What to Chase, What to Craft, and What You Can’t Control with David Shim

In this episode of Raiser's Edge, host Ben Elowitz dives deep into the realities of startup fundraising with guest David Shim, CEO and co-founder of Placed and Read.ai,The episode unpacks the critical importance of designing a business to be fundable—not just following trends—and why storytelling and narrative matter, but great metrics matter more. With stories of pre-emptive term sheets and the struggle of pitching to 100+ investors, this episode offers advice on using your control wisely: build for real customers, craft a compelling story, and understand when timing is everything (and what to do when it’s out of your control).Whether you're at a hot AI startup or grinding through the “cold” sectors, this candid exchange is packed with practical takeaways on fundraising playbooks, investor psychology, and the necessity of runway. Tune in for real lessons on how to shape your fundraising strategy for what you can control—and adapt for what you can’t.