The hottest Fundraising Substack posts right now

Netflix agreed to match $20,000 in donations, bringing their total contribution to over $60,000, supporting VietBay's COVID relief campaign.
VietBay plans to continue fundraising until the end of August to assist workers nationwide and frontline responders.
As of July 31st, VietBay raised $238,266.11 USD and 217,959,000 VND, allocating funds to provide aid and support for individuals impacted by COVID in various regions.

Vietnam facing severe COVID outbreak and lockdown, many unable to work. Donations supporting Vietnamese struggling with COVID can provide crucial help.
Contributing $8 can support one person for two weeks. Donations may be matched by Silicon Valley companies, potentially doubling or tripling the impact.
Various ways to donate including Facebook, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, and Benevity for Googlers. Contributions in the US are tax-deductible. Those in Vietnam can donate directly to a local charity fund.

Having too many founders can lead to problems like slow decision-making and lack of motivation. It's usually best to keep it to two founders who can share responsibilities effectively.
Raising money too early can confuse the startup's direction. It's smarter to wait until you have a clear plan and product before bringing in investors.
Focusing too much on long-term strategy can waste time. Instead, concentrate on improving your product and getting it into users' hands quickly.

Elephants are amazing creatures and play a huge role in their environment by helping to shape the land. They can communicate over long distances and even help create watering holes.
The relationship between whistling acacia trees and cocktail ants is really interesting. The ants protect the tree from being eaten while getting a home in return.
Zebras have a unique way of conserving energy by resting on each other's backs. This also helps them keep an eye out for predators.

A new baby jogger was secured, described as a high-quality stroller for running and outdoor activities. It's perfect for long-distance jogging on various terrains.
The adventure involves running with the baby jogger over the next few months, with plans to take it one day at a time, starting with a route from Seattle to Whistler, averaging 20 miles a day.
There's a fundraiser linked to the run for GiveDirectly, which supports giving cash directly to the poor, allowing them to decide how to use the funds for their needs.

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The road trip covered climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, Wales, and England while raising money for charity. It was a fun adventure that brought people together.
Everyone they met on the hike was friendly and supportive. The experience highlighted the kindness of others, even in tough times.
Despite challenges like tough climbs and weather, the trip was a reminder of the good in life. They felt grateful for the help and donations they received for mental health support.

A pitch deck should focus on clarity and simplicity, as it helps in understanding your business better. It's not about flashy designs but about conveying your core ideas effectively.
Founders should be honest about their business's risks and challenges in the seed deck. Being transparent about the skeletons can create trust with investors and help them align as partners.
It's important to address tough questions in your pitch deck, not just the positive aspects. Discussing key challenges shows that you've thought carefully about your business and its direction.

Raising too much money can lead to losing control of your company and diverting focus from your main product. It's better to raise just enough to reach your next goal.
On the flip side, not raising enough can cause you to constantly seek more funding, which distracts you from building a great product and can lead to losing investor trust.
Getting your valuation right is crucial. Too high can make future funding hard, while too low can mean giving away too much of your company and losing control.

Founders should send monthly updates to their investors. This keeps everyone informed about the company's real status and progress.
In updates, focus on important numbers and data that affect the company's success. Personal stories or events that don't lead to growth aren't needed.
Ask your investors for help when you need it. They have valuable connections and can assist in solving problems you face.

You can support Disaffected by subscribing for just $7 a month. This helps produce their show and gives you access to their chat server.
There's a great deal for annual subscriptions, where you get two months free.
If you want to help without a subscription, you can make a one-time donation of any amount, which is also appreciated.

Using Generative AI can save a lot of time when creating drafts for legal documents. Lawyers at Ashurst found they could save up to 80% of the time on some tasks.
The accuracy of AI-generated content can be surprisingly high compared to human output, but it still requires careful review. Lawyers found it hard to tell whether some AI outputs were made by a human or the AI.
When pitching to fund selectors, having a clear story and understanding your audience is key. Many pitch decks fail because they don't address who their target customers are or why now is the right time for their proposal.