PODCAST · business
Invisible Ink
by Shubha K. Chakravarthy
Tired of startup fluff? Invisible Ink cuts through the hype, bringing you power-packed conversations with investors and founders who've built the companies you admire. Forget theory and buzzwords. This podcast is your all-access pass to the real strategies, the tough decisions, and the often unseen struggles that shape successful startups. Each episode zooms in on the specifics of what it takes to get funded, demystifying the process and giving you actionable insights you can apply today. Join us as we unpack the gritty details the hype machine misses, revealing the truth about what investors look for, the mistakes to avoid, and the actionable steps you can take to make your startup unstoppable. Invisible Ink is more than just a podcast – it's your personal mentor in the world of funding. Tune in, level up, and turn your startup dream into a funded reality. Subscribe now! Find sho
Episodes
-
Ep 90: Why Strong Ideas Fail: Invisible Risks That Kill Startups, With John Harbison
In this episode, John Harbison, veteran angel investor and longtime member of Tech Coast Angels, joins Shubha K. Chakravarthy to deliver a masterclass on how investors actually think about risk, founders, and funding decisions. Drawing on decades of experience as a founder, board member, and...
-
Ep 89 - Fundraising Mistakes That Kill Great Startups: Terms, Dilution, and What Founders Miss, With Benjamin David Novak
In this episode, Benjamin David Novak, Partner at Morgan Lewis and veteran angel investor with Delaware Crossing Investor Group pulls back the curtain on how startup financing actually works behind closed doors. Wearing both hats as a venture attorney and an active investor, Ben delivers a candid...
-
Ep 88 - What 60,000 Startups Reveal About Founder Equity, Control, and Survival, With Peter Walker
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to cut through startup hype with real data from 60,000 startups and 3,000 venture funds. Peter is one of the most sought after data experts in the world of startups, and his posts and reports on…
more -
Ep 87 - Selling Into US Healthcare: A Practical Guide for Startups, With Dr. Krista A. Bragg
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Krista Bragg, Founder and CEO of KB Kinetics joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unpack what it really takes for startups to sell into the U.S. healthcare system. Krista offers a ground-truth view of healthcare from the inside—at a moment when hospitals face historic...
-
Ep 86 - Finding the Right Backer in a Tough Market: Insights From a Veteran Investor, With Dr. Ronald Weissman
In this episode of Invisible Ink, veteran operator Dr. Ron Weissman joins Shubha Chakravarthy to challenge some of the most entrenched myths in early-stage fundraising. Drawing on decades as a VC, angel investor, board member, and former NeXT executive who worked closely with Steve Jobs, Ron...
-
Ep 85 - The New Capitalism and What It Means for Founders Today, With Elizabeth MacBride and Seth Levine
This episode of Invisible Ink features a dynamic conversation between host Shubha K. Chakravarthy and guests Elizabeth MacBride, a long-time financial journalist, and Seth Levine, a seasoned venture capitalist and co-founder of Foundry. In this episode, Elizabeth and Seth discuss the shift in the...
-
Ep 84 - Lead With the Money, Not With the Pain: Inside Tips for a Better Raise, With Naseem Sayani
In this episode, Naseem Sayani, Director, Innovator's Circle, WHAM and VC investor & ecosystem builder, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to expose the structural gaps female founders face and how to overcome them with strategy, confidence, and financial clarity. Naseem breaks down why women often lead...
-
Ep 83 - PULL: The No BS Way to Unlock Sales, With Rob Snyder
In this episode, Rob Snyder, Fellow, Harvard Innovation Labs, startup sales expert, and co-founder of Restack.dev, breaks down what truly drives product–market fit and why most founders chase the wrong signals. Rob introduces his Pull Framework—a practical, evidence-based approach to finding and...
-
Ep 82 - Valuation is a (Financial) Story, Here’s How to Get it Right, With Dan Gray
Dan Gray, Head of Insights of Equidam, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to demystify one of the most misunderstood topics in early-stage fundraising—startup valuation. With over two decades in early-stage ventures, Dan reframes valuation not as a number but as a story that links a founder’s vision,...
-
Ep 81- How to Ace Due Diligence: Insights From a Top Angel Investor, With Tony Shipley
Tony Shipley, chair of the nationally-recognized angel group Queen City Angels (QCA), joins Shubha Chakravarthy to demystify the rigorous process of due diligence from an investor's perspective. Drawing from his background as an engineer and a founder of QCA, Tony unpacks the structured,...
-
Ep 80 - De-risking Your Science: What Makes Biotech Investable, With Daisy Robinton
In this episode of Invisible Ink, molecular biologist and biotech entrepreneur Daisy Robinton, founder of Oviva Therapeutics, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to share her journey from academia to leading a women’s health startup. Daisy turned a personal encounter with gaps in female physiology...
