The hottest Fundraising Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Second Desert in Venture Capital

Venture Reflections • 29 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. The first "desert" (Funds I–III) is about survival: raising initial funds, proving your right to win, and juggling operations, investments, and LP relationships to stay alive.
  2. After you clear that phase you enter a second "desert" where the challenges shift to long-term firm questions like longevity, succession, and whether you’re truly established.
  3. The mid-stage can feel lonely and ambiguous: early peers and mentors thin out, fundraising dynamics change, and you need new advisors and skills to navigate this uncertain transition.

FUNDRAISING APPEAL

The J. Burden Show • 439 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. The author is seeking donations to upgrade parts of their show despite its recent success.
  2. The author reinvests most of the money earned back into their business.
  3. Donations are not expected but would greatly improve the quality of the content.

Curt Cignetti Is the Most Valuable Coach in College Football

Huddle Up • 47 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Fundraising
  1. Curt Cignetti’s on-field success has driven big off-field gains like larger sponsorships, increased donations, and enrollment growth.
  2. Indiana’s run to the College Football Playoff semifinal triggered a contract market-review clause that will force the school to make him one of the highest-paid coaches.
  3. The combination of wins and clear financial and institutional returns makes him arguably the most valuable coach in college football.

Becoming a Cult Leader

Investing 101 • 36 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Control mindshare: be the obvious voice in your category, deeply knowledgeable and present so people instinctively turn to you.
  2. Command capital: influence without funding can’t move the needle, so find the right forms of capital—VC, revenue, grants, or debt—that let you execute.
  3. Be the standard bearer: combine relentless public leadership and real financial resources to set the market’s rules and pursue your mission no matter what.
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How I Became a Venture Capitalist

The New Internet by Jeff Morris Jr. • 14 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. You can move from operator to VC by building a public, trackable investing record and a clear thesis—start small with SPVs or angel checks and share your work openly.
  2. Traditional scout programs are broken: access is closed to insiders, scout performance is hidden, and the programs mainly create leverage for firms rather than career paths for scouts.
  3. A new season-based Scout Program aims to democratize access by letting anyone apply, giving each selected scout $100K, public profiles and leaderboards, and mentorship to help scouts build real track records and potentially raise funds.

SITREP and FUNDRAISING APPEAL

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 439 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fundraising
  1. The author is experiencing growth and momentum in their content creation efforts.
  2. The author is appealing for financial support to cover expenses and attend a conference.
  3. The author aims to be fully monetized by the end of the year.

I Am Building an AI-Powered Reverse Incubator

Let's talk games & AI. • 21 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Build-to-handoff reverse incubator: systematically create startups to about $500K ARR, then recruit a founding team to raise and scale so building becomes a repeatable factory, not a lottery.
  2. AI and repeatable tools speed solo building: AI plus processes and tooling are used to move fast — release, measure, kill — so one person can validate many ideas quickly.
  3. Transparency and open questions remain: the plan is to publish real numbers and learn in public, while still solving hard problems like kill criteria, finding handoff teams, and whether one playbook fits all business types.

Muungano

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🏝 Travel Fundraising
  1. Masoud has a close-knit family where everyone is considered a sibling or parent, showing the strong bonds they share. This cultural difference highlights how relationships can be more about emotional ties than strict definitions.
  2. Masoud is facing tough financial challenges but has a plan to start a business before attending university to help support his family. It shows his dedication and responsibility towards his family’s well-being.
  3. The journey includes ups and downs, but those experiences, like climbing mountains or encountering mosquitoes, make the adventure meaningful. It teaches that detours can add value to the main goal, like raising money for a good cause.

Take me to church

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Fundraising
  1. The community comes together to support each other, especially in times of need, like fundraising for church improvements and medical expenses.
  2. People in the village prioritize their connection to the land and family, working hard to grow their own food, even without modern machinery.
  3. Unlike in many places, the concept of a village in this community truly embodies teamwork and collective responsibility, creating a strong support system for everyone.

