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Casium Funded $5M to Fuel Ambitious Expansion and Innovation Push

Innovation

Casium, a Seattle, WA-based AI-powered immigration and mobility solution for enterprises innovation that combines licensed legal expertise with technology.

Casium was funded $5 million for significant capital injection is earmarked to propel the company’s ambitious expansion plans and accelerate its innovation development pipeline, signaling a pivotal moment for the burgeoning tech firm.

The funding round saw participation from a consortium of prominent venture capital firms, including leading-edge investors like Maverick Ventures with participation from the AI2 Incubator, GTMfund, Success Venture Partners, and angel investor Jake Heller, co-founder of Casetext with deep roots in the AI and enterprise software landscape. This strong endorsement from both institutional and individual investors underscores the confidence in Casium’s unique technological approach and its potential to disrupt multiple industries.

Priyanka Kulkarni CEO and founder of Casium stated that the $5 million investment is not just capital; it’s a validation of their vision, their technology, and the incredible team that has brought them to this point. They are immensely grateful for the trust placed in them by our investors, and they are eager to leverage this funding to scale their operations and push the boundaries of AI innovation even further.

Casium’s core strength lies in its proprietary AI platform, which utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms to provide unparalleled accuracy in forecasting, optimize complex operational workflows, and automate decision-making processes across various verticals. From enhancing supply chain efficiencies to personalizing customer experiences and predicting market trends, Casium’s solutions have already demonstrated tangible benefits for its early adopters.

The company plans to strategically deploy the newly acquired funds across several key areas. A substantial portion will be allocated to scaling its research and development initiatives. This includes expanding its team of AI engineers, investing in cutting-edge computing infrastructure, and exploring new frontiers in explainable AI and ethical AI development.

Furthermore, a portion of the funding will be dedicated to enhancing Casium’s customer success programs and building out its talent acquisition strategy. As the company grows, maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction and attracting top-tier talent will be paramount. Casium plans to invest in robust training programs, expand its customer support infrastructure, and implement innovative recruitment strategies to bring in the brightest minds in AI and related fields.

With this significant capital infusion, Casium is now well-equipped to execute its ambitious growth strategy, drive further innovation in the AI space, and ultimately, empower more businesses to harness the transformative power of intelligent automation and predictive analytics. The future looks bright for Casium as it embarks on this exciting new chapter of expansion and innovation.

By: K. Tagura

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Roadmap, Not Just Riches: The True Purpose of a Business Plan

Roadmap

In the thrilling, often chaotic world of entrepreneurship, many budding business owners view a business plan as a mere formality—a hefty document solely for impressing investors or securing a loan. It’s seen as a necessary evil on the path to funding, its primary goal being to articulate the potential for riches. While securing capital is certainly a critical function, reducing the business plan to just a fundraising tool is a profound mistake. The true, enduring purpose of a business plan is to serve as a roadmap, guiding the entire venture from conception through growth, and ensuring survival through inevitable turbulence.

Beyond the Bank: The Strategic Compass

A well-crafted business plan is, first and foremost, a strategic compass. It forces you to step back from the excitement of your idea and engage in a rigorous process of self-examination and market analysis. This process yields benefits far beyond a line item in a bank’s checklist.

1. Clarity and Focus

The act of writing a plan demands clarity. It forces you to articulate precisely what you are selling, who you are selling it to, and why they should buy it. Many entrepreneurs start with a vague idea; the planning process crystallizes it. By defining your Value Proposition and outlining your mission and vision, the plan ensures that every subsequent action is aligned with your core goals. This focus prevents “mission creep”—the temptation to chase every shiny new opportunity that distracts from your primary market and product.

2. Deep Market Understanding

A strong plan includes a comprehensive Market Analysis. This section is your chance to become an expert on the playing field. It requires a deep dive into:

  • Target Audience: Who are your ideal customers? What are their pain points?
  • Competitive Landscape: Who are your rivals? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
  • Market Trends: What shifts, technologies, or regulations could impact your future?

This rigorous research transforms assumptions into data-driven decisions. Instead of hoping there’s a market, the plan confirms it, identifies underserved niches, and pinpoints threats to mitigate. This knowledge is invaluable, irrespective of external funding.

An Operational Blueprint for Execution

The plan’s value is most evident in the day-to-day operations. It transitions from a static document to a dynamic operational blueprint.

3. Defining the Operational Model

How will you deliver your product or service? The Operations Plan details the logistics: the required staff, equipment, technology, and key partnerships. It’s a dry run of your business processes. By outlining the supply chain, production flow, and delivery mechanism, you can identify potential bottlenecks and inefficiencies before you start spending money. This pre-emptive problem-solving is crucial for maintaining margins and ensuring customer satisfaction.

