Founder Quality, Investor Fit, and Early-Stage Fundraising with Andrea Hippeau of Lerer Hippeau

You’re Supposed to Hear “No” - Here’s Why It Matters | Maria Intscher-Owrang, CEO of Simplifyber

Fundraising isn’t about getting to a yes. It’s about how you handle all the no’s along the way. Maria Intscher-Owrang, CEO of Simplifyber, joins us on Inside the Round to break down how founders should really think about fundraising, rejection, and long-term investor relationships. Simplifyber is building a new category of materials with bio-based, moldable fibers that can replace traditional textiles and some plastics, backed by Suzano Ventures, At One Ventures, and Techstars. In this conversation, Maria explains why rejection is a constant in fundraising, how the way founders respond to “no” shapes long-term outcomes, and why building relationships without expectations is one of the most underrated advantages in raising capital. She shares how staying close to investors who pass can open unexpected doors, and why emotional discipline is one of the most important traits founders can develop. Topics we cover: • What Simplifyber is building and how their materials replace textiles and plastics • Why rejection is a constant in fundraising and how to handle it • The importance of building investor relationships over time • Why “no” doesn’t mean the relationship is over • How to stay top of mind with investors who pass • Emotional discipline and long-term thinking in fundraising • Turning early conversations into future opportunities • Lessons from building in a new materials category Sponsors: Aster AI — Aster AI is re-imagining the operating system for recruiting, building infrastructure that connects the world's top Product, Engineering, and Design talent with opportunities in the age of intelligent agents. https://www.asterhq.com/ [https://www.asterhq.com/] Filmed at 28th and Park — https://www.28thpark.com/ [https://www.28thpark.com/] Follow Inside Startup Funding for more conversations with founders and investors shaping how capital actually works.

Board Control, Legal Power, and Founder Outcomes | Yashreeka Huq, Partner at Perkins Coie

How much of a startup’s outcome is shaped before anything goes wrong? In this episode, Yashreeka Huq, Partner at Perkins Coie, shares a behind-the-scenes look at the legal side of venture. From board control and investor rights to how lawyers influence founder decisions, this conversation breaks down the mechanics that quietly shape company trajectories. One key takeaway: “Believe the no, not the reason.” Investor feedback isn’t always the full story, and how founders interpret it can change everything. Follow Inside Startup Funding for more conversations with builders and investors shaping the next decade.

Distribution, Trust, and Timing: What Actually Matters Now | Maddi Holman, GP at Daring Ventures

Maddi Holman, General Partner at Daring Ventures, joins Inside Startup Funding to break down what actually matters for founders building today. In this conversation, Maddi shares how the landscape has shifted from building being the hard part to winning being the hard part. We get into why distribution, trust, and timing now matter more than ever, how founders consistently misjudge customer behavior, and why many products fail despite solving real problems. She also walks through what she looks for when evaluating companies and the patterns she sees in the founders that outperform. We also dive into real-world examples of founders building the wrong thing, the importance of staying close to customers, and what actually creates defensibility in a world where anything can be built quickly. Maddi brings a clear, operator-informed perspective on what separates companies that gain traction from those that don’t. Topics we cover: * Why building is no longer the hard part * Distribution, trust, and timing as modern moats * What founders get wrong about customer behavior * Why great products still fail to gain adoption * What actually creates defensibility today * How top founders stay close to their customers * Evaluating companies as an early-stage investor SPONSORS Aster AI — Aster AI is re-imagining the operating system for recruiting, connecting top Product, Engineering, and Design talent with opportunities in the age of intelligent agents. https://www.asterhq.com/ [https://www.asterhq.com/] 28th&Park — 28th&Park is a New York-based content and production studio working with founders, VCs, and creators to produce high-quality podcasts, events, and storytelling experiences. https://28thpark.com/ [https://28thpark.com/]

Jess Schram on Founder Fraud, Defensibility, and What VCs Really Look For

What actually makes a startup defensible now that it’s easier than ever to build? In this episode of Inside the Fund, Helena Fogarty sits down with Jess Schram, Partner and Director of Investments and Incubations at Remedy Product Studio, to talk about how founders should think about fundraising, valuation, diligence, and what separates the best companies from the rest. Jess explains why selling and distribution matter more than technical superiority, how Remedy’s hybrid investment model works, and why some formidable businesses still struggle to raise in today’s market. She also shares a striking story about discovering a founder was cooking the books while lead investors believed the company was thriving, plus her broader take on founder psychology, investor blind spots, and the signs she looks for when evaluating risk. One of the clearest takeaways: if you can’t sell what you’re building, good luck. Follow Inside Startup Funding for more conversations with builders and investors shaping the future.

Founder Quality, Investor Fit, and Early-Stage Fundraising with Andrea Hippeau of Lerer Hippeau

Andrea Hippeau, Partner at Lerer Hippeau, joins Inside the Fund to discuss how early-stage investors actually evaluate founders. Andrea breaks down what she looks for before traction exists, why conviction often forms long before a formal pitch, and how long-term relationships between founders and investors shape many of the best investments. She also explains why trying to “fix” founders rarely works, and how experienced investors recognize important founder signals earlier than most people expect. We also discuss how consumer investing works inside a venture firm, how investors separate real traction from short-term hype, and what has changed about early-stage fundraising over the past few years. Topics include founder evaluation, venture conviction, early consumer investing, and how investors identify the next generation of founders.