Company Fundraising, My Personal Story – Jaden Garza

I recently shared in one of my recent blog posts how I messed up big time while putting in the narrative of my company’s product during the fundraising process. But that was not just it. There’s more to the story. 

I treated it as a beauty parade, I asked for more than what was reasonable, I focused on what mattered to only me, and I was a little dishonest too. As time passed on, when I started getting humbled by one investor, then the other, and so on, I knew that I had messed up big time. 

I knew that it was time to change things, it was time to be more serious than ever before, and it was time to change things around. That’s what I did. I live up to my words. But that’s not what I’m gonna talk about today. Instead, hear the story of my company Nomad Internet’s fundraising. 

So, back in the day, I wasn’t much of an entrepreneurial person. No one is. If you meet someone who says to you that I had a knack for being an entrepreneur, a business tycoon, or whatever ever since my childhood – do not believe a word. Na na. No one is a born entrepreneur. Everyone makes mistakes – the same way I did. 

But my mistakes were kind of hilarious. I look back and laugh, especially on myself. Because I was the one who was responsible for everything. 

I mean tell me who ignores the basics of a fundraising deal? Well, I did. 

Who treats fundraising as a beauty parade? Well, I did. Instead of focusing my efforts on the most effective part, I focused on the sparkliest. 

Who doubts their ideas or is not clear about everything related to your business ideas? Well, I messed up here too. I wasn’t clear about the whole scenario around my business ideas. One of the investors (a smart one) asked, “In the future, would you be able to for this”. And, my answer? – “Umm, no, yes, I haven’t thought about it yet sir”. What a dumb answer that was. At least be clear. 

Who believes that investors are wealthy and they will easily invest in my business? Well, I did. Investors are wealthy. Not just wealthy but super-wealthy. However, along with being wealthy, they are smart about their finances too. They track their finances like a ninja. Where they are investing, on what they are spending – they track it all. 

Who believes that you can pitch your business to any investor? Well, I did. That was a big blunder. Back in the day, I pitched my business idea to any investor I’d see. But that’s not how it works. Believe it or not, there’s niching to this thing too. Before pitching your business, you’ve to find out which investors might be interested in your business and which not. Categorize and then move forward. 

I know I know, I’ve made a lot of mistakes while I was fundraising for my company. On the positive side of things, I have learned a lot too. I corrected every mistake I made. That’s why, I can proudly say that my company today is among one of the biggest giants in the internet industry. 

Therefore, the bottom line is – do not ever be over-confident, arrogant, or ignorant while in the fundraising phase of your startup launching. Stay humble and just keep going. Never give up and you’ll be good. You one and only Jaden Garza. À bientôt.