4. Setting Measurable Milestones

A roadmap without destinations is useless. The business plan establishes Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and milestones. These aren’t just arbitrary numbers; they are the benchmarks against which you will measure success and failure. For instance, instead of a vague goal like “grow the business,” the plan sets a measurable milestone: “Acquire 50 paying subscribers within the first six months.” This provides the team with tangible, actionable goals and the ability to course-correct immediately if targets are missed.

The Crux of Control: Financial Health

While the financial section is often associated with the ‘riches’ aspect, its true purpose is control and forecasting.

5. Financial Forecasting and Risk Management

The Financial Plan is a projection, including P&L statements, cash flow projections, and balance sheets. Its significance is threefold:

  • Predicting Cash Flow: It shows when cash will come in and when it will go out. The classic entrepreneurial pitfall is running out of cash; the plan acts as an early warning system for this.
  • Establishing Budgetary Control: It sets the budget for every department. This makes managers accountable and prevents overspending.
  • Testing Viability: It allows you to model different scenarios—best-case, worst-case, and most-likely—to stress-test your business model and determine the venture’s true financial viability under various pressures.

This section shifts the focus from “how much money we could make” to “how much money we need to manage to stay alive.”

A Living Document

The most successful entrepreneurs don’t write a business plan and shelve it. They treat it as a living document. It is reviewed, revised, and updated at least annually, or whenever a major strategic shift occurs.

The true purpose of a business plan is to be your accountability partner and your institutional memory. It’s the foundational document that holds you, your partners, and your team responsible for executing the strategy you collectively agreed upon. It’s the blueprint that allows you to survive the first five turbulent years of business by replacing hopeful dreaming with structured, rigorous, and disciplined execution. It’s not just about the riches at the end of the journey; it’s about having a detailed, dependable roadmap to get there.

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Cookiy AI Funded $7M to Power Consumer Insights with Agentic Voice

Consumer Insights

Cookiy AI, a Palo Alto, CA-based emerging leader in advanced artificial intelligence solutions, was funded $7 million. The investment was led by prominent venture capital firms Liquid2, Converge, GoAhead, and UpHonest, alongside other venture funds and strategic angel investors. Will accelerate the development and deployment of Cookiy AI’s groundbreaking agentic voice AI platform, poised to transform how businesses gather and leverage consumer insights fundamentally.

The capital infusion marks a significant milestone for Cookiy AI as it aims to disrupt the traditional market research landscape. Currently, understanding consumer sentiment and preferences often relies on laborious, time-consuming, and sometimes biased methods such as surveys, focus groups, and manual data analysis. Cookiy AI’s innovative approach promises to deliver richer, more authentic, and real-time insights by directly engaging with consumers through sophisticated, human-like voice AI agents.

Davin YC Dong, CEO and co-founder of Cookiy AI, stated that they are incredibly excited about this funding round and the strong validation it represents for their vision. Businesses are clamoring for deeper, more nuanced understandings of their customers. Traditional methods often fall short, struggling to capture the spontaneous, emotional, and context-rich feedback that truly drives decision-making. The agentic voice AI is designed to bridge this gap, offering a scalable, unbiased, and incredibly effective way to ‘listen’ to the market.

What sets Cookiy AI apart is its “agentic” voice AI. Unlike simple chatbots or scripted IVR systems, Cookiy’s agents can understand context, adapt their conversational flow, ask probing follow-up questions, and even infer emotional states from vocal nuances. This allows for far more natural and insightful interactions, mimicking the depth of a skilled human interviewer while achieving unprecedented scale and consistency.

Imagine a product launch where a brand can instantly conduct thousands of in-depth “interviews” with target consumers, gathering feedback on features, pricing, and messaging within hours. Or a service provider understanding pain points and desires across their entire customer base, identifying emerging trends long before they appear in aggregated data. This is the promise of Cookiy AI.

The funding will primarily be allocated to three key areas: expanding the engineering and AI research teams to refine agentic capabilities further; enhancing the platform’s scalability and security infrastructure; and accelerating market penetration through strategic partnerships and sales initiatives. Cookiy AI plans to expand its current team of 30 to over 70 within the next 18 months, attracting top talent in AI, machine learning, and conversational design.

Early pilot programs with select Fortune 500 companies have yielded impressive results, demonstrating Cookiy AI’s ability to uncover unexpected consumer preferences and pain points that traditional methods missed. One early adopter in the CPG sector reported a 25% increase in product feature adoption after implementing insights gleaned from Cookiy’s voice AI agents.

The company’s commitment to ethical AI and data privacy is also a cornerstone of its operations. Cookiy AI emphasizes transparency with consumers regarding data collection and use, adhering to the highest privacy standards, including GDPR and CCPA.

With this substantial investment, Cookiy AI is poised to lead the charge in transforming how businesses connect with their customers, promising a future where consumer insights are not just data points, but deeply understood narratives that drive innovation and growth. The age of agentic voice AI for consumer insights has officially begun.

