Fundraising

New VC fund managers do not know that these things they are doing are completely ILLEGAL… ❌ There are very strict rules around fundraising. Yet many new GPs copy what they see others doing — even when it’s illegal. The risk? Trouble today, or 5–10 years down the line when regulators or LPs look closer. Sophisticated LPs know the legal lines — and crossing them exposes both liability and inexperience. Here are the 3 most common fundraising violations (and how to avoid them): 1️⃣ PERFORMANCE-BASED FUNDRAISING COMPENSATION 👩🏾⚖️ Many “Vendors” often say: - “I’ll be a venture partner — give me carry for LPs I bring.” - “We’ll raise for you — just pay a % of capital committed.” 🚫 Illegal without a broker-dealer license ($50K–$150K+ + ongoing compliance). Even employee bonuses tied to fundraising can trigger violations. ✅ Legal way: Pay fixed fees or salaries unrelated to fundraising. Compensate with cash, equity or carry — but not tied to capital raised. 👉 Reality check: As a new manager, it’s extremely unlikely that anyone else can fundraise for you without a track record. You’ll almost always need to do the hard work yourself. 2️⃣ GENERAL SOLICITATION 👨🏻⚖️ New managers assume LPs will roll in if they “go public.” Tactics include: • LinkedIn posts about fundraising • Cold DMs to people • Podcasts/webinars about your fund • “Contact us to invest” buttons on websites 🚫 All illegal — unless you’ve structured under narrow exemptions. Even cold outreach counts as solicitation. ✅ Legal way: You can only pitch people you have pre-existing relationships with who are accredited investors. Network authentically, vuild relationships, then pitch one-on-one. 👉 Reality check: Public fundraising isn’t just illegal — it looks cheap. LPs won’t trust someone blasting cold posts with no track record. VC is trust-based. Public asks scream inexperience. 3️⃣ RAISING FROM EU LPS WITHOUT COMPLIANCE 🧑🏿⚖️ Many assume: • “If a European LP wants in, I can accept the money.” • “Everyone else does it — must be fine.” 🚫 Wrong. The EU regulates under AIFMD (Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive) and MiFID II (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive). Even one EU LP can trigger filings. Regulators act quickly. ✅ Legal way: Work with EU securities counsel. File required notifications in each jurisdiction before accepting European LPs. 👉 Reality check: European LPs expect compliance. Skip it, and you lose credibility. Worse — a violation can come back years later and jeopardize your fund. Breaking the rules — even by accident — is the fastest way to undermine your credibility. And “everyone else does it” is not a defense. The managers who win are the ones who know the rules, build real relationships, and raise the right way. ⚖️ Know the rules. Follow them. Your fund' future depends on it.

This Danish foundation gives away $1.3 billion annually – and their secret isn't efficiency ratios, it's something far more radical: They implement nothing. Behind this Danish foundation's rapid rise is Ozempic – the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug that's generated unprecedented profits for Novo Nordisk. The Novo Nordisk Foundation, which owns about a quarter of the pharmaceutical giant, has become one of the world's wealthiest charitable foundations with assets around $167 billion. Yet rather than hiring armies of staff like other major philanthropies, they've gone the opposite direction. In a recent interview, their Chief Scientific Officer for Health Flemming Konradsen revealed their secret to me: They don't implement – they only work through partners. Zero programs. Zero direct service delivery. The model: ➡️ Find what already works  ➡️ Partner with governments who own the strategy ➡️ Create sustainable markets, not dependency  ➡️ Stay for 15+ years, not 3-year cycles Example: Their school feeding programs create permanent markets for local farmers while training health workers and scaling AI solutions across continents. The hard part? Saying no to putting your name on things. Letting partners get the credit. Trusting that influence matters more than control. For development professionals: This approach creates new opportunities. These ultra-efficient funders skip the usual suspects and source partners who can be trusted with strategy, not just execution. They're looking for implementers who think like owners. If you can demonstrate government relationships, long-term thinking, and the ability to build sustainable systems (not just deliver projects), you become invaluable to this new breed of funders. What could your organization accomplish if it stopped trying to do everything itself? Disclaimer: I’ve edited this post as it’s been flagged that Novo Nordisk Foundation has 250 employees. #Philanthropy #Partnership #Foundation 📷 Novo Nordisk Foundation