Erika's quick-start guide to research nonprofits

Erika’s Newsletter • 491 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. You can start a nonprofit research organization without needing permission from a university.
  2. Research nonprofits can be designed to fit scientific goals rather than fitting into academia or industry.
  3. To start a nonprofit, write a 'two-pager', get connected with potential funders, fundraise, manage money, hire people, get lab space, and manage intellectual property.

LFG (for semiconductors)

State of the Future • 47 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Semiconductors are the best area to invest right now because system-level innovations like chiplets, advanced packaging, and heterogeneous computing are creating new opportunities beyond Moore’s Law. These shifts make startup-driven hardware innovation more valuable than before.
  2. With the right funding and momentum, Europe could produce many semiconductor giants; the region has the talent and existing industrial strengths to support about 20 potential unicorns in the next 3–4 years. Keeping founders and capital in Europe is key to building that pipeline.
  3. Cloudberry VC is a dedicated European semiconductor fund offering early capital, industry partnerships, and hands-on support to help hardware founders focus on building instead of chasing grants or ill-suited investors. The fund connects startups to manufacturing and photonics partners to speed prototype-to-volume paths.

Muheza (The run begins!!)

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🏝 Travel Fundraising
  1. The journey started with a big challenge: running 40km unsupported through African villages. The excitement and nervousness mixed together, but the experience turned out to be rewarding.
  2. Meeting locals along the way brought insights into their lives and dreams. Connecting with a young man, Masoud, highlighted how different yet similar people's aspirations can be.
  3. Language and cultural barriers were tough but also funny at times. Humility and openness helped in navigating these challenges, leading to unexpected partnerships and learning experiences.

The One Slide, Most Founders Get Wrong When Fundraising | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. The 'ask and use of funds' slide is a crucial opportunity for founders when fundraising; it should clearly state how much money is being raised, for what purpose, and avoid common mistakes like not including a specific dollar amount.
  2. Include SMART goals in the 'use of funds' slide, focusing on product, traction, market validation, and key hires; investors want to see a detailed plan on how the raised funds will contribute to company progress.
  3. Avoid including valuation on the 'ask' slide before securing a lead investor; the focus should be on the amount needed and what it will be used for, rather than terms of investment.

The Freedom Tradeoff

Jay's Data Stream • 29 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Bootstrapping buys you control over decisions and the freedom to choose your lifestyle. It also forces you to prioritize immediate profitability and often limits rapid scaling.
  2. Taking venture capital adds constant pressure to grow quickly — a ‘boot on your neck’ — which can drive fast scaling but reduces autonomy and can cause burnout or loss of control.
  3. There’s a clear tradeoff between outsized freedom and outsized growth, so you need to decide what you’re optimizing for. You can try to self-impose urgency to grow, but it’s not the same as the external forcing function investors provide.

How Many Investors Should You Talk to in a VC Fund Raise? And How Do You Prioritize? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Fundraising is a sales & marketing process that needs careful planning and time management with prioritization of top investors.
  2. Founders should focus on engaging investors who show interest, authority to make decisions, and willingness to continue spending time.
  3. Having a balanced approach in engaging top and bottom of the funnel investors, using marketing techniques, and keeping a healthy pipeline is key to successful fundraising.

Turning on Paid Subscriptions

By Reason Alone • 80 implied HN points • 08 Nov 25
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Paid subscriptions are now available for the newsletter, and it's a way to support the creator if you appreciate their work. You can choose a monthly or annual subscription.
  2. Subscribers will get some benefits, like priority access to events and possibly the ability to provide feedback on drafts. It's a way to show you're really interested in what they do.
  3. The creator is open about using the income to help with other projects and improve the quality and speed of their content, making it more valuable for subscribers.

Onward (or not!)