By: K. Tagura

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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The Exit Plan is the Business Plan: Angel Investing’s Core Truth

Angel

An exit strategy isn’t merely a detail in a business plan; it is the ultimate reason an angel investor chooses to invest. For these investors, their entire investment thesis revolves around a profitable, foreseeable liquidation event. Therefore, entrepreneurs must treat the exit strategy as a foundational pillar, not an afterthought.

This article delves into why the exit strategy is paramount in an angel investment business plan, what investors expect to see, and how to craft a compelling roadmap to a successful liquidity event.

Why the Exit Strategy is the Dealmaker for Angel Investors

Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who deploy their personal capital into early-stage companies with the explicit goal of achieving an exceptional return on investment (ROI). Unlike a lifestyle business owner, an angel’s primary focus is not the day-to-day operation, but the eventual liquidity event.

1. The Core of ROI and Risk Mitigation

Angel investing is inherently risky; most startups fail. To compensate for this risk, successful angels rely on a few “home runs” to cover the losses from their other investments. They typically aim for a 10x return or more within a 3 to 7-year timeframe.

A well-articulated exit strategy does three crucial things for the investor:

  • Defines the Return: It clearly outlines how they will convert their equity into cash and realize their profit. Without a viable exit, the equity is essentially illiquid and worthless.
  • Sets the Timeline: It provides a realistic projection for when they can expect a return, which is essential for managing their own investment portfolio and capital planning.
  • Mitigates Risk: By focusing on a specific exit path (e.g., acquisition by a known industry leader), the entrepreneur demonstrates an understanding of the end-game, allowing the investor to assess the viability and risk involved.

2. Alignment of Investor and Founder Goals

The exit strategy serves as the contract of intent between the founder and the investor. The investor is not a silent partner; they are a financial partner whose goal is to sell the company or their stake at a premium.

A clear exit plan ensures that every strategic decision—from product development to market expansion—is viewed through the lens of maximizing value for that eventual sale. If the founder’s goal is to keep the company indefinitely (a lifestyle business), it fundamentally conflicts with the investor’s need for an exit, and the deal won’t happen.

3. Drives Strategic Business Decisions

The chosen exit path dictates the entire business model and growth trajectory.

  • Acquisition Target: If the plan is to be acquired by a specific type of strategic buyer (e.g., a major pharmaceutical company), the startup must focus on building proprietary technology, securing specific patents, and acquiring a customer base that makes it an indispensable, “acqui-hire” or technology target for that buyer.
  • IPO Focus: If the plan is a massive Initial Public Offering (IPO), the business must focus on achieving monumental scale, global reach, and developing the financial infrastructure (e.g., strong governance, audited financials) to meet public market requirements.

A clear exit strategy ensures the entrepreneur is building a business that someone else will want to buy.

What Angel Investors Look for in an Exit Strategy

When presenting your business plan, the exit strategy section must be specific, credible, and justifiable with market data. A vague promise of an “eventual IPO” is rarely sufficient.

1. Specific, Viable Exit Scenarios

The most common and preferred exit strategies for angel investments are:

Exit StrategyDescriptionAngel Investor Perspective
Strategic Acquisition (M&A)Sale of the entire company to a larger corporation (a competitor, partner, or customer) for strategic reasons like acquiring technology, market share, or talent.Most Common & Preferred. Offers clear, timely liquidity and often a high multiple based on strategic value.
IPO (Initial Public Offering)The company sells stock to the public on a stock exchange.Highest Potential Return, Least Likely. Reserved for hyper-growth companies achieving massive scale. Comes with longer lockup periods.
Secondary SaleExisting angel investors sell their shares to a later-stage investor (like a Venture Capital firm or Private Equity).A Good Intermediate Exit. Provides earlier liquidity and validates the company’s trajectory before a final M&A or IPO.
Management Buyout (MBO)The existing management or founders repurchase the investor’s shares.Viable for Mature Businesses. Provides a clean exit, but depends on the founders securing significant funding.

Export to Sheets

The most important element is the “who.” You must name potential, logical acquirers in your industry and provide evidence of similar past acquisitions (comparable exits).

2. A Realistic Timeline and Valuation

Angel investors are looking for a plan that is executed over a horizon of 3 to 7 years. Showing a 10-year plan will raise red flags about the founder’s commitment to creating a rapid liquidity event.

You must work backward from the exit. For example:

  1. Exit Target (Year 5): Acquisition for $100 Million.
  2. Required Milestone (Year 4): Achieve $10 Million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
  3. Use of Funds: Demonstrate how the current investment will directly achieve the necessary milestones for the next round of funding or the final acquisition.

Investors want to see that you’ve analyzed comparable exits in your space, justifying your projected valuation with real-world data points.

Crafting a Compelling Exit Strategy Section

Your business plan should dedicate a high-impact section to the exit strategy, structured for clarity and credibility.

1. Name Your Target Acquirers

Go beyond simply stating “Acquisition.” Identify 3-5 specific companies that would benefit strategically from buying you. Detail why they would buy you (e.g., “Company X needs our AI optimization engine to complete its product suite and dominate the logistics market”). This proves you understand the ecosystem.