These days everyone wants to be a #SuperApp but only a handful have managed to succeed. Those who have share one common denominator: monetization. Let’s see how it can be done. Here is my summary of the most successful strategies: 1.  An ecosystem play – as opposed to providing mere access to an array of different services – with seamless, integrated, end-to-end experience across all aspects of modern life. 2.  #Payments as the undisputed underlying layer that acts as a connecting base for the multitude of offerings on the platform. 3.  A wide range of integrated payment methods catering for different use cases and target audiences (P2P, BNPL, money transfer, instant payments, online payments, QR codes, etc). 4.  Low customer acquisition costs as a direct result of the platform play and then up-selling and cross-selling of high-margin financial offerings (i.e. lending, investment, insurance, e-commerce, digital #banking) and merchant added-value services (i.e. merchant financing, collection technology platform). 5.  #Data as the predominant tool for driving high engagement with tailor-made offerings that transformed how, when and in which context services are offered. 6.  A two-sided consumer and merchant ecosystem with the platform acting as the bridge that not only connects the two sides but fuels growth from one to the other in an open, two-way dynamic relationship. In such a set-up platform engagement (consumer side) enables merchant growth creating a self-reinforcing loop based on high frequency and high repeat rates that lead to consumer stickiness and retention. 7. Software and cloud services to a range of B2B partners (enterprises, telecoms, digital platforms, fintechs), which act not only as a platform amplifier but also as multiplier of customer engagement that unlocks additional customer data points and insights. 8.  A subscription-led ecosystem for merchants: the platform becomes the enabling layer for partners, merchants and other tech providers to accept payments through a wide variety of instruments, including subscription-based models that create permanent revenue and stickiness. 9.  Help merchants drive revenue growth via marketing channels: merchants sell discount deals, gift vouchers and other digital goods like tickets to platform users. 10.  Leverage a network of banks and other FS providers to expand distribution channels. 11.  First-mover integration advantage with the local ecosystem. Paytm was, for example, the first app to launch UPI Lite in India and has subsequently enabled wallet interoperability that allowed full KYC Paytm Wallets to be universally acceptable on all UPI QR codes and online merchants. Opinions: my own, Graphic source: Paytm quarterly reports Subscribe here to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dkqhnxdg

If you're a founder trying to fundraise right now, it probably feels like the entire venture world has gone quiet. The response times are slow, OOOs are on and it’s easy to feel like you’re losing momentum. Don't stress. The summer slowdown is predictable, and it's not a setback, it's a gift of time if you use it well. I see this every year... The founders who scramble to send frantic emails in July/August are the same ones who struggle in the fall with an over-shopped deal and the fatigue of an endless fundraise. But the founders who use this quiet period for deep, focused preparation are the ones who run a crisp, successful process after Labor Day. The fundraising race is won in the prep lap. Here are a few things you can do right now to prep for a big fundraising push this fall: 1. Build a High-Fidelity Investor Pipeline. Go beyond a simple list of names. Create a comprehensive document that tracks every firm and partner, their specific thesis, your history with them (if any), your connections to them and crucially, the feedback they've given you in the past. This turns your outreach into a strategic campaign. 2. Assemble a "Push-Button" Data Room. Don't wait for an investor to ask. Build your data room now so it's ready to go at a moment's notice. This includes your customer contracts, cohort analyses, deck, references and financial model. A well-organized data room signals professionalism and creates momentum. 3. Craft a "Juicy" Forwardable Blurb. The best introductions are easy to forward. Write a tight, compelling, one-paragraph teaser. It must include a unique insight on the market, why your team is going to win and any key metrics. This makes it effortless for people like me to advocate on your behalf. 4. Pressure-Test Your Narrative. Use this time to pitch trusted advisors, mentors, and other founders. This isn't about memorizing a script, it's about finding the weak spots in your story. Ask them to be ruthless. The tough questions you answer now in a friendly setting will save you in a rapid fire partner meeting later. 5. Get Your "Diligence" in Order. This is the one everyone forgets. Talk to your lawyer now. Make sure your corporate governance is tight and your cap table is accurate (and clean). Uncovering a messy problems during late-stage diligence can kill a deal. Solving it now is a massive de-risking event. 6. "Warm Up" Your References. Your best customers are your most powerful asset. Don't wait until an investor asks for a reference call to talk to them. Re-engage with your top 3-5 champions now. Check in, share your progress, and get them excited about your vision. A reference who is prepped and genuinely enthusiastic is infinitely more impactful. The fall fundraising season will be here before you know it. The work you do in the quiet of August will determine the success you have in the chaos of the fall. We are prepping for our next fundraise as well so this is how I'm spending my time💥

