To Raise Money or Not to Raise Money? How to Make the Right Decision w/ Ashley Chang

Seed Money

Raising money through investors is the default for growing a company, but it might not be the right move for everyone. Taking the VC route is like walking through a one-way door - once you make that decision it sets you on a specific trajectory.

That’s why more entrepreneurs are being thoughtful about the decision, and even opting out of raising money the traditional way altogether. If we chase VC money without making sure it aligns with our long-term goals, we might end up building the wrong company for us. Fortunately, if we don’t want VC money, there are other ways we can get the funding we need.

The team at Sundays chose family and friends funding for that early stage. How did they use a SAFE to structure this round? Why are they intentionally choosing to remain revenue-funded? In this episode, co-founder of Sundays, Ashley Chang talks about why they didn’t take the stereotypical Silicon Valley route to building their business.

Topics Covered;

-Why you might consider NOT raising money

-How to use a SAFE as the structure to raise your seed round

-How to avoid huge attorney fees

-How to find a co-founder

-Questions you should ask yourself before you raise money

Guest Bio

Ashley Chang is the co-founder and CEO of Sundays, an executive assistant service for working parents. Before this, she spent a decade as a product leader across a wide range of tech startups – she was the first employee at ReadMe and helped lead Carta's venture capital products from $10 to $100M+ in revenue. For more information, head to https://withsundays.com/ and connect with Ashley on LinkedIn.

Host Bio

Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she’s on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality!

Connect:

Website: seedmoneypodcast.com

Instagram: @jaylasiciliano

Subscribe and watch on YouTube @seedmoneypodcast