2. Justify Your Valuation

Use an exit multiple analysis. Look at recent acquisitions of similar companies in your sector. If comparable companies sold for 5x their annual revenue, use that multiple to justify your target exit valuation based on your projected revenue at that time.

3. Detail the Path to Value Creation

The exit strategy must integrate seamlessly with your operational and financial plans. Show the milestones that directly lead to increased exit value:

  • Year 1-3: Achieve Product-Market Fit, hit $X ARR, secure key patents.
  • Year 4-5: Achieve a market-leading position, attract strategic M&A interest, and hire an executive team with experience in exits.

In the highly competitive world of angel investment, a well-defined exit strategy is the proof of concept for an investor’s potential return. It transforms your vision into a measurable, time-bound financial opportunity, making your startup a genuinely investable asset. Entrepreneurs who master this part of the business plan are the ones who secure the funding.

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Peer AI Funded $12.1M to Turbocharge Drug Approvals

Drug Approvals

Peer AI, a San Francisco, CA-based in a significant boost to the burgeoning field of AI-powered life sciences, Peer AI, a pioneering company dedicated to streamlining drug approvals, announced today it has successfully funded a $12.1 million. This substantial investment will accelerate the deployment and enhancement of its intelligent regulatory workflow platform, a solution poised to dramatically reduce the time and cost associated with bringing life-saving medications to market.

The Series A funding round was led by Flare Capital Partners and SignalFire. Other investors included Greycroft, Atria, Alumni Ventures, Gaingels, and Mana Ventures, along with angel investors. While the specific investors were not immediately disclosed, industry insiders suggest a strong belief in Peer AI’s potential to disrupt a historically complex and often protracted process. This capital infusion will be directed towards expanding Peer AI’s engineering and product teams, scaling its operational capabilities, and further developing its proprietary AI algorithms to meet the increasing demand from pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

At the core of Peer AI’s offering is an advanced platform designed to navigate the labyrinthine world of drug regulatory submissions. The current drug approval process is notorious for its extensive documentation, stringent compliance requirements, and iterative review cycles, often stretching timelines by months, if not years. Peer AI aims to untangle this complexity through the application of sophisticated artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing.

“Our mission at Peer AI is clear: to empower pharmaceutical companies to bring vital drugs to patients faster and more efficiently,” stated Anita Modi, CEO and co-founder of Peer AI, in an exclusive interview. “This funding is a testament to the hard work of our team and the transformative potential of our technology. The regulatory landscape is incredibly nuanced, and traditional methods simply can’t keep pace with the innovation happening in drug discovery. We’re building the intelligent infrastructure that bridges that gap.”

Peer AI’s platform leverages AI to analyze vast amounts of regulatory data, identify potential compliance risks, and even generate portions of submission documents, significantly reducing manual effort and human error. It acts as an intelligent co-pilot for regulatory affairs professionals, providing real-time insights, automating repetitive tasks, and ensuring adherence to the ever-evolving guidelines set by regulatory bodies like the FDA, EMA, and others globally.

One of the key innovations highlighted by Modi is the platform’s ability to learn and adapt. “Every regulatory submission presents unique challenges,” she explained. “Our AI doesn’t just follow rules; it learns from past successful submissions, identifies patterns in regulatory feedback, and proactively flags areas that might require additional attention. This predictive capability is a game-changer, allowing companies to anticipate and address issues before they become bottlenecks.”

The impact of such a platform could be far-reaching. Expediting drug approvals means faster access to new treatments for patients suffering from critical illnesses. For pharmaceutical companies, it translates into significant cost savings, reduced operational overhead, and a competitive edge in a highly competitive market. With drug development costs often soaring into the billions, any technology that can trim timelines and improve efficiency is a welcome development.

The company plans to use a portion of the new capital to forge strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies, running pilot programs to showcase the platform’s efficacy on real-world regulatory submissions. This collaborative approach will not only refine their technology but also build a robust evidence base for its transformative impact.

As Peer AI embarks on this next phase of growth, the $12.1 million investment marks a significant milestone. It underscores the growing confidence in AI’s ability to tackle some of the life sciences industry’s most enduring challenges, promising a future where innovative medicines reach those in need with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The race to accelerate drug approvals just got an intelligent boost.

By: K. Tagura

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Runway Ready: Master Cash Flow with Financial Forecasting

Runway

In the unpredictable world of business, cash is king. For any company, especially startups and high-growth ventures, understanding when, where, and how cash is flowing is not just good practice—it’s survival. This is where financial forecasting steps in, offering a vital roadmap for cash flow management and the critical determination of your business’s cash runway. These two concepts are inextricably linked, providing the visibility needed to make proactive, informed decisions that ensure long-term stability and growth.

What is Financial Forecasting for Cash Flow?

