How We CLOSED OUR PRE-SEED ROUND and raised $1 MILLION (!!) | First-time Startup Founder

This might be the most exciting video I've had a privilege of recording in 2022! We closed our pre-seed round for Rella (!!) With only 2% of female founders being venture backed, I find this a bit more exciting. I am so proud of our team. Join us on your journey. And thank you to Squarespace for sponsoring this video. Get 10% off your first purchase using code NATALIEBARBU or go to squarespace.com/nataliebarbu
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[@Jhon.Ardila]

Next video elaborate how the money flows. For example when an investor hands you a $100K check, what does it specifically fund or where is it deposited? How are those things agreed upon and determined?Things like that

[@joinlinka]

Yes please, would love a video on this.

[@RoZaxTheGreat]

@@joinlinka before you raise you already have your projections and financials planned out. unlikely you'll fundraise without it

[@SamanthaJayne101]

This was such a great video Natalie! It was so informative. I would love a series on this and maybe even more into your team, what everyone’s role is and how you all came together ❤

[@Keli]

Yay congratulations Natalie! Been following you and your journey for a while! I've learned so much from your videos and recent webinars and I'm so excited for you and Rella!

[@OduFood]

I am a founder and we are building an AgriFintech business in Nigeria and indeed Africa. Our aim is to help our small holding farming community to get funding for their agricultural project to help solve the global food crisis.

[@JustineMfulama]

Congrats on raising money. Excited to see how things go next year!

[@Howardkinga]

Thanks for the insight Natalie! Going through it right now as a Founder for a SaaS - the rejections are real! But definitely more motivated now with your insights! Merci!

[@AlexeiPetrovykh]

Great story, Natalie! Thanks for sharing! Wishing you all the best with Rella!

[@abbiedelores]

Wow, this is incredible!! Congratulations! One thing that I learned from working at a start-up is 'no' just means later :)

[@NatalieBarbu]

Exactly

[@chrisgudiel1]

Congrats on the huge milestone 🎊 Think a cool follow up to this video would be introducing the team along with the actual pitch you gave to investors. I can relate to the mental challenges, especially when doubt starts to creep in. Making it this far proves that you have what it takes to come out on top. Keep your head up, don't let the crown tilt.

[@OduFood]

This is so helpful and it is an amazing one. Please can I see the deck ?? What was the equity you had to give up for the funds you raised ?

[@PheedyUmar]

Thank you so much for this video. I am a founder myself and I’m so overwhelmed and confused as to what to do so I’m glad I came across this video

[@emmaltparker]

Look Natalie I was watching this while goal setting for 2023 and when you got to the fast forward part I thought I clicked the wrong button and my laptop had broke! Love your content as always

[@Jibril_Abdulkadir]

That’s amazing congrats on that achievement many more to come for your start up in the new year 🥰🤩🤩

[@savalasn1]

Thanks for this video, it was really needed! I just started my pre-seed round last week. Congrats on your success, I'll be cheering for your success!

[@mattyjmogul]

Thank you so much for this Natalie! I am 53 amd this is BY FAR the best breakdown video I have scene ( intended.) I know this word is overused but the true authenticity and honesty and not super polished is what makes this awesome 7 super helpful & inspiring IMHO. Learned a crap ton& yes PLEASE make more videos on the process & subsequent rounds/growth...

[@ashimaadventures]

Really excited for this video! I’m a startup founder and have gone through the gambit of accelerators. Would love to know how you assessed which investors would be good partners + how you got introductions to them! Excited to listen to the video and podcast

[@GabryelleMck]

This was so good, transparent and useful thanks for this

[@bevywood]

So proud of you Natalie!! I have watched you grow on KZbin for over 4 years now and it’s so inspiring to see where you are now. Huge congrats on this milestone!!

[@FactNight]

Where are you from?

[@cg.visuals7]

go girl! I'm from NC as well. Just started a visuals company and found your video super informative! Congrats on your venture!

[@Shedrah]

Hey Natalie, I had much fun listening to you, and it was helpful as well. Thank you! We are building a marketplace, and we are in a very early stage. I wonder if you needed a business plan for raising the money or if your pitch deck was enough? I would appreciate for the answer

[@izzyherman]

congratulations!!🎉🎉

[@albertooo880]

This was a great video!! I’m currently a founder creating my first product so this really helped!

[@davidmputu]

Congrats!

[@streetcred9585]

Great video. Deep insight I love it. Thank you

[@user-cz2pm7dq7s]

Thank you so much honey, so insightful!

[@Isapleasuretohaveinclass]

This is so helpful!

[@anisaanorve]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[@bmamba4777]

Thanks for the insight Natalie!

[@rocketgamer7960]

looking at this a year later is very inspiring!!!

[@cocomarineblu993]

This was so informational.

[@michaela3874]

Impressive! Congrats 🎉🎉

[@Silver_Dam]

Great video. Did you had a working product before searching for investors ?

