Episode 748 | The Ins and Outs of Startup Investing

Episode 748 | The Ins and Outs of Startup Investing

Author: Rob Walling January 14, 2025 Duration: 38:43
In episode 748, Rob Walling sits down with Einar Vollset, co-founder of TinySeed, to discuss the ins and outs of startup investing. They explore the differences between VC and angel investing, the importance of deal flow, and the challenges of valuation. Rob and Einar also highlight how TinySeed’s approach differs from traditional VC, including their focus on capital efficiency and why it’s been working for ambitious B2B SaaS companies. Topics we cover:  (2:37) – The stigma of bootstrapper funding is waning (6:44) – What success looks like in venture funding (10:45) – Breaking down the math and deal flow (17:54) – How valuations work (26:21) – Keeping optionality (29:58) – Evaluating markups (35:18) – Raising TinySeed’s next fund Links from the Show:  MicroConf Connect Applications open until January 15th TinySeed Invest with TinySeed Einar Vollset (@einarvollset) | X Episode 744 | Bluesky, TinySeed is Raising, YC Backs Competitors, and More Hot Take Tuesday Topics Discretion Capital How To Invest In Startups by Sam Altman If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you! Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

Rob Walling hosts Startups For the Rest of Us, a long-running conversation focused squarely on the realities of building a company without massive venture funding. This isn't about Silicon Valley fairy tales; it's a practical, ground-level view of entrepreneurship. Each episode delves into the specific journeys of founders who are starting, acquiring, or growing their SaaS businesses, emphasizing the path of bootstrapping. You'll hear the unvarnished details-the strategic decisions, the unexpected obstacles, and the hard-won victories that define the daily life of a founder. The discussions are built on real stories, offering tangible lessons from both struggle and success. For anyone who has ever felt that the typical startup narrative doesn't reflect their own resource-constrained reality, this podcast provides a necessary and relatable perspective. It’s a deep resource for actionable advice and genuine camaraderie, connecting you with the experiences of those navigating the same challenging terrain. Tune in for honest conversations that cut through the hype and focus on building sustainable businesses.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Startups For the Rest of Us
Podcast Episodes
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Episode 797 | TinySeed Tales s5e5: Should I Raise More Funding? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 795 | TinySeed Tales s5e4: The $20K Milestone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Harris hit $20k MRR. It’s real. What’s next? In this episode of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling celebrates with Harris Kenny after OutboundSync crosses $20k MRR ahead of schedule. They talk about why hitting a milestone can…
Episode 794 | From Struggling Side Project to Life-Changing SaaS Exit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Duration: 27:16
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Episode 791 | TinySeed Tales s5e2: Growing Pains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
In this episode of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling reconnects with Harris Kenny, founder of OutboundSync, to explore the rapid evolution of his SaaS business just months after transitioning from agency work. Harris shares ho…