Cash flow forecasting is the process of estimating how much money your business will move in and out over a specific future period, typically ranging from a few weeks to a year or more. Unlike a profit and loss statement, which records revenues and expenses when they are incurred, a cash flow forecast tracks the actual timing of cash receipts and disbursements.

Key Components of a Cash Flow Forecast:

  • Cash Inflows: All sources of cash coming into the business. This includes cash sales, collections from accounts receivable (invoices paid by customers), interest on investments, and new loan or equity funding.
  • Cash Outflows: All cash going out of the business. This covers salaries, rent, utilities, payments to suppliers (accounts payable), debt repayments, and capital expenditures (like new equipment).
  • Net Cash Flow: The difference between total cash inflows and total cash outflows for a given period.

A positive net cash flow means you have more cash coming in than going out, increasing your cash reserves. A negative net cash flow—often called cash burn—means you’re depleting your reserves.

The Essential Role of Cash Flow Management

Effective cash flow management is the disciplined application of your forecasts to optimize your liquidity. A forecast doesn’t just predict; it allows you to anticipate and mitigate potential cash shortfalls before they become a crisis.

Benefits of Proactive Cash Flow Management:

  1. Early Warning System: Identify periods of negative cash flow, giving you time to adjust spending, expedite collections, or secure financing.
  2. Optimized Working Capital: Determine the ideal time to pay vendors (without missing due dates) and collect from customers, keeping your cash working for you.
  3. Informed Investment: Know precisely when you have surplus cash available for strategic investments, such as hiring new staff, increasing marketing spend, or purchasing new assets.
  4. Stronger Relationships: Maintain confidence with suppliers and employees by ensuring timely payments, thereby protecting your business relationships.

Forecasting allows you to create different scenarios—best-case, worst-case, and most-likely—to stress-test your business model and prepare contingency plans.

Calculating Your Cash Runway

Your cash runway is arguably the single most important metric for any high-burn business. It is the number of months your company can continue operating before it runs out of cash, assuming your current rate of spending (your burn rate) remains constant.

The Cash Runway Formula:

The basic calculation is straightforward:

Cash Runway= Current Cash Balance​/Monthly Net Burn Rate

Where:

  • Current Cash Balance is your total cash on hand right now.
  • Monthly Net Burn Rate is your average monthly total cash outflow minus your average monthly total cash inflow.

For example, if you have $500,000 in the bank and your net burn rate is $50,000 per month, your cash runway is:

Cash Runway= $50,000/$500,000​ =10 months

Why Accurate Forecasting is Key to Runway Calculation

While the simple formula above provides a useful snapshot, it relies on historical averages. A much more accurate and actionable runway calculation uses your cash flow forecast.

A forecast-driven runway calculation incorporates:

  • Planned Changes: Adjustments for scheduled pay raises, new hires, quarterly tax payments, or expected large capital investments.
  • Revenue Variability: Adjustments for seasonal peaks and troughs, which can drastically alter monthly cash inflows.
  • Financing Events: The timing and amount of expected new investment rounds or loan disbursements.

By using your forecasted net cash flow for each future month, you can track your projected closing cash balance and pinpoint the exact month you are projected to hit zero. This provides a dynamic, not static, view of your runway.

Extending Your Runway and Securing Success

Understanding your cash runway is the first step; the next is strategically managing it. Most experts advise maintaining a cash runway of at least 6-12 months to allow ample time to hit milestones, raise more capital, or adjust your cost structure without panic.

To extend your runway, you must focus on both sides of the net burn equation:

Increase Cash Inflows (Accelerate Receipts)Decrease Cash Outflows (Reduce Burn)
Improve Accounts Receivable: Tighten payment terms, offer discounts for early payment, and follow up aggressively on late invoices.Cut Non-Essential Spending: Review all discretionary expenses like subscriptions, travel, and non-critical consulting.
Optimize Inventory: Don’t tie up cash in excessive stock; adopt a ‘just-in-time’ approach where feasible.Negotiate Better Terms: Seek longer payment terms from vendors and lower rates for services.
Strategic Pricing: Ensure your pricing strategy accurately covers costs and target profit margins.Delay Capital Expenditures: Postpone major purchases (equipment, office expansion) until your cash position is stronger.

Financial forecasting and runway calculation are non-negotiable disciplines for business success. They transform uncertain futures into manageable metrics, giving you the power to make data-backed decisions that conserve cash, drive growth, and secure a sustainable future. Don’t wait for a crisis; start mastering your financial forecast today.

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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SolidCore.ai Funded $4M to Bridging the Enterprise GenAI Trust Gap

GenAI

SolidCore.ai, a Menlo Park developer of an enterprise-grade security and compliance platform designed to facilitate the adoption of GenAI by providing visibility, control, and auditability. 

SolidCore.ai was funded $4 million led by Runtime Ventures with participation from Epic Ventures and notable cybersecurity angel investors, aims to help businesses adopt generative AI safely and with confidence.

