Ep. 311 How I Raised It with Stephen Schenk of Stapelstein

Ep. 311 How I Raised It with Stephen Schenk of Stapelstein

Author: Foundersuite.com - software for raising capital October 13, 2025 Duration: 43:44
Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for emerging manager VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with with Stephan Schenk of Stapelstein, a Berlin-based creator of colorful stacking stones and balance boards for open-ended play that encourages movement, balance, and creativity. Learn more at https://stapelstein.com/ In this episode, we explore how the Company has built a successful business in a high-cost market (Germany) while adhering to high eco standards, why Stephan decided to buyout his early investors and convert the company into a "steward-owned" business (similar to Patagonia) to better align with its mission, how he deals with cheap knockoffs, copycats and clones, the unique ROI attributes of raising capital for a steward-owned business, and more. How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $21 Billion since 2016. If you are a startup, create a free account at www.foundersuite.com. If you are a VC, venture studio or investment banker, check out our new platform, www.fundingstack.com

Behind every funded startup is a story, often untold, of how the money actually came together. How I Raised It pulls back the curtain on that exact process. Each episode is a direct conversation with a founder who has successfully navigated the capital raise, digging into the granular details that most post-mortems gloss over. You’ll hear about the specific strategies that worked, the unexpected hurdles, and the moments that nearly derailed the entire effort. This isn't about generic advice; it's a replay of real negotiations, investor rejections turned into commitments, and the personal resilience required to close a round. Produced by Foundersuite.com, a company that builds software used by startups to raise capital, the podcast benefits from an insider's view of the fundraising landscape. The discussions are grounded in the messy reality of building a business with other people's money, offering a tangible sense of what to expect when you're in the thick of it. For any entrepreneur on the journey from idea to funded venture, this podcast serves as a valuable companion, full of hard-won insights and practical takeaways from those who have just been through the fire. Tune in to hear how pressure shapes a pitch, how relationships translate into checks, and how founders just like you managed to get it done.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How I Raised It - The podcast where we interview startup founders who raised capital.
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 268 How I Raised It with Anshu Sharma of Skyflow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Anshu Sharma of Skyflow, a startup that makes a…
Ep. 267 How I Raised It with Billy Thalheimer of Regent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Billy Thalheimer of Regent, a startup making the…
Ep. 266 How I Raised It with Quaid Walker of Bezel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Quaid Walker of Bezel (www.getbezel.com) a marke…
Ep. 265 How I Raised It with Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:37
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences, a startup usin…
Ep.  264 How I Raised It with Zach Coelius of Coelius Capital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This e…
Ep. 263 How I Raised It with Laura Sicola of Vocal Impact Productions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders, investors and consultants. This episode is with Dr. Laura Sicola, Founder of Vocal Impact Productions (http…
Ep. 262 How I Raised It with Robbie Crabtree of Founder Fundraising [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:53
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Robbie Crabtree of Founder Fundraising (https://…
Ep. 261 How I Raised It with Sterling Pratz of CarIQ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Sterling Pratz of CarIQ, a payment platform for…
Ep. 260 How I Raised It with Ethan Agarwal of The Coterie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Ethan Agarwal of The Coterie (https://www.thecot…
Ep. 259 How I Raised It with Sarah Dusek of Enygma Ventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:32
Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with Sarah Dusek of Enygma Ventures, an investment fu…