-
Ep 79 - How to Price, Negotiate, and Capture Value With Confidence, With Joanne Smith
In this episode of Invisible Ink, pricing strategist Joanne Smith, formerly an executive at DuPont and now a leading expert in value-based pricing, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unpack the science and art of pricing for early-stage deep tech startups. Check out Joanne's real-world, battle-tested...
-
Ep 78 - Using Behavioral Science for Startup Success, With Dr. Maria Blekher
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Dr. Maria Blehker—founder of Serendipity Capital and expert in behavioral science—joins Shubha Chakravarthy for a deep dive into how startups, particularly in deep tech and mental health, can succeed by blending scientific rigor with human insight and strategic...
-
Ep 77 - Market Matters! How to Find the Right Market for Your Startup, with Sharon Tal
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Sharon Tal, co-creator of the Where to Play framework and co-author of the book by the same name, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to walk through how startups—especially in STEM and deep tech—can systematically discover and prioritize their best market opportunities....
-
Ep 76 - Understanding the VC Mindset, With Eileen Tanghal
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Eileen Tanghal, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Black Opal Ventures, joins Shubha Chakravarthy for a deep dive into how founders can better understand venture capital beyond just fundraising and what truly drives VC decision-making. Eileen reveals what…
more -
Ep 75 - Cracking the Real PMF: How to Find Product-Market & Funding Fit, With Hanna Wu
In this episode, Hanna Wu, co-founder and CEO of Amplify, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to share her journey building a customer-centric, digital life insurance platform focused on wealth accumulation. Tune in to listen to the inspiring journey that took Hanna from running her own financial planning...
-
Ep 74 - Mastering XaaS Pricing: An Expert Perspective, with Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind
In this episode, Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unravel the complexities of pricing for early-stage startups, especially in the world of SaaS and “XaaS” business models. Tune in to hear Ingrid's reflections on her unexpected journey into pricing, starting from scratch in a C2C...
-
Ep 73 - Winning Grants, Landing VCs and Building in Deep Tech, with Elise Strobach
In this episode, Elise Strobach, co-founder and CEO of AeroShield, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to share her journey from lab discovery to clean tech startup founder. Drawing on her experience as a mechanical engineering PhD at MIT, Elise discusses how a breakthrough in transparent silica aerogels...
-
Ep 72 - Crafting a Winning Go-to-Market Strategy: A Step by Step Guide, With Maja Voje
In this episode, Maja Voje, go-to-market strategist, author, and growth expert, joins Shubha Chakravarthy to unpack the real essence of go-to-market (GTM) strategy—far beyond the buzzword. Drawing from her extensive experience advising startups and corporates alike, Maja reveals her tested GTM...
-
Ep 71 - Act, Learn, Build: Entrepreneurship, The Babson Way, with Heidi Neck, Ph.D
What if the way we think about building a business is fundamentally flawed? In this epsiode, Heidi Neck, a leading voice in entrepreneurship education, shares actionable insights from her extensive research and experience, emphasizing that "organizations are not entrepreneurial, people are"....
-
Ep 70 - Surviving & Thriving in Biotech: Playing The Long Game, with Dr. Maria L. Maccecchini
In this captivating episode, we sit down with Maria L. Maccecchini, a force of nature in the world of biotech, to explore her inspiring journey from a Ph.D. scientist to a successful entrepreneur. Maria shares her passion for developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases…
more -
Ep 69 - Commercializing Deep Tech_ From Scientist to Startup CEO, With Dr. Tanya Ramond
In this episode of Invisible Ink, we talk with deep tech expert Dr. Tanya Ramond, an expert in taking deep tech startups to market. check out Tanya's insightful and actionable insights on: Why commercializing deep tech is challenging The one mindset shift technical founders must make to succeed…
more -
Ep 68 - Pitch Perfect: Using Fluid Thinking for Dynamic Decks, With Patricia Liu
In this episode, Patricia Liu, an MIT-educated computer scientist turned angel investor and Stanford lecturer, shares her diverse career journey—from consulting at Accenture to working in Michelin-starred kitchens and now teaching pitch decks to startup founders. Patricia shared her takes on the...
-
Ep 67 - Are SAFEs Really Safe? A Primer on Startup Funding and Valuation, With Eva Doss
In this episode of Invisible Ink, Eva Doss, president and CEO of The LaunchPlace, discusses her work in venture development, managing a portfolio of 27 startups, and supporting early-stage companies through every part of their startup journey. Listen to Eva's experiences as she shares her journey...
