Raising Money Before Traction, Building Investor Trust, and Leveraging Partnerships

Raising Money Before Traction, Building Investor Trust, and Leveraging Partnerships

Author: Venture for Canada August 20, 2025 Duration: 32:24

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mehrsa Raeiszadeh, Co-Founder of MintList and startup consultant, about one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face: how to raise money before having traction. Mehrsa shares her personal journey of building MintList in a crowded marketplace—competing against companies that raised hundreds of millions—by focusing on creative ways to prove traction before writing a single line of code.

She dives into practical strategies like using pre-orders, strategic partnerships, and accelerator programs to build credibility and investor trust. From navigating B2B vs. B2C dynamics to achieving product-market fit, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs looking to solve the “parallel dependency” of needing resources to get traction—and needing traction to secure resources.


Hosted by Venture for Canada, A New Wave of Entrepreneurship moves beyond theory to explore the real, human stories behind building something new. Each conversation focuses on the practical journey, featuring changemakers and young Canadian entrepreneurs who share how they cultivated their specific entrepreneurial mindset and skillset-the actual tools they used to navigate uncertainty and drive innovation. This podcast isn't about abstract success; it's about the tangible lessons learned from setbacks, the evolving strategies for growth, and the personal resilience required to lead. You'll hear firsthand accounts that demystify the process, offering a clearer picture of what it truly takes to contribute to a more prosperous future for Canada. By listening, you gain access to a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, all aimed at helping you recognize and develop your own potential. Tune in for honest discussions that connect the dots between ambition, actionable skill-building, and meaningful impact, all part of a broader movement shaping the country's economic and social landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A New Wave of Entrepreneurship
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