--- title: We Asked 3 Experts Their Best Advice For Founders —Their Answers Might Surprise You description: We asked a VC, a founder, and an executive coach their best advice for founders trying to raise capital now. Here's what they had to say. image: https://blog.netcapital.com/hubfs/Farah%20Hussain.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.netcapital.com/we-asked-3-experts-their-best-advice-for-founders-their-answers-might-surprise-you#main-content) [![Netcapital](https://blog.netcapital.com/hubfs/Netcapital-logo-purple.svg)](https://netcapital.com/) - [Home](https://netcapital.com/) - About Show submenu for About - Resources Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://netcapital.com/) - About Show submenu for About - Resources - [Contact Us](https://blog.netcapital.com/we-asked-3-experts-their-best-advice-for-founders-their-answers-might-surprise-you#contact) [Contact Us](https://blog.netcapital.com/we-asked-3-experts-their-best-advice-for-founders-their-answers-might-surprise-you#contact) Sep 30, 2025 3:29:11 PM # We Asked 3 Experts Their Best Advice For Founders —Their Answers Might Surprise You ![Picture of Kathy Kraysler](https://blog.netcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/profile%20pic.jpeg?width=50&name=profile%20pic.jpeg) [Kathy Kraysler](https://blog.netcapital.com/author/kathy-kraysler) We Asked 3 Experts Their Best Advice For Founders —Their Answers Might Surprise You 3:48   Raising capital can feel like a full-time job in itself.  It requires persistence and a whole lot of grit. To help founders navigate the fundraising journey, we asked three people with very different perspectives—*a venture capitalist, a founder, and a coach*—for their best advice. Here’s what they had to say. #### **1.“Show customer conviction, even without revenue.” — [Michael Coates](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcoates/), Founding Partner, [Seven Hill Ventures](https://www.linkedin.com/company/seven-hill-ventures/)** When you’re raising capital at the earliest stages, you might not have customer revenue—or even customers yet. Michael Coates, a venture capitalist who invests in cybersecurity startups, says that’s okay. What matters most is proving there’s a **real problem to solve** and that you’re the team to solve it. ![Michael-Coates](https://blog.netcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Michael-Coates.jpg?width=169&height=169&name=Michael-Coates.jpg)“Raising capital at the earliest stages is challenging because you don’t yet have customer revenue numbers or even customers at all!” Coates explains. “At this stage, it’s about showing customer conviction in your approach and problem space.” The key is to **validate your idea through real-world feedback**. “Highlight feedback from potential buyers,” he says. “Showcase that this is a top pain point to be solved and that the direction by your startup is the approach the buyer wants. Get direct quotes and highlight this buyer feedback in your deck to build credibility for your startup’s story and mission.” Even without revenue, **customer validation can make your pitch far more compelling. ** #### **2. “It’s up to you to create excitement.” — [John Fanning Jr.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfanningjr/), CEO, [Zelgor Games](https://www.linkedin.com/company/zelgorgames/)** John Fanning, founder and CEO of Zelgor, has been through the ups and downs of raising capital firsthand. His advice to founders: there’s no substitute for hard work. ![john fanning jr headshot](https://blog.netcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/john%20fanning%20jr%20headshot.jpeg?width=161&height=161&name=john%20fanning%20jr%20headshot.jpeg)“It’s a lot of hard work. There’s no shortcut for calling people and meeting with them in person,” Fanning says. Fundraising isn’t just about securing checks—it’s about **building momentum**. And that momentum starts with the founder. “It’s up to you as the company founder to raise excitement for your business,” he explains. “If you put in the work, generate activity and excitement, and go in with the attitude that you need to generate every dollar of investment yourself, then potential investors will see your activity and momentum and get excited.” In other words, **your energy and effort set the tone**. If you show up consistently - and with conviction -  investors are far more likely to follow. #### **3. “Stay connected to your best self.” — [Farah Hussain](https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahhussain/), [Certified Executive Coach](https://coachingwithfarah.com/)** Fundraising isn’t just a business challenge—it’s an emotional one. Farah Hussain, a certified executive coach who works with founders and leadership teams, reminds founders to stay grounded in who they are throughout the process. ![Farah Hussain](https://blog.netcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Farah%20Hussain.jpeg?width=157&height=157&name=Farah%20Hussain.jpeg)“Stay connected to your best self—the version of you that is inspired by purpose and possibility,” Hussain advises. It’s tempting to mold yourself into what you *think* investors want to hear, but that approach rarely builds true connection—or trust. “Don’t cram yourself into the box of what you think investors want to hear,” she says. “When you speak your truth, you will stand out.” Investors aren’t just evaluating your business; they’re evaluating *you*. A founder who is aligned with their purpose will stand out in a sea of pitches.   While each expert offers a unique perspective, there’s a clear theme in their advice: - **Provide evidence that the problem is real and your solution is needed.**  - **Work tirelessly and build momentum** - **Stay authentic and connected to your purpose** Fundraising will always be challenging—sometimes even painful, as Fanning points out. But by combining proof of market demand with dedicated effort and an authentic approach, you’ll be in a much stronger position to secure the capital you need to grow. 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[Read more](https://blog.netcapital.com/what-makes-a-startup-investable) Copyright © 2026, Netcapital ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kathy Kraysler", "url" : "https://blog.netcapital.com/author/kathy-kraysler" }, "dateModified" : "2025-09-30T19:29:11.589Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-30T19:29:11.000Z", "headline" : "We Asked 3 Experts Their Best Advice For Founders —Their Answers Might Surprise You", "image" : [ "https://blog.netcapital.com/hubfs/Farah%20Hussain.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.netcapital.com/we-asked-3-experts-their-best-advice-for-founders-their-answers-might-surprise-you", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.netcapital.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/logo-netcapital.svg" }, "name" : "The Netcapital Team" } } ```