-
EP 66 - The Founder’s Guide to Convertible Notes, With Liz Sigety
In this episode, Liz Sigety, chair of Fox Rothschild's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice, shares her expertise in working with startups, her role as a co-founder of the Delaware Crossing Investor Group, and her extensive experience as an angel investor. Tune in to hear Liz's…
more -
Ep 65 - Unlocking Funding With Financial Acumen, With Vicki Knott
In this conversation, Vicki Knott, CEO of Crux OCM, shares her entrepreneurial journey from oil and gas to starting her own company. Vicki describes her background and how she met her co-founder, Roger Shirt, and how they developed the idea for Crux OCM. Tune in to listen to her facscinating...
-
Ep 64 - Charging Ahead! Unexpected Paths to Market Success, With Kameale C. Terry
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Kameale C. Terry, Co-founder and CEO of ChargerHelp! In this conversation, Kameale shares her entrepreneurial journey in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, detailing her transition from supporting EV drivers to founding her own company focused…
more -
Ep 63 - Made for Medtech: The Essential Fundraising Guide, With Tasneem Dohadwala
In this episode, Tasneem Dohadwala, a venture capitalist in early-stage medical device investment, shares her insights on navigating the venture capital landscape and the unique challenges within the medical devices space. Check out this information-packed conversation to learn more about: The...
-
Ep 62 - Fundraising Is a Marketing Game, and Other Non-obvious Insights, with Brianna McDonald
In this episode, Brianna McDonald, an experienced early-stage investor, shares key insights from her two-decade journey in the startup world, emphasizing the significance of a well-crafted capitalization strategy for founders. Brianna discusses the importance of not falling in love with the…
more -
Ep 61 - Winning With Markets & Investors - The Founder's Playbook, With Colette Courtion
Named one of Inc. Magazines Top 100 Female Founders of 2020, Colette Courtion is a distinguished and award-winning consumer marketer, inventor (24 issued patents), and business leader steeped in brand building, marketing, strategic planning, and finance with leading consumer product, retail, and...
-
Best of Invisible Ink Season 6! Highlights & Best Moments
Welcome to the Best of Season 6! In this special episode, we've put together the very best clips from all of our incredible guests for your listening pleasure. Check out the time stamps below to find your favorite clips or do yourself a favor and listen to the whole roll! 00:00:00 - Welcome &...
-
Ep 60 - Building With Exit in Mind- The Legal Essentials, With Madhu Singh
In this episode, Madhu Singh, a seasoned legal expert, shares her insights on the importance of preparing for an exit when building a startup. Tune in to find out why founders need to prioritize legal structure, the ins and outs of devising a smart equity compensation structure, how to ace due...
-
Ep 59 - Bootstrapping to a Billion Dollar Exit, With Lynda Weinman
Our guest for today is Lynda Weinman. Lynda is a pioneering entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of lynda.com, a trailblazing online learning platform. Lynda launched her namesake platform in 1995 with her husband, Bruce. Her leadership and vision led lynda.com to tremendous growth for years...
-
Ep 58 - Startup Fundraising Made Simple, With Marcia Dawood
In this episode, Marcia Dawood, angel investor, Chair Emerita of the Angel Capital Association, and author of the recent bestselling book, "Do Good While Doing Well", discusses her journey into the world of angel investing and the critical lessons she’s learned along the way. Tune in to listen to...
-
Ep 57 - Shattering Stereotypes: A Medtech Success Story, With Dr. Charu Ramanathan
In this insightful episode, Dr. Charu Ramchandran, a pioneering entrepreneur in the life sciences sector, shares her journey from a PhD student to a successful startup founder. Starting with the creation of CardioInsight, a company that developed a groundbreaking noninvasive cardiac diagnostic...
-
Ep 56 - Building VC-Backable Impact Startups, With Kerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp is a General Partner at True Wealth Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund investing in women-led businesses that improve human and/or environmental health. She is a board director for True Wealth Ventures’ portfolio companies Flourish, Partum Health, reHarvest Provisions, Rosy,...
-
Ep 55 - Not Shark tank! How Startups Really Get Funded, With Elaine Bolle
In this episode, Elaine Bolle, an accomplished entrepreneur, corporate leader, and angel investor, shares key insights into achieving early-stage success for founders. Tune in to listen to her takes on curiosity and innovative problem-solving, how to select the right angel groups, the differences...
-
Ep 54 - To IPO and beyond: A Techpreneur's Take, With Vinita Gupta
In this riveting episode, Vinita Gupta, the first Indian American woman to start a company and take it public in the United States, shares hard-won lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. From the motivation to start her tech company to the challenges of running and exiting it, she provides a...
-
Ep 53 - Beyond the Tech: Fundraising Secrets for STEM Founders, With Jen Baird
In this riveting episode, Jen Baird, a seasoned entrepreneur with seven startups under her belt, shares hard-won lessons from her 20-year journey. From evaluating ideas to crafting a compelling pitch, Jen breaks down the essence of what investors look for and the common pitfalls that derail...