Generative AI, especially large language models (LLMs), promises to revolutionize enterprise operations, from automating customer service to accelerating software development. However, its rapid adoption has introduced significant security and compliance challenges. The nondeterministic and creative nature of LLMs, which can generate novel outputs, poses risks like data leakage, misconfigurations, and the creation of inaccurate or biased information. Many organizations are hesitant to fully integrate these powerful tools due to a lack of visibility and control, fearing they can’t meet governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) requirements.

This hesitation creates a paradox: businesses want the competitive advantage that GenAI offers, but they’re held back by the very real threat of exposing sensitive data or violating new regulations. The market is missing a foundational layer of infrastructure that allows enterprises to confidently scale their GenAI applications while ensuring they remain secure and compliant.

SolidCore.ai was founded by Eric Chiu and Hemma Prafullchandra, two seasoned cybersecurity leaders with a history of solving complex infrastructure security problems during the cloud computing transition. Chiu, who previously founded HyTrust, and Prafullchandra, a former CTO for M365 Security and Compliance at Microsoft, recognized a parallel between the cloud migration security challenges of the past and the current state of GenAI adoption. They developed SolidCore.ai to provide the missing infrastructure layer for this new era.

The company’s core offering is an immutable system of record that captures every single interaction with an LLM-based application, including prompts, responses, and configuration details. By integrating at the API level within the client’s cloud environment, SolidCore.ai creates a complete, real-time log of all GenAI activity without impacting performance. This comprehensive record serves as the foundation for its key features:

  • Real-time risk detection: SolidCore.ai continuously monitors for policy violations, such as unauthorized data access or risky usage patterns, and alerts security and compliance teams instantly.
  • Continuous compliance monitoring: The platform automates compliance monitoring and aligns with emerging frameworks like NIST AI RMF and ISO/IEC 42001.
  • Audit-ready evidence: It generates defensible, audit-ready reports, providing the evidence needed for legal and regulatory scrutiny.

SolidCore.ai’s solution is designed to give security, legal, and compliance teams the visibility and control they need to govern first-party GenAI applications. Its multi-cloud support for major providers like AWS Bedrock and Azure AI Services, along with the ability to handle custom models, makes it a versatile solution for large organizations.

The investment and the emergence of SolidCore.ai from stealth mark a crucial step in the evolution of enterprise AI. It signifies a growing recognition that the rapid development of GenAI cannot be sustained without a robust foundation of security and governance. For CIOs and other technology leaders, the funding means a viable path forward for responsibly deploying GenAI applications at the speed innovation demands. SolidCore.ai’s solution promises to turn a major business concern into a managed risk, allowing companies to unlock the full potential of GenAI without putting their data or reputation at risk.

As Eric Chiu stated that the first wave of enterprise migration to the cloud drove massive business value, but it opened significant security and compliance gaps. The stakes are even higher with GenAI, and SolidCore gives enterprises the missing infrastructure layer they need to move with speed. With its solution now available and the backing of key investors, SolidCore.ai is positioned to become a critical partner for any organization serious about building a trustworthy and secure AI strategy.

By: K. Tagura

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Oriane Funded $1.5M to Revolutionize Video Search Engine with AI

Video

Oriane, a Dover, CO-based the internet is rapidly becoming a video-first experience, yet finding specific information within the vast ocean of visual content remains a significant challenge. Oriane, an ambitious new startup, is poised to change that, announcing today that it has successfully funded $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. This substantial investment will fuel the development of its groundbreaking AI-powered search engine, designed specifically for the video-centric digital landscape.

The funding round saw participation from a consortium of prominent investors, including Clint Capital (FR), followed by Hartmann Capital (US), Secways (ES), Archipelago Next (IC), and strategic angel investors from Google, PayPal, Sony, and Jellysmack. The confidence demonstrated by these tech luminaries underscores the immense potential of Oriane’s vision to unlock the wealth of knowledge currently trapped within video content.

says Julien Rosilio, CEO and co-founder of Oriane said, the internet has undergone a seismic shift towards video, but their ability to search and extract information from it has lagged far behind. Traditional search engines are ill-equipped to handle the nuances of visual and auditory data. They are building Oriane to be the definitive solution, enabling users to find precisely what they’re looking for, no matter how deeply embedded it is within a video.

The core of Oriane’s technology lies in its sophisticated AI models, capable of not only transcribing audio but also analyzing visual cues, identifying objects, recognizing faces, and understanding contextual nuances within video content. This multi-modal approach goes far beyond simple keyword matching, enabling a deeper, more intelligent understanding of the video’s actual content.

The implications of Oriane’s technology are far-reaching. For content creators, it offers improved discoverability and the ability for their audiences to more easily engage with specific segments of their work. For researchers and educators, it provides a powerful tool to sift through lectures, documentaries, and interviews, extracting critical information with unprecedented efficiency. For everyday users, it promises a more intuitive and less frustrating experience navigating the ever-growing video landscape.

