Funding 101 - Fundraising Resources for Founders

FD Ep. 51 Akaash Shah

Written by Jason Kirby | Jul 25, 2024 12:00:00 PM

How Akaash Shah Raised Millions Without VC

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How Much Could You Sell Your Company For?

If a private equity firm or strategic acquirer made an offer to you today, would you take it? Would you know if it's a fair deal? Are you in the position to close a deal?

Getting acquired could transform your life.

Founders don't realize that it usually takes 12-24 months to prepare a company for a successful exit, the sooner you have a plan in place, the greater the potential outcome. 

If you want to get acquired, we can help. Book a free discovery call with our team of experts to explore your options and discuss getting a plan in place that could change your life.

Book a Free Discovery Call

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Exploring Creative, Non-traditional capital strategies

                                   

In this episode, I'm joined by Aakash Shah, founder and CEO of Wyndly, a healthcare startup revolutionizing allergy treatment. Akash shares his journey from personal allergy sufferer to innovative healthcare entrepreneur and reveals how he navigated the choppy waters of fundraising without relying solely on traditional venture capital.

If you're interested in creative capital strategies, Akaash demonstrates how startups can thrive by thinking outside the VC box. Learn how he leveraged customer relationships and learned finance lessons from restaurant owners that got Wyndly where it's at.

Here's what you're in for:

  • 02:33 From personal struggle to startup solution
  • 07:58 Y Combinator experience and its impact on fundraising
  • 17:42 Creative capital strategies: Beyond traditional VC funding
  • 33:16 Lessons from other industries
  • 36:42 Understanding and optimizing cash conversion cycles
  • 40:13 The importance of founder networks and peer support

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ABOUT AKAASH SHAH

Aakash Shah leveraged his personal experience with severe allergies to create an innovative, accessible solution for allergy sufferers. With a background in software and growth/product, Aakash is committed to ridding the world of allergies forever.

After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a dual major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Aakash joined small technology companies, knowing that technology would continue to change the world. Now, as a Wyndly patient and founder, he's dedicated himself to fixing people's allergies with personalized treatment and phenomenal care.

His journey from Y Combinator to exploring alternative funding strategies offers a fresh perspective on startup growth and capital acquisition in the healthcare sector. Aakash's approach combines his tech background with a deep understanding of healthcare needs, creating a unique blend of innovation and practicality in the allergy treatment space.

Connect with Aakash Shah on:

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Free Fundraising Resources

🤓 - Free pitch deck reviews - Submit your deck

💸 - Access working capital fast - Explore options for free

😍 - Free list of AI Recommended VCs - Apply for free

👨‍💻 - Free fundraising coaching session - Schedule 15 minutes with us

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Premium Resources

🗓️ - Book a one-hour private capital strategy call - Book Now

💫 - Pitch deck design services for founders by VCs - Decko

💼 - Startup Legal Services - Bowery Legal

📚 - Startup Friendly Accounting Services - Chelsea Capital

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  • Navigate a VC's portfolio to see relevant portcos or competitors, quickly find their founders on LinkedIn to connect with them, and request warm intros 
    A downloadable CSV with the investor emails & LinkedIn URLs
  • Ability to filter your matches and adjust your profile
  • LiteCRM to track your progress
  • Request intros to VCs directly through the platform
  • Get our fundraising guide on how to increase your odds of getting a meeting
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Let's Connect:

  • Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/
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  • Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.