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 02 Aug 24
🏝 Travel Fundraising
  1. Climbing a mountain can feel like breaking the rules, but it's also a chance to learn and give back. It's important to reflect on our experiences and not just take without acknowledging the surrounding poverty.
  2. Running through local villages can create genuine connections, showing that kindness and small acts of giving can brighten someone's day. Sharing smiles and support is a powerful way to engage with others.
  3. Listening to your body and taking care of yourself is crucial, especially when traveling. It's okay to slow down and heal before jumping into new adventures.

Remembering the Time Samantha Bee Tried to Steer $50,000 to Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign but It Didn’t Work

I Might Be Wrong • 18 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fundraising
  1. A 2019 Full Frontal app tried to gamify primary donations and seemed designed to steer $50,000 to Elizabeth Warren, but the idea was goofy and badly thought out.
  2. Andrew Yang’s online supporters gamed the app and won the $50,000, which went to a campaign that soon dropped out and barely remembered the payout.
  3. Political-comedy stunts are mostly publicity plays that rarely change real-world outcomes, and late-night shows can drift into partisan activism while overstating their influence.

Marketing for a fundraise (like, the VC kind)

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. During a fundraise the target audience for marketing shifts from customers to investors, so focus on clear messaging, founder thought leadership, and visible social proof like PR and case studies.
  2. Investors care about evidence of product-market fit and disciplined spend — they prefer real customer pull, clear unit economics, and honest testimonials over glossy rebrands or theatrical marketing.
  3. Marketers should be plugged into fundraising strategy early to reallocate budgets toward measurable proof (case studies, PR, targeted events) and cut wasteful spend that won’t convince investors.

Running for sick children

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🎾 Sports Fundraising
  1. People are running long distances to raise money for sick children. Their efforts help support children's hospitals and cancer foundations.
  2. One notable runner, Jamie McDonald, raised over £200,000 for kids' hospitals after spending years in hospitals himself. His journey inspired others to do similar fundraising.
  3. Constructing hospitals for children, like the one in East Africa, makes a big difference. These hospitals now help treat hundreds of patients every day.

Putting the fun back in fundraising

City Hall Watcher • 275 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. City Hall Watcher celebrates its 250th issue with a focus on fundraising events in Toronto's mayoral by-election.
  2. Swanky cocktail parties played a significant role in funding candidates, with some raising millions through ticketed events.
  3. Analyzing campaign finance data shows the impact of fundraising strategies on the mayoral contenders and their success in the election.

Teardown: How Linkby raised its $15M Series B in 90 days

Superfluid • 106 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Preparing well before fundraising helps you make a strong pitch. It allows you to communicate your business's value clearly and confidently when talking to investors.
  2. Maintaining momentum during the fundraising process is crucial. Responding quickly to investor inquiries and scheduling meetings efficiently keeps the interest alive and increases your chances of success.
  3. Having a focused approach with targeted investor meetings creates pressure. This helps investors make decisions faster, which can lead to better outcomes for your fundraising efforts.

Kisangiro

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
🏝 Travel Fundraising
  1. Running through villages often shows more hospitality than in big towns. The connections made in smaller communities can feel warmer and more genuine.
  2. Masoud is considering his future and education, with a focus on starting a business or going to university. A supportive gesture can really change someone's life.
  3. Hunger in Tanzania is complex, with many people eating just enough to survive. It's not always visible, and understanding the financial aspect behind it is key.

Why Crypto Matters For Humanity's Future: A Basic Guide to Enlightening Open Minds

America 2.0 (by Gary Sheng) • 235 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Fundraising
  1. Crypto democratizes financial sovereignty, providing individuals with more control over their money.
  2. Crypto makes fundraising easier and more inclusive globally through tools like ICOs, STOs, and NFTs.
  3. Crypto enables powerful global coordination through smart contracts and blockchain technology, fostering decentralized collaboration.

A Humble Appeal to Our Readers

Journal of Free Black Thought • 12 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🎙 Podcasts Fundraising
  1. A small nonprofit publication is asking readers to support its work with end-of-year donations or a paid subscription.
  2. They list suggested donation amounts — $10, $50, and $250 — and provide links to make donating or subscribing easy.
  3. Support will help sustain independent Black voices and allow the organization to continue publishing into 2026 and beyond, and they express gratitude for reader help.