The $1.5 million funding will be primarily allocated to expanding Oriane’s engineering team, further refining its AI models, and scaling its infrastructure to handle the immense processing demands of video indexing. The company plans to launch a private beta in early 2024, inviting a select group of users to test its initial product and provide valuable feedback.

As the internet continues its inexorable march towards a video-first future, Oriane is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation, promising to make the sprawling, dynamic world of video content as searchable and accessible as text. With its strong team, impressive seed funding, and a clear vision, Oriane is set to redefine how we interact with and extract knowledge from the digital realm.

By: K. Tagura

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Founder-Investor Fit: The Key to Startup Success

Investor Fit

When starting a new business, founders focus on many things, from developing a great product to building a strong team. But one of the most critical factors for long-term success is often overlooked: founder-investor fit. This alignment goes far beyond a simple financial transaction. It’s about finding a partner who shares your vision, communication style, and values. A strong founder-investor relationship can be the difference between a thriving company and one that burns out.

In this article, we’ll explore what founder-investor fit really means, why it’s so important, and how you can find the perfect match for your startup.

What is Founder-Investor Fit?

Founder-investor fit is the alignment between a startup founder’s goals and values with an investor’s strategy, expectations, and approach to growth. Think of it less like a business deal and more like a long-term marriage. You’ll be working closely with your investors for years, through both the highs and the lows. A mismatch can lead to friction, conflicting priorities, and a breakdown in trust, which can be fatal for a young company.

This “fit” isn’t just about whether an investor has money to give you. It’s a holistic assessment of several key areas:

  • Shared Vision & Mission: Do you both see the company’s future in the same way? If a founder wants to build a sustainable, long-term business, but the investor is only looking for a quick exit, that fundamental difference will inevitably lead to conflict.
  • Work & Communication Style: Are you looking for a hands-on, highly involved investor, or one who provides capital and then steps back? Misaligned communication styles can lead to frustration and a lack of support when you need it most.
  • Values & Ethics: Do your core values align? For example, if integrity is your top priority, but an investor pressures you to cut corners, that relationship is built on a shaky foundation.
  • Risk Tolerance & Expectations: Are you both comfortable with the same level of risk? If a founder is willing to take big swings to achieve massive growth, but an investor is extremely risk-averse, their advice and expectations will constantly be at odds.

Why Founder-Investor Fit is a Game-Changer for Startup Success

The right founder-investor relationship is a powerful catalyst for growth. The benefits extend well beyond just the money. Here’s why this fit is so crucial:

  • Minimizes Conflict and Friction: Startups are hard enough without internal battles. When founders and investors are aligned, they can make decisions more efficiently and focus their energy on building the business instead of managing disagreements. A study by Noam Wasserman in “The Founder’s Dilemmas” found that over 65% of startups fail due to founder and investor conflicts.
  • Unlocks Strategic Value: The best investors bring more than just capital. They provide strategic guidance, valuable industry connections, and mentorship. When an investor has experience in your specific market, they can help you navigate challenges, open doors to new partnerships, and provide insights that a generic advisor can’t. This is where the partnership truly becomes a “force multiplier.”
  • Ensures Long-Term Alignment: Startups need to pivot and adapt constantly. With a shared vision, you and your investor can make these tough decisions together, confident that you’re both working towards the same long-term goal. A quick-exit investor, on the other hand, might pressure you into a sale that isn’t in the company’s best interest.
  • Boosts Credibility and Future Fundraising: A strong relationship with a well-respected investor can be a massive signal of credibility. When other investors see that a trusted partner has backed you, it makes future fundraising rounds much easier. It’s a stamp of approval that tells the world you’re on the right track.

How to Find the Right Fit

Finding the right investor is a proactive process, not a passive one. It requires just as much due diligence on your part as it does on theirs. Here’s a checklist to help you find your ideal partner:

  1. Do Your Homework: Before you even send an email, research potential investors thoroughly. Look at their past investments, read their blog posts and interviews, and find out what companies they’ve backed in your industry. Does their portfolio match your stage of growth and sector?
  2. Talk to Their Portfolio Founders: This is the most important step. Ask for introductions to founders who have worked with the investor. Ask them candid questions: What’s it really like to work with them? How do they handle bad news? Are they a coach or a boss? Their real-world experiences will tell you more than any pitch deck.
  3. Be Transparent and Honest: When you’re in meetings, be upfront about your goals, values, and what you’re looking for in a partner. Don’t just tell them what you think they want to hear. If you want a hands-off investor, say so. If you have non-negotiable ethical standards, make that clear. This honesty builds the foundation for a trusting relationship from the start.
  4. Discuss the Hard Topics Early: Don’t shy away from difficult conversations. Discuss exit strategies, board composition, and decision-making authority upfront. Addressing these potential areas of conflict before you’re in a partnership can prevent major issues down the road.
  5. Assess Their Expertise: Ask the investor what specific value they can provide beyond just money. Do they have a network of advisors you can tap into? Can they help you with hiring, marketing, or product strategy? A great investor is a strategic partner, not just a bank.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Partnership

Securing funding is a milestone, but finding the right investor is a strategic advantage. Founder-investor fit isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s a “must-have” for any startup with ambitions of building something enduring. By treating fundraising as a search for a true partner rather than just a transaction, you’ll set your business up for long-term success, resilience, and growth. Your relationship with your investor could last longer than a typical marriage, so choose wisely.

