Lynx Collective’s Post

When it comes to accelerators, program directors must go as hard -- if not harder -- as the founders they serve. Particularly when working with early-stage startups, this is where they learn to walk the walk. Accelerators must continue to set the example through their own hard work. We discuss this at gener8tor frequently with our program leads across the country: 1. Build trust ✅ 2. Set the pace ✅ 3. Navigate the challenges together ✅ 4. Support the growth process ✅ 5. Advocate for solutions to founder challenges regionally and across the country ✅ It's our job to make founders uncomfortable. It's also our job to help lead our founders through temporary disorder.

Are you a non-tech founder with a big idea but struggling to secure investors? You’re not alone! Many founders felt the same way until they learned how to leverage their strengths. Take Sarah, for example. She was a corporate executive with zero tech experience. Investors turned her down multiple times because she wasn’t “technical.” But instead of giving up, she found a way to tell her story differently—highlighting her expertise and showing how she deeply understood the problem she was solving. The result? She secured the funding she needed and built a thriving startup. You don’t need to be a tech expert to win investors. Swipe through the slide below and learn. #NonTechFounder #FromIdeaToImpact #StartupFunding #InvestorReady #PitchToInvestors #FoundersJourney #EntrepreneurLife #NeverGiveUp #FundingSuccess

Building Capxly is more than just work for me-it’s a dream I’ve nurtured for years. I’ve always believed that investing isn’t just about financial returns. It’s about supporting ambitious founders who dare to dream big, solve real problems, and change lives. That’s why I started Capxly-to build a network of angel investors who go beyond money to truly empower startups. Each small win we achieve feels like a step closer to a larger mission: to make angel investing more accessible and impactful. 💬 What motivates you to invest in startups? #angel #investing #capxly

We often hear about startups that fail because they ran out of money. But they didn't really run out of money, what they ran out of is time. Bob Crimmins built & scaled 4 venture-backed startups before becoming a VC. This was a point he made during our interview. If you're a founder, you should realize there is a clock ticking against you every day. Everybody and everything has a runway - from your investors to employees. You need to move fast and have 200% urgency in everything you do. As much of a cliche bringing up urgency is, it's always a worthy reminder.

What if you could read a VC's mind? 🧠 It would make fundraising so easy... Lots of founders say that VCs are hard to read. They don't know what the investor is thinking. Sure, VC's ask lots of questions. Pitches can feel like an interrogation. But do you really know what they're thinking? I do. I've been pitched by 1,000s of startups. Helped raise $125M+. In your initial meeting, investors are asking these questions. You make them believe the answer is yes? You'll get a second meeting. 💰 _____ Was this helpful? 👍 like and ♻️ repost it to help other founders.

If you are a founder wanting to learn how to craft a great pitch deck, then please tune it! #forecastr #startup #pitchdeck

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 80% 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑝 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚—𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ. The 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 happens in the months 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 to the round. The secret to hitting your raise? 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲. Here’s how we guide founders at Torus to build investor anticipation and confidence before the round even starts: 1) Start conversations early: Instead of waiting to pitch, open with a request for advice. This builds trust and positions you as someone who listens—before you ask for funding. 2) Follow a system and automate your follow-ups: Keep momentum alive by scheduling automated updates through our recommended tech stack. Investors should never wonder what’s happening with your startup. 3) Create 3x investor interest: By the time the round opens have three times the capital target in interested investors, creating a natural sense of urgency. The result? More demand, less pressure, and higher chances of closing your raise with confidence. Know a founder who needs this system? Tag them below—it could change their entire fundraising journey. Jason Atkins Kane Templeton Startmate ⚡️ Michael Batko LUNA StartGrowth David Kenney Sprintlaw

📢 Wil Schroter invites you to the Pitch Deck Perfection Workshop—normally a member-only-exclusive live session designed to help you nail every slide and impress any investor - but he's doing it for free.🚀 📅 When: Thursday, January 16th at 1PM Eastern US Time 📍 Where: Online (signup here)   Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Proven Pitch Deck Frameworks: Learn the exact structures that top startups use to secure funding. ✅ Real Examples from Winning Decks: See what worked for companies like Bumble, Instacart, and more. ✅ Expert Advice: Wil Schroter (Founder & CEO of Startups.com) will guide you step-by-step.   Plus: During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get actionable tips to take your deck from good to great ! Seats are limited, so don’t wait : https://cutt.ly/0e9zyaew

Back when I was part of Eleven Ventures we rejected thousands of startups. As every other investor. It wasn't always because we didn't like the company. Often the startup just wont fit the VC strategy. • Industry (mismatch) • Stage (too late/early) • Geography (mismatch) • Timing (in-between funds) • Investment size (too much/little) Most VCs have an initial fund strategy. They've committed it to their LPs. They must stick to it. Most criteria are stated on the VC’s websites. Make sure you shoot in the dark no more. Research them before reaching out. 😉

What a great way to wrap up summer! I had a blast meeting over 50 incredible founders in person from the Google for Startups network at our NYC Summit. These founders are doing amazing things and they need your support - from fundraising to sales. If you're an investor, consider connecting with our founders. If you're a prospective customer, reach out for an initial call. Let's help these startups thrive! #GoogleForStartups #NYCSummit