From VC to founder: Lessons on how to pitch your start-up

In this episode of Seed to Success, Alastair sits down with Piotr Pisarz, the brains behind Uncapped, a revenue-based finance provider. He shares his journey from Venture Capitalist to founder/CEO and his insights into securing non-equity financing for start-up growth. Piotr's experience and out-of-the-box thinking led him to identify the untapped potential of the debt market, offering valuable lessons for start-up founders and CEOs seeking funding. When Uncapped hit serious speed bumps trying to raise a Series B, Piotr and his team were forced to take a hard look in the mirror and make some tough decisions. Without easy access to piles of cash, Uncapped started operating more lean leading to profit and growth! Piotr gets straight to the point in this episode - from handling cofounder breakups to the importance of sleep, diet and training like an athlete so you can go the distance as a founder. If you're in the game of start-up financing or aiming to fund your venture without sacrificing equity, consider this a must-listen. _ Show notes: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:07 – What is Uncapped? 00:02:50 - Benefits of debt vs. equity 00:06:31 - Transition from VC to Founder 00:13:55 - Pitching strategy 00:15:32 - Fundraising lessons 00:17:20 - Hiring and customer acquisition 00:21:54 - Rapid product development 00:24:59 - Business growth and expansion 00:28:53 - Expansion challenges and mistakes 00:29:31 - Investor pressure 00:33:40 - Founder breakups 00:35:14 - Managing stress and self-care 00:37:11- Dysfunctional team dynamics 00:44:08 - Series B process 00:45:24 - The intersection of fast growth and profitability 00:45:42 - Key metrics for business success 00:46:27 - Long-term perspective in entrepreneurship 00:46:53 - Balancing work and personal life 00:47:36 - Conclusion