By 2053, Black wealth could fall to zero if current trends continue. This isn't just a number—it’s a stark reminder of systemic inequities and the urgency of collective action. But here’s the thing: statistics like this don’t tell the full story. They don’t account for the power we hold to shift the narrative. As leaders, innovators, and culture-makers, we must embrace wealth equity as a core strategy. Here’s how we can start rewriting the script: 1️⃣ Build Financial Resilience Through Ownership: Ownership—whether it’s businesses, real estate, or intellectual property—is one of the fastest paths to generational wealth. Minority-owned small businesses, for example, often overlook opportunities like supplier diversity programs or university procurement partnerships. Tapping into these underutilized resources can accelerate growth. 2️⃣ Invest In Community-Centric Innovation: Many of the apps, services, and products we rely on don’t center our lived experiences. Imagine if our $1.8 trillion in buying power was directed toward solutions built for us, by us. It’s time to create platforms that reflect our values and needs, not just consume them. 3️⃣ Prioritize Financial Literacy and Intentional Spending: Knowledge is power. From understanding the compounding effect of investments to teaching the next generation how to save and build credit, we must normalize financial conversations. Similarly, supporting Black-owned businesses should be an everyday practice—not just a seasonal one. 4️⃣ Collaborate and Scale Thoughtfully: Sometimes, intentional smallness is the path to big impact. Entrepreneurs, for example, don’t need to scale at the expense of sustainability. We can focus on profitable, community-centered growth without being pressured into rapid expansion. This isn’t just about avoiding a financial cliff—it’s about building a future where our contributions are valued, our stories are told, and our wealth is sustained. So, let’s not wait for solutions to come from elsewhere. Let’s lead. Let’s invest in ourselves, our communities, and our collective power. What steps are you taking today to shift this trajectory? I’d love to hear your perspective.

In neighbourhoods across Berlin, a quiet rebellion is unfolding in the form of Kiezblocks (or “neighbourhood blocks”). What began as a grassroots response to political inertia and rat-running cars has evolved into a compelling experiment in bottom-up urbanism coordinated by Changing Cities e.V. For years, Berliners have complained about the rise of through traffic onto quieter side streets never designed to carry such volumes. While their 2018 Mobility Act promised a shift toward alternatives, progress on traffic calming has been slow and uneven. In that vacuum, residents began organising. Kiezblocks propose a simple idea: prevent cars from cutting across neighbourhoods by installing modal filters—planters, bollards, parklets—that limit access to local destinations. They draw inspiration from Barcelona's Superblocks, but here, the momentum comes not from city hall, but kitchen tables. Enter Changing Cities. Founded as a civic advocacy group, the foundation has become the administrative backbone of the Kiezblocks movement. It provides legal guidance, communications support, and a citywide platform for dozens of neighbourhood groups pushing for traffic calming in their local areas. Instead of dictating a top-down approach, they operate as a facilitator. Residents identify problem corridors, gather signatures, and present proposals to district councils. The foundation helps them navigate bureaucratic processes, coordinate campaigns, and share best practices between communities. More than 70 initiatives are active in Berlin’s 12 boroughs. Some are in the petition stage, others are pilot or permanent projects. Their rapid growth reflects a dual energy: frustration at the political reluctance to tackle through traffic, and optimism that collective action can shift the debate. Residents, emergency services and deliveries still have access. The incentive to use local streets as shortcuts is just removed. Traffic volumes drop. Children regain space to play. Conversations replace engines. Streets start to function less as corridors for movement and more as places for living. In an age of climate urgency and political inertia, Kiezblocks tell a different story: residents refusing to wait for grand masterplans, and reclaiming their own streets. Where shortcutting cars once ruled, planters and plazas now signal a new priority: places for passing time, not passing through.

