Ian Ippolito’s Post

👏October was just the start, and the deals keep rolling in! 💸🔥 Take a look back at some of the incredible fundings we captured last month. With November already off to a strong start, stay tuned—there’s plenty more to come! ✅📊 #OctoberRecap #FundingWins #FundingHighlights #BigMonth #SuccessStories #CapitalSecured #BusinessGrowth #FinancialRecap #OctoberSuccess #FundingJourney #BusinessFunding #StayTuned #BusinessWins #MakingMoves #NextLevel #EntrepreneurLife #GrowthMindset #Funded #MoneyMoves #HighlightsReel #StayUpdated #FundingGoals #BeyondLimits #CatchUp #Recap2024 #GrowingBusiness #FinancialMilestones #OctoberFundings

Once, I took 1,000,000 from an investor, burned through half of it, and then had to return the rest. Talking about big fails in my career 😅 We raised money from one of my friends who believed in the project as much as I did (there was no VC scrutinizing us with due diligence). The goal was to reach the next product milestone and secure additional funding. We kept pivoting, but nothing worked, and the tension kept rising. A friend, who had a similar experience, advised that returning the remaining funds to the investor and raising new money for a new project was the fair approach. This advice stuck with me. I decided to return the money. Admitting to my friend that we lost half of his investment—about 500k—was tough. Fortunately, he understood the risks involved. 👉🏻That conversation was a significant challenge and a test for my ego to admit failure. Was it beneficial? Absolutely. The entire cycle was a learning experience. Convincing someone to invest was the first big challenge, followed by trying to make everything work. When it didn’t, I faced the challenge of not wasting all the money. Deep down, I knew continuing would just burn through the funds without achieving anything. It was tempting to cover the loss with my own money and say I’d repay it, but that would have been my ego trying to save face. The truth is, the investor took on that risk. You have to accept that. Saying, “I’ll repay you because I’m a good person,” is just avoiding the real issue. ❗Taking someone else's money significantly changed my perspective on business and finances. When you’re burning your own money, you can justify it to yourself. But with someone else's money, you’re accountable. It’s a completely different feeling. 

Here’s the advice I wish I’d heard when I started: Stop waiting for the “perfect time” to build something big. I launched my fund management business with 2 kids under 3. Raised $1M+ while juggling nap schedules and client calls. Closed deals with a toddler climbing onto my desk. Here’s the reality: Success doesn’t wait for ideal circumstances. You don’t need endless free time or flawless conditions to get started—you need focus, grit, and the clarity to prioritize what truly moves the needle. The “right time” to start is now. (even without a perfectly time-blocked schedule or a pristine morning routine) Start where you are, with what you have. The momentum will follow. What’s one achievement in 2024 that makes you proud? Drop it in the comments below 👇

The Thin Line Between the Year and the Decade As a founder, I’ve come to realize that the market shifts its judgment faster than we can sometimes comprehend. One moment, it’s “Oh, you haven’t raised funds yet? You’re probably not going to make it.” Then, “Are you hitting big numbers? Why don’t we see you all over the media? Are you sure you’re even relevant?” These days, the new question is: “Are you profitable yet? Revenue doesn’t matter anymore; only profitability counts.” The market sentiment evolves constantly. Shifting gears isn’t just tactical—it means saying some tough goodbyes to people, to products, to ideas, and even places. What most people fail to understand is that while the decade is your horizon, you’re always judged in the context of this year. And when you make it to the decade, the questions don’t stop. No one cares about the past. The market certainly doesn’t. But to you, every piece of that history matters. So, how do you handle this duality? This is a game that’s emotionally draining. The journey is long enough that at some point, you lose the drive to win—and ironically, that’s often when you do win. But the disorienting nature of constant external judgments can leave you spinning. Understanding yourself, your purpose, and why you even started on this path is often the only anchor that keeps you grounded. But even then, every bit of advice, every offer to help often comes with strings attached. Everyone’s playing their own game within yours. Still, you persist. Because this is the game we signed up for. Balancing the year and the decade. And rarely does anyone do both well. So what’s left? Maybe, in the end it’s just about playing for the love of the game. - Thoughts Inspired by Aseem Dhru

“Investors don’t expect founders to be finance gurus. But they do expect you to know your numbers.” This insight from Jeff Erickson during this week’s Midday Connect session couldn’t be more critical. If you’re fundraising, mastering your financial metrics is non-negotiable. ✅ 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 Understand key metrics like ARR, CAC, LTV, and MRR. Confidence in these numbers builds trust. ✅ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 Tools like Forecastr can simplify this process, ensuring your model is accurate and professional. ✅ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 Use tools or templates to present metrics easily in investor updates and pitch meetings. Jeff shared, “Your confidence grows when you know your numbers. And confidence is contagious—it can make all the difference in investor meetings.” What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to understanding your metrics? Let’s discuss below! Watch the full session here: https://lnkd.in/g_ff2-Zr #WhatWeLearned #MiddayConnect #Forecastr #FundraisingPlaybook #StartupFunding #Fundraising

2025 is a money making year 😎. Don't be left out 😉. Join industry experts at our upcoming webinar as they share actionable insights on smart money moves to grow wealth in the new year. Let's make 2025 a remarkable one 💪🏻. Register Now - https://lnkd.in/dYPT7iwQ #Moneymoves #2025goals #FundQuest

Grow your wealth with FundQuest Financial Services Limited

No new investor outreach clients between: 18th June AND 18th August I will continuously work for all existing clients at that time. But I have a few principles: I am not wasting your money. I am not wasting your time. I am not wasting your energy. I am not feeding you false hopes. Investors are OFF during the summer. What will paying me €6k, €12k, €24k do? These people are rich and have time. Many of you are not in that situation. They do not move fast when you want fast. Especially not in the summer. You will certainly not get €2m on your last 2 weeks runway during the summer. These things need to be planned for. If you want to advance to your post-fundraising challenges faster: 1. Hit me up much before 18th June 2. We will work MAD like HELL till mid-July (we have to) 3. I suggest we pause and reassess strategy after mid-August. If you are not certain about moving now: 1. Pause fundraising efforts till mid-August 2. Reassess after mid-August But we all need to be clear and certain on what path we choose for ourselves. Playing to win is a strategy. Playing for playing is not.

Go FutureMoney go!

Holding too much stock in one company? It's a common risk that comes from untouched stock awards or ESPPs. Diversification is your safeguard against market swings and company-specific risk. Here's a quick action plan: - Evaluate your financial goals. - Understand the tax impact of selling shares. - Create a diversification strategy. - Consider charitable strategies - Seek professional advice for tailored guidance. Don't let a single stock define your financial future.