Keep The Pressure On
Excerpt #4 From My Upcoming Book
You did it. You got your first investor.
The SAFE is signed, the wire has cleared, and for the first time ever, your startup’s bank account actually has money in it. It feels like the hard part is over. Now you can get back to building, right?
Not quite.
If there’s one thing I wish I had done differently for Seedscout, it’s this: I should have kept raising after that first check. Instead, I’d raise just enough to feel relief — enough to get me a couple months of runway — and then I’d jump right back into product mode. That worked fine for a while, until the money ran out again and I had to context-switch back into fundraising.
That kind of cycle burns you out. It makes long-term planning impossible. And more importantly, it keeps you stuck in a mode of survival instead of strategy. The moment you raise that first check, you’ve got more than money — you’ve got leverage.
You now have proof that someone else out there believes in you enough to invest real capital. That social proof is one of the strongest tools in your fundraising arsenal. So don’t let it go to waste. Use it.
Reach out to every investor you’ve spoken to so far — everyone who’s shown interest but hasn’t committed yet — and update them. Let them know someone is in.
Your message can be simple:
“Hey! Just a quick update — XYZ is officially in for [amount]. If you’re still interested in participating in the round, let me know. Things are moving along, and we’re planning to close soon. Either way, wanted to keep you posted.”
That’s it. No hard sell. No begging. Just momentum.
This does two things. First, it gives people a sense of movement — that you’re not waiting around hoping for one lucky break. Second, it creates what founders call the FOMO avalanche. The more people hear that others are investing, the more they worry they might be missing something. That fear of missing out — especially in a competitive environment like venture — can be a powerful motivator.
Sometimes, a single check is all it takes to start a chain reaction. One investor gives another permission to invest. That investor’s involvement piques someone else’s interest. Suddenly, the round’s coming together faster than expected. In rare cases, you’ll even find yourself oversubscribed — more money committed than you planned to raise. And that’s a great problem to have.
But only if you keep going.
Don’t treat your first check like a finish line. Treat it like ignition. Use that traction to drive forward until you close the round you planned. Then — and only then — shift your full focus back to building.
One note of caution: while you should absolutely share wins with other investors, don’t over-hype them. A $10K check is great, but it’s not life-changing. Avoid turning small progress into performative noise. Stay grounded. Let the progress speak for itself.
Your job is to keep the round moving. Keep emailing. Keep texting. Keep nudging the folks who are close. Don’t let momentum die.
You’re not just a builder anymore. You’re a capital allocator. You’re the CEO of a venture-backed startup, whether the round is closed or not. So act like it.