Скачать или смотреть 220. From No Deck to Term Sheet: Raised from Google Ventures: Ashar Rizqi @Bounti.ai Part 2

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Ashar Rizqi
  / ashar-rizqi-6614487  

Bounti.ai
https://www.bounti.ai/

The 3 Key Takeaways from Ashar’s Story Part 2

1. Fundraising Often Comes from Relationships, Not Decks

Ashar’s Google Ventures story shows the power of relationships: he and his co-founder walked out of a 45-minute meeting with a term sheet—without a pitch deck or product demo. He credits this to years of building trust in the Bay Area, reminding founders that fundraising often comes down to timing, networks, and credibility, not just the perfect pitch.


2. Customers Are the Best Fundraising Tool

Despite describing fundraising as “99% luck,” Ashar emphasizes that one consistent factor always matters: having real, referenceable customers who love your product. Early traction and authentic customer advocacy open doors far more reliably than polished slides.


3. Shifting Startup Dynamics in the AI Era

With today’s low costs of building, Ashar’s goal is to reach self-sustaining growth—where the business funds itself and fundraising becomes optional. His biggest concern isn’t capital or hiring, but staying ahead of constant competition, where “every six hours a new competitor emerges.” His insight: moats today are built from speed, adaptability, and layered small advantages rather than one big tech edge.