throwing perfectly edible food in bins just because of a psychological barrier of dates. Its not medicine for god sake. #bestbefore…lnkd.in/d_gNQTBw

It takes 5yrs to grow an #appletree and then there is no guarantee that it will bear fruit. The love & care of farmers creates a bountiful orchard. Similarly, the founders have to be #gritty and patient to grow their #startups into successful #business.

Hey @CNB_cz, @PayPal in Czech claims that all transactions in Czech has to be cleared only in CZK. Is that factually correct? Why can't the payouts be in euro? They charge a 4.5% spread on transfers that's #criminal in this day and age.

Wish you all a very happy Indian Independence day from team Dookan. #indiaat75 #unityindiversity lnkd.in/eXzTZM3Y

Gaurav Singhal something for you :) lnkd.in/eaVCSfsf