-
Ep 52 – Raise Ready: What Smart Investors Want You to Know, with Gwen Edwards
In this thought-provoking episode, Gwen Edwards, angel investor, and Managing Director at Golden Seeds, and an accomplished innovator and entrepreneur herself, address the critical issues founders struggles with and provides crystal-clear, actiomable and encouraging advice including: selecting…
more -
Ep 51 - Navigating the New Normal in Fundraising, with Angela Lee
In this insightful conversation, Angela Lee, founder of 37 Angels and an experienced angel investor, shares her profound wisdom on funding challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. From deconstructing early-stage funding trends to unveiling the secrets of leveraging networks and negotiating fair...
-
Ep 50 - Building a Research-Based Startup From Scratch, With Christy Sheehy
How do you mine the kernel of a startup idea from scientific research? How do you bridge the knowledge gap in learning hundreds of new startup and business concepts, while progressing your idea and getting funding all at the same time? How do you piece together every part of a complex business...
-
Ep 49 - The Legal Side of Fundraising, with Elke Trilla
What's the danger in following online startup advice as a new founder? How can you break the dilemma of not having the cash to hire the good lawyers you need so you can raise cash? If you’re a first time founder, how can you find and leverage the sharpest legal minds you can find to help you nail...
-
Ep 48 - Redesigning VC for Women, with Julie Castro Abrams
Summary: What important aspect of your startup has an outsize impact on your fundraising outcomes? Why is it so hard to change vc investment patterns in women-founded startups? What do founders often miss about the investor side of startup funding? In this episode, Julie Castro Abrams, managing...
-
Ep 47 - A Radical Startup Model, With Melanie Rieback
Summary: What does a cutting edge cybersecurity company have in common with the medieval Dutch church? What's the most critical ingredient for ANY company to fulfill a meaningful social purpose? What important aspect of the venture capital model do most founders fail to understand? In this…
more -
Ep 46 - A Primer on Technology Transfer, with Laleh Shayesteh
Who are the some of the smartest experts in the innovation ecosystem most entrepreneurs don't even know exist? Why is it fatal to your startup to talk about your big scientific breakthrough too soon? How can you as a founder get the best of both worlds in bringing your discovery or invention to...
-
Ep 45 - Starting Up in Clean Tech, with Kristin Wegner Guilfoyle
How does the Inflation Reduction Act impact funding for climate tech and clean tech startups? What’s different for climate tech startups compared to startups in other sectors? How can a climate focused startup improve their funding prospects and accelerate their path to revenue? In this episode,...
-
Ep 44 - Ep 44 - Capital Reboot: Rethinking Funding Models, With Vanessa Roanhorse
What do you do if your very identity effectively shuts the door on many types of capital as an entrepreneur? How do you get capital for your venture if even the nearest ATM is an hour away? And what can one determined entrepreneur accomplish when all other options simply don’t exist for her, or...
-
Ep 43 - Pro Tops on Acing the Raise, with Lisa Frusztajer
Summary What are investors looking for during fundraising due diligence? What one critical fact do most founders miss when thinking about what drives their investors’ funding decision? What is the single biggest mental pivot you need to make as a founder to successfully fundraise? In this…
more -
Ep 42 - De-biasing VC - a Pioneering Approach, With Kim Banham
What does the vc investment process really look like? Why should women founders be wary of VC funds that are earmarked only for women? When fundraising, what hidden risk might scare an investor away that you as a founder may see as a big win? In this episode, Kim Banham, general partner at…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Tired of startup fluff?
Invisible Ink cuts through the hype, bringing you power-packed conversations with investors and founders who've built the companies you admire.
Forget theory and buzzwords. This podcast is your all-access pass to the real strategies, the tough decisions, and the often unseen struggles that shape successful startups.
Each episode zooms in on the specifics of what it takes to get funded, demystifying the process and giving you actionable insights you can apply today.
Join us as we unpack the gritty details the hype machine misses, revealing the truth about what investors look for, the mistakes to avoid, and the actionable steps you can take to make your startup unstoppable.
Invisible Ink is more than just a podcast – it's your personal mentor in the world of funding. Tune in, level up, and turn your startup dream into a funded reality.
Subscribe now!
Find sho
HOSTED BY
Shubha K. Chakravarthy
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Invisible Ink have?
Invisible Ink currently has 92 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Invisible Ink about?
Tired of startup fluff? Invisible Ink cuts through the hype, bringing you power-packed conversations with investors and founders who've built the companies you admire. Forget theory and buzzwords. This podcast is your all-access pass to the real strategies, the tough decisions, and the often unseen...
How often does Invisible Ink release new episodes?
Invisible Ink has 92 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Invisible Ink?
You can listen to Invisible Ink on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Invisible Ink?
Invisible Ink is created and hosted by Shubha K. Chakravarthy.
URL copied to clipboard!