Jason DainterInternational Doer of Things
Bio

- BSc Degree in Compter Science and Management
- Built a profitable online marketing company whilst a university student (Eurogiveaways)
- Build digital media agency (Peanut Media)
- Build an angel investor backed social neworking platform for martial artists (Martial Edge)
- Build an angel investor backed ecommerce marketplace for eco friendly products (Eco Market)
- Joined management team (6th hire) at Sales as a Service startup Universal Avenue (17M USD Series A funding)
- Runs/founded Uppstart, profitable tech startup conference (one of the largest in the nordics)
- Runs/founded BASE10, largest startup hub in Uppsala region, with 1M USD+ in public and private sector financing.
- Dad with two kids :-)

Ranked within the top 100 most influential people in the Nordic startup scene (Nordic Web: https://thenordicweb.com/the-nordic-100-100th-80th/)

See https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondainter/ for full bio.


Recent Answers


Theres so many ways that I could answer this question but it would depend on knowing more about the situation.

There are many ways to find seed investors, mostly depending on your experience and network, (eg do you already have an existing network of investors?). If no, then you will be starting to build that from scratch. The good news is thats totally doable with tools like Angellist, Linkedin, etc.

Then you need a strategy on how to approach people especially if you are doing it cold. Some tips

1) Try to get referrals through common friends (linkedin is great for this). Investors get turned off by cold pitches so try to start strong if you can.

2) Have your pitch deck ready. Around 10 pages of attractive content to sell the dream. What problem are you solving? How? Size of market? Team? Product/traction so far? Why ou need the cash, etc. Happy to share a real deck one of my startups used (EcoMarket) that raised around 1M USD in total.

3) Hustle and sell like crazy. If you're going without an exiting investor network to tap into one strategy is to play the numbers. You are going to get a lot of no's: Dont be put off by that, but each time ask 1 thing you could improve on and most investors will take the time to reply if you are direct. Use that feedback to revise your pitch and rinse and repeat. Again, raised 1M USD+ this way myself.

Happy to share more details in a call.


Simple answer. Yes. Do less. Kick ass at the things you do.

I too was very much a doer of everything when I started out, and learned the painful way that one of the most successful traits I see across the successful entrepreneurs I meet daily is FOCUS.

Try to start with the big questions. What problem are you solving, for who? What are your own personal goals (do you want to sell the company? reach a certain revenue level? etc) Then work backwards and work out the minimum things you need to do to achieve that. Then say a firm no to everything that comes your way. Its hard, a lot harder than saying yes but saying no is a highly underrated strategy that is well worth investing in.

Cut out all pointless calls. Cut out all pointless meetings. Free up your calendar so you have time to breathe and think, and to focus on the (real) priorities.

Don't fool yourself into being busy. Working hard doesn't actually achieve success despite what media mumbo jumbo will try to tell you. Working smart does.

Happy to share more in a call including some practical tips and tricks I've learned along the way from a fairly unfocused entrepreneurs to a much more more focused one.


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