Don't Send All 'Your Data To Investors' Too Early In The Process: The Counter-Intuitive Fund-Raising Advice | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 139 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Avoid sending all your data to investors early on in the fundraising process, as it can hinder progress.
  2. Getting the first meeting with a VC might not be easy, but follow-up meetings can be harder to secure.
  3. Creating a data room and providing access too soon can lead to a lack of engagement from investors, leading to a failed fundraising process.

Blaze Aid are here to help with River Murray flood recovery

Murray Bridge News • 98 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
📰 News Fundraising
  1. Blaze Aid volunteers are helping with River Murray flood recovery by replacing damaged fences on flood-affected farms.
  2. Farmers needing help and volunteers willing to assist can contact Blaze Aid for assistance in fixing fences or volunteering.
  3. Blaze Aid volunteers focus on boundary fences, and the organization welcomes volunteers of all skill levels to help with various tasks.

Monday reading #6

well, actually • 157 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🍲 Food & Drink Fundraising
  1. Delicious beverages like Cool Brew can make a great alternative to reading recommendations.
  2. Consider supporting grassroots organizations like Survived & Punished NY, Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund, and Whose Corner Is It Anyway.
  3. Cool Brew, a coffee concentrate made in New Orleans, is a cost-effective and tasty option for iced coffee.

The asymmetry of giving

Men Yell at Me • 146 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fundraising
  1. There is a strong need for support in abortion access, especially from smaller funds that directly help clinics.
  2. Big donations often go to larger organizations, which can lead to clinic closures and higher costs for patients.
  3. Even with political changes, real access to abortion remains limited, leaving many feeling hopeless.

Help Bring Colin Home

Karlstack • 130 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Fundraising
  1. Colin is a 34-year-old man suffering from early onset Huntington's Disease, and he wants to return home to be with his family. His family believes that being at home will give him more comfort and dignity as he faces his illness.
  2. A fundraising campaign called 'Let's Bring Colin Home' is organized to cover legal costs and home care support. They want to help Colin transition from a care facility to his family's home, which requires financial assistance.
  3. The fundraiser highlights the importance of community support, as just a few donations can make a big difference. Even small contributions can help Colin receive the care he needs and improve his quality of life.

Clouded Judgement 12.26.25 - Exuberance Returning

Clouded Judgement • 7 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
💰 Finance Fundraising
  1. A broad wave of exuberance looks likely in 2026 as improving macro conditions and AI-driven IPOs and M&A restore liquidity, driving faster fundraising and rising valuations across stages.
  2. AI is moving from experiment to scale, with more application companies showing measurable revenue growth and real ROI across verticals rather than just infrastructure wins.
  3. The comeback will feel frothy and sometimes irrational, but those periods also create rare long-term investment opportunities, so investors need to separate short-term momentum from structurally important businesses.

Reflections from Our 2025 AGM - $1T Private Companies, AI Fundraising, and Outbound Sourcing

Venture Reflections • 9 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. Large VC funds can still generate strong returns if the ceiling for private-company outcomes expands a lot—imagine private companies reaching $1 trillion, which makes the numbers work.
  2. AI companies are setting the fundraising bar because rapid, AI-driven growth attracts VCs hunting for outliers, so investors prefer to back things already showing steep traction rather than hope slow growers will accelerate.
  3. Outbound sourcing is now a standard tool and founders have learned to send the right signals, so being early isn’t enough—outreach must be thoughtful, specific, and add real value to get attention.

Safe round or priced round? That is the question.

The Founder Memo • 19 implied HN points • 10 May 24
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. If you're raising less than $1 million and need money quickly, a Safe round is usually the best choice because it’s simple and fast.
  2. For larger amounts, like $1 million or more, especially with a lead investor, a priced round makes more sense despite taking longer and being more complicated.
  3. In the end, think carefully about which option works best for your situation instead of just going with the common choice of Safes.