Funding 2 | The Vertical

The pitfalls of mentorship and “Smart Money” in startups

Leaning too heavily on a mentor’s guidance can foster unhealthy dependency, impede necessary pivots, and stifle innovation, writes serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov. What are the red flags?

News flash: Your startup’s investor pool just got way bigger

U.S. legislators are updating requirements for “accredited investors” — people or organizations that are allowed to invest in startups. The lifelong entrepreneur and consultant Michael Burtov explains how immigrant founders could benefit.

Board of Directors vs Board of Advisors: Startup’s Brain vs Soul

In essence, a board of advisors is more concerned with a company’s strategic interests, while a board of directors focuses on advancing the interests of shareholders. This distinction seems subtle, but for many companies that originate outside the U.S. startup ecosystem, this can be quite a foreign concept. Lifelong entrepreneur Michael Burtov explains the difference between the two.

Underfunded, Underrepresented: Latinx founders forge paths in the U.S. venture ecosystem

Latinx-owned businesses are the fastest-growing demographic among all U.S. entrepreneurs, according to reports. However, less than 1% of funds from the top 25 venture capital and private equity firms have invested in Latinx-led enterprises. Why does this lack of Latinx-led business funding persist?

I almost joined the Newchip accelerator right before it collapsed. Was it a scam? Here’s what I recommend to other founders.

The recent collapse of Newchip, one of the world’s biggest accelerators, was a shock to the venture ecosystem. Bjorn Erik Hansen, founder and CEO at INTIEM, an AI-based SexTech solution, believes the organization’s business model was an intentional deception. Just a few days before news of the bankruptcy became public, his Miami-based startup had said “no” to joining Newchip’s new cohort.

What immigrant founders should know about raising capital in the U.S. post SVB apocalypse.

The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has sent shockwaves across the startup world. How will panic in the VC industry impact international founders raising capital in the U.S.? Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and the author of Evergreen Startup, believes it’s time for founders to get out of the high valuations trap.

3 Reasons To Invest In Immigrant Founders During A Recession

As fears of recession grow, venture capitalists (VCs) are adjusting strategies and pushing their limits. More funds than ever claim they are looking to foreign-born founders as sound investments. What’s their reasoning?

This female entrepreneur wants Africa’s developers to find their place in the U.S.

Elohor Thomas, co-founder at an online talent marketplace for developers, says U.S. businesses are still surprised to discover

UNest founder Ksenia Yudina (right) & UNest investor, NBA All-Star Baron Davis (left). Credit: Zak Kipp

From $180,000 in debt to $40 million in funding: This immigrant techpreneur helps parents secure their kids’ futures

Ksenia Yudina, the founder of a FinTech startup helping parents save for their children, moved to the U.S.

New immigrants aren’t connected within VC networks. Where do they get funding?

Although at least one third of U.S. tech startups were launched by immigrant entrepreneurs, these founders are often

From busboy to millionaire: How this Bangladeshi immigrant made his big break in the U.S. restaurant industry

Lunchbox founder Nabeel Alamgir has worked his way up from bussing tables at a fast food chain to being featured on Forbes’s ‘30 Under 30’ list and securing $20 million in VC funding.

How immigrant investors are rebuilding the U.S. supply chain

Coming from non-traditional backgrounds, immigrant and minority VCs are open to investing into overlooked niches. Three newly-established funds are aiming to foster sustainability within the global supply chain, which has recently been disrupted by the pandemic.

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