America needs 10,000 more small developers. But $100K+ pursuit costs keep most people out. Here are the 4 ways to fund the chase: Most developers quit before their first deal closes. It has nothing to do with talent. They think the hardest part is finding good properties. It's not. It's funding the chase. Let me show you the $100K+ barrier that kills careers before they start. I was talking to a sharp developer last week. Great eye for deals. Strong construction background. He'd been "getting ready" to start developing for 18 months. "I just need to find the right property first," he said. That's backwards. Here's what actually happens: You find a property. Then you spend $100K+ before you even know if it works. The breakdown: • Surveys and title: $5K-$20K • Legal fees: $10K minimum • Environmental studies: $3K-$50K • Site planning: $10K-$100K • Permitting: $500 to millions (depending on complexity) Most developers run out of money before they run out of deals. The successful ones solve this first. Here are the 4 ways to fund pursuit costs: 1. Platform Investors: They back your operating company, not individual deals. Best option if you can get it. 2. Predevelopment Loans: 12-18% interest, personal guarantees required. Expensive but available. 3. Seller Financing: Motivated sellers sometimes help with pursuit costs. Rare but powerful. 4. Your Own Pocket: Still the most common. Also the biggest barrier to entry. The reality: America needs more small developers. But $100K+ risk capital keeps most people out. The solution isn't finding better deals. It's finding better capital. Stop looking for properties. Start looking for partners who understand pursuit costs. P.S. This is exactly what we cover in our Introduction to Real Estate Development course. From pursuit costs to closing day. Details in the comments.

10 tactics to control costs A guide which provides you the tools for cost reduction When I was head of finance, we were facing a challenge: → How to reduce our hourly rate to stay competitive This became my number one priority to help the business And we succeeded to decrease our hourly rate by 3% while inflation was up! Today I am sharing the tactics to reduce costs: 1. Budgeting and Forecasting: • Importance: Plan and estimate costs, revenue, and expenses. This is where you can get your team to commit on cost reduction. • Focus: Use accurate data and update budgets regularly. 2. Variance Analysis: • Importance: Compare actual performance with budgets to identify deviations. If you found a variation, there is a big chance that you have a topic to explore to reduce costs. • Focus: Investigate significant variances for improved accuracy. 3. Cost Allocation: • Importance: Distribute indirect costs for accurate pricing and control. • Focus: Maintain fair and updated allocation methods. 4. Activity-Based Costing: • Importance: Assign costs to specific activities for better resource allocation. • Focus: Identify and measure cost-driving activities accurately. 5. Zero-Based Budgeting: • Importance: Justify every expense to optimize resource allocation. • Focus: Balance rigor with operational continuity. 6. Cost-Benefit Analysis: • Importance: Compare project costs with expected benefits. • Focus: Consider tangible and intangible factors. 7. Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis: • Importance: Understand how sales, costs, and pricing impact profitability. • Focus: Validate fixed and variable cost assumptions. 8. Inventory Management: • Importance: Optimize inventory levels to reduce costs. • Focus: Use EOQ and JIT techniques for efficiency. 9. Vendor Management: • Importance: Evaluate and maintain supplier relationships. • Focus: Assess performance and diversify suppliers. 10. Procurement Management: • Importance: Acquire goods at the best cost with quality. • Focus: Establish clear procurement processes and collaboration. 👉 What is your favorite method to find cost reductions?

