Jeffrey Fidelman: From Morgan Stanley to Fundraise-as-a-Service for Founders

Connect with Carmen Sederino Website: illuminatedstory.com LinkedIn: Carmen Sederino YouTube: Illuminated Story Instagram: @illuminatedstory Free Masterclass: Beyond the Keynote MasterclassConnect with Jeffrey Fidelman Website: fidelmanco.com LinkedIn: Jeffrey FidelmanInstagram: @fidelman_co Podcast: The Fidelman & Co PodcastJeffrey Fidelman: From Morgan Stanley to Fundraise-as-a-Service for FoundersEpisode Description Carmen Sederino sits down with Jeffrey Fidelman, founder and CEO of Fidelman & Co, the Inc. 5000 investment bank whose 40-person remote team helps early-stage companies and emerging fund managers raise capital. Born in New York to Soviet immigrants, Jeffrey credits being spoken to as a child like an adult for the confidence he carries on stage today.His path runs from Morgan Stanley to HSBC, to a venture fund partner role, and finally to founding Fidelman & Co in 2015. The firm runs a productised "Fundraise as a Service" model giving founders the structured investor relations process big banks have and most startups don't. Jeffrey shares the 30-minute pitch agenda he gives every client and how one senior banker's comment reshaped his career.Key MomentsThe pencil anecdote that shaped his curiosity: rubber from Brazil, metal from India, wood from red oak, all for a dollar fiftyWhy his parents speaking to him as an adult from childhood gave him a public-speaking foundation most kids never getThe senior banker who told him at 20-something to be the smartest person in the room because he had no grey hairs yetWalking into Morgan Stanley not understanding a word about credit curves or swapsLeaving his venture fund the week after his honeymoon, which he warns nobody to copyThe investor call agenda: rapport, bio, pitch, 15 minutes for Q&A and the askQuotes to Remember "You're 20-nothing years old. The only way people are going to take you seriously is either experience, which you don't have, or expertise. So you'd better be the smartest person in the room.""Stress is a driving force to push someone to do something about being stressed. Distressed is feeling underwater, incapable of handling the situation."Jeffrey's Journey The son of Soviet immigrants, Jeffrey grew up in New York and started his first real estate business during the 2008 crisis. After Harvard, he joined Morgan Stanley's private wealth syndication group, then HSBC as a VP. A family office recruited him to launch a venture fund, where he saw the gap between institutional rigour and startup chaos. In 2015 he founded Fidelman & Co, serving pre-seed founders to fund managers raising hundreds of millions.Advice for Speakers Preparation builds confidence that beats anxiety, and structure beats hope. Map out your talk minute by minute, practise out loud (to a mirror, a colleague, your dog, it doesn't matter), and stop every two or three minutes to invite a conversation rather than deliver a monologue. Before you walk on, do the mindset shift: ask who you need to be in this room, then become that person.Free Resource Beyond the Keynote Masterclass About the Host Carmen Sederino is the founder of Illuminated Story, transforming high-stakes presentations into unforgettable performances. With a background in theatre and corporate leadership, she helps leaders create impactful, memorable speaking experiences. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Illuminated Story.