[@emblue1901]

wonderful, woohoo, congrats!

[@wytespace380]

Hey Natalie, How did you do your valuation in order to determine the terms from your side. I am in the Angel round, pre-seed. A valuation would help determine our terms as we have our first offer on the table and have been asked to send a term sheet and valuation

[@pierangelocalanna7727]

Awesome and insightful video!

[@upfulsoul826]

Nice to see you progressing with your start up. It's extremely hard to get funding. You should be proud. I hope you can secure a next round of funding too. I'll checkout your pod.

[@YourMom-uh8sm]

This is awesome, congratulations. Just out of curiosity when are you going to do the Q&A?

[@NatalieBarbu]

Which q+a?

[@YourMom-uh8sm]

@@NatalieBarbu a couple days ago on IG you asked for Q&A questions for later this week. Unless I'm confused

[@MayaUndefined]

insightful thanks

[@KykykyTPTP]

So insightful 🙏

[@adrianajimenez5382]

Love this. Would love to hear how yo came up or decided the name for your business

[@thekristineway]

woohoo! my bf is in the startup world so i know this means a lot!!

[@starring709]

Hey! I loved your video. I learnt a lot. I am an entrepreneur, can you tell me about how you found your first hires?

[@fabianpetrescu]

how much equity did you guys end up giving out after raising $1M?

[@DavidePena_DFO]

you should always raise, better you lose some equities than you lose time... Time is more than money IS LIFE!

[@marketinghaks]

Can you share on how you collected email base and maybe you used any of existing ?

[@michaelmullings]

so how much equaity you gave up and what your valuation ?

[@minayuan2183]

congrats！

[@misscasss]

That’s incredible 🎉🎉🎉🎉 how much time a day on average would you say you spent on fundraising? We are doing it part time only (couple hours a day or so) and it’s never ending 😂😂

[@NatalieBarbu]

Oh gosh so many. It is a full time job. I was the only one doing it though out of the founding team so thankfully the product could continue to grow.

[@RoZaxTheGreat]

Where did you find their emails??

[@snippetsofpam184]

im interested in more videos!

[@nipuniperera9822]

Yes please share how to pitch

[@PortmannInternational]

Congratulations

[@tyronicabunch5210]

how did you find these investors?

[@waifusrecap]

Its really hard to find an Investor for pre-seed round if you dont have connections, when you say that, I felt that. for real. But yeah, thanks for sharing ideas. Its just you need to move and go somewhere, where investors are there and make a connections if you dont have one.

[@TeenyWeeny]

Did the investors know about your personal brand? i.e. followers/subs, etc. to evaluate you as a founder before they invested?

[@NatalieBarbu]

They knew about it + knew numbers. I think it made me have founder-market fit for sure and was a huge selling point.

[@ad2220]

One investor or a number for investors invested for 1mn totally?

[@clearthinking5441]

How much equity did you give away for 1M?

[@cocomarineblu993]

This Uber code doesn’t work

[@grahanatha8184]

Actual content starts about 8:00

[@lsaiahflores]

great vid super informative - Im a data analyst building a roommate matching application to help people find an ideal roommate based on criteria on like whether you enjoy hosting guests or thermostat preferences 👍

[@ChrisAdval]

I can't give specifics but I want to create product for pet owners that travel.

[@sangwoohan1177]

Are you going to start hiring developers one day?

[@NatalieBarbu]

I have 2 technical cofounders and one additional developer. We’re staying lean for now but will need to hire a senior developer later this year.

[@davidsimeoncole]

How about link the actual podcast next time have me searching for 5 minutes. I ain’t subscribing for that

[@davidparnell4675]

Third

[@Trentkozman]

Thanks dude! for keeping us financially Educated! Regardless of how Bad it gets or the economy, I still make over $22,000 every single week.

[@Trentkozman]

As a beginner investor, it’s essential for you to have a mentor to keep you accountable 🤷🏻‍♂️ Myself I’m guided by mrs Patricia Vesely, a widely known crypto consultant💪

[@AliceNyong]

Wow I’m just shocked you mention Patricia Vesely. thought I’m the only one trading with her..

[@Jennifer.v318]

Same here,l earn $13,000 a week.GOD bless Ms. Patricia V. she has been a blessing to my family.

[@AlexmKing-ly7ei]

Am winning consistently trading with her,she’s really the best broker I’ve made a lot of profit investing with her...

[@Elvisdav]

No doubt PATRICIA VESELY Trading services is very good, I invested $5,000 and cashed out $14,700 after 3 weeks. I still wonder how they get their analysis.

[@mittaldevansh96]

Hey @Natalie, could you please share the template you used as a Cold outreach pro! Really interested in seeing your Cold outreach email because 25% reply rate would be amazing!

[@RoZaxTheGreat]

also where did she find their emails??

[@MagnusDolph]

She talks