Most CEOs get a 20-page financial package every month. They skim it. They nod. They move on. Not because they don't care. Because they don't know which 6 numbers deserve their attention. You don't need an MBA to read your numbers. You just need to know where to look. ➡️ Get my guide on How to Read Your Numbers and start making smarter decisions today:  https://lnkd.in/e4T6-6-5 Here's the reality: Your accountant sends you reports. Your CFO presents slides. But you still don't know if you're winning or losing. That's not a knowledge problem. It's a clarity problem. You need six metrics. Review them monthly. Takes 15 minutes. Let's break it down. 1️⃣ Revenue Trend ↳ Don't just look at the number, look at the pattern ↳ Seasonal businesses should compare to last year, same month ↳ Three flat or declining months in a row means your growth engine stalled 2️⃣ Gross Profit % ↳ This tells you if your pricing strategy is working ↳ If it drops 2-3%, you're either discounting too much or costs are rising faster than prices ↳ Track this by product line to find where margins are bleeding 3️⃣ Operating Expenses % ↳ Most CEOs let expenses creep up as revenue grows ↳ Best-in-class companies keep this ratio flat or declining as they scale ↳ If yours is climbing, you're adding cost faster than value 4️⃣ Bank Balance Trend ↳ Compare it to your revenue trend, they should move together ↳ If revenue climbs but cash drops, you're funding growth inefficiently ↳ If both are dropping, you're in a cash burn spiral (and running out of time to fix it) 5️⃣ Accounts Receivable Aging ↳ Anything over 60 days old should trigger a phone call ↳ Anything over 90 days old is a collection problem, not a payment delay ↳ If 90+ days represents more than 10% of total AR, tighten terms now 6️⃣ Cash Flow  ↳ If Cash from Operations is negative, the business didn’t fund itself  ↳ If profit is up but operating cash is down, cash is stuck in AR or inventory ↳ If cash improved because you raised/borrowed, the business got funded, not healthier Finance isn't complicated. But ignoring it is expensive. Start tracking these six metrics. You'll spot problems months before they become crises. Then take it to the next level: drive performance, plan cash flows, and engineer value. Get the cheat sheet free: https://lnkd.in/e4T6-6-5 ♻️ Helpful? Repost, Comment, Like. Thank you! Follow Oana Labes, MBA, CPA for strategic insights on financial leadership. —— Want to become a financially intelligent leader? The next cohort of The CEO Financial Intelligence Program kicks off Feb 11. Join leaders from 20+ countries who already transformed with this 5* rated 6-week experience. Learn more and enrol here: https://lnkd.in/gGvKYCPX

Six weeks ago, I went underground. Not off the grid. Just deep into the private Discord servers where sneakerheads spot fakes before they hit the market. The Slack channels where CMOs trade budget hacks they’d never tweet. The WhatsApp threads where collectors swap intel like it’s insider trading. I was lurking. Reverse-engineering how trust gets built in dark social. It seems like increasingly, we're seeing public feeds are for performance. And private chats are for proof. Back in 2010, Bitly found 69% of social shares happened in DMs and emails. Today, it’s closer to 90%. These spaces aren't controlled by algorithms, they're ruled by humans. Want in? Here’s how AI can help you: 1. Find the watering holes without wasting 100 hours: Tools like SparkToro reveal where your audience actually talks and track how those spaces shift over time. 2. Decode the language in minutes, not months: Drop top conversations into Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini and ask: “What slang, inside jokes, or recurring complaints stand out here?” A skincare brand did this and found its audience was skeptical of clinical claims—so they pivoted to raw, unfiltered before-and-afters. 3. Pre-test content before you post: Use Perplexity to analyze which links get shared most in those communities. Run your hooks through ChatGPT and ask: “Would this grab attention in a thread full of X jargon?” Last month, a supplement brand nailed this. They scanned 500-plus Reddit, Inc. threads on workout fatigue, discovered that everyone hated the term biohacking, and switched their messaging to old-school muscle science. Engagement tripled. Your move this week: 1) Pick one niche community, whether it’s Discord, Slack, or a tight-knit Substack. 2) Use AI to extract three insider phrases and identify one unaddressed gripe. 3) Draft content that speaks their language, not yours. High impact means going beyond being data-driven to being community-fluent. And fluency starts with listening smarter. AI can help. #hicm #DarkSocial #SocialListening #AI