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.

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Why Market Analysis Is Your Business’s Blueprint for Success

Market Analysis

Starting a business or launching a new product without a thorough understanding of the market is like navigating a ship without a map. You’re sailing into unknown waters, hoping for the best but leaving everything to chance. This is why market analysis isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a critical, foundational step for any business, whether you’re a startup or a seasoned enterprise. A comprehensive market analysis is a detailed assessment of a specific industry, providing insights into its size, trends, customers, and competitors. It’s the roadmap that guides your strategic decisions and significantly increases your chances of success.

What Exactly Is a Market Analysis?

At its core, a market analysis is the process of gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to understand the dynamics of a particular market. It answers crucial questions: Who are your potential customers? What do they want and need? Who are your competitors, and what are their strategies? A strong market analysis combines both quantitative data (like market size, revenue, and growth rates) and qualitative data (like consumer motivations, preferences, and pain points).

By systematically examining these factors, you can make informed, data-driven decisions that reduce risk and uncover new opportunities.

Key Components to a Comprehensive Market Analysis

A robust market analysis is composed of several key pillars, each providing a unique and valuable perspective.

1. Industry and Market Overview

This is the big picture. You need to understand the general environment in which you’ll operate. This includes assessing the market size (the total number of potential customers and the revenue they generate), its growth potential, and the overall health of the industry. Are there new technologies, regulations, or economic factors that could impact your business? This overview helps you determine if the market is even worth entering.

2. Target Market and Customer Analysis

You can’t sell to everyone. A market analysis forces you to define your ideal customer with precision. This involves segmenting the market into distinct groups based on demographics (age, income, location), psychographics (lifestyle, values, interests), and behavior (buying habits, brand loyalty). Understanding your target audience’s pain points and motivations is essential for tailoring your product or service and crafting marketing messages that truly resonate. When you know who you’re talking to, you can create a solution that directly addresses their needs, leading to higher customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

3. Competitive Analysis

Who are you up against? A competitive analysis identifies both direct and indirect competitors. It involves a deep dive into their strengths, weaknesses, pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and market positioning. By understanding what they do well and where they fall short, you can find a unique value proposition—what makes your offering different and better. This helps you identify gaps in the market that your business can fill, giving you a competitive edge.

The Unmistakable Benefits of Market Analysis

The effort you put into a market analysis pays off in countless ways.

1. Reduces Business Risk and Uncertainty

A staggering number of businesses fail because they don’t have a market for their product. A market analysis helps you validate your business idea before you invest significant time and money. It allows you to anticipate potential challenges, understand market entry barriers, and develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks. By relying on facts rather than assumptions, you can navigate the complexities of the business world with greater confidence.

2. Informs Strategic Decision-Making

Every major business decision, from product development and pricing to marketing and sales, should be guided by market insights. A market analysis provides the data needed to set an optimal price point, choose the right distribution channels, and create effective marketing campaigns. For instance, if your analysis reveals a high price sensitivity among your target customers, you can adjust your pricing strategy accordingly to attract them.

3. Attracts Investors and Secures Funding

If you’re seeking funding, a solid market analysis is non-negotiable. Investors want to see that you’ve done your homework. A well-documented analysis proves that your business idea is viable, there is a clear demand for your product, and you have a deep understanding of your industry and competitive landscape. It demonstrates that you’re a serious entrepreneur with a clear, data-backed plan for success.

4. Fosters Innovation and Growth

The market is constantly changing. By regularly conducting a market analysis, you can stay ahead of industry trends and evolving consumer behaviors. This proactive approach allows you to spot emerging opportunities and innovate before your competitors do. It helps you identify new market segments to expand into or refine your existing offerings to maintain relevance and drive long-term growth.

A Continuous Process, not a One-Time Task

Market analysis isn’t a “set it and forget it” task. The business environment is dynamic, and what works today might not work tomorrow. To remain competitive, you should continuously monitor your market, your customers, and your competitors. Regularly reviewing your analysis and updating your data will ensure your business remains agile, responsive, and positioned for sustained success.

In essence, a market analysis is your compass in the entrepreneurial journey. It helps you find your direction, avoid obstacles, and plot a course toward profitability and growth.

Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB accredited over 10+ years. Access our network of Angel Investors, Venture Capital or Lenders. Let us professionally write your Business Plan.