Isabelle Johannessen, a key executive at TechCrunch, is changing the game for startup entrepreneurs around the globe. Johannessen draws on her 20+ years experience identifying and nurturing the world’s best founders from 99+ countries. She prepares these entrepreneurs to present their unique and ground-breaking ideas on the coveted Disrupt stage. Her work lands them squarely in front of the most sophisticated investors. It brings them a flood of global media attention, increasing their visibility and potential for future funding, a godsend in this climate.
As the host of the new podcast Build Mode, Johannessen has brought that same energy and incisive questioning to conversations with leaders across the industry. Recently, she conversed with Leslie Feinzaig of Graham & Walker and Ross Fubini of XYZ Venture, focusing on the intricacies of raising initial funds and the empathy required in the founder fundraising experience. This conversation gives a candid perspective on the emotional, mental, and planning obstacles new founders—particularly those from diverse backgrounds—must navigate to make their investment-magnet endeavors fly.
As head of her division, Johannessen oversees Startup Battlefield, TechCrunch’s legendary launchpad and competition that introduces the world to the most promising early-stage startups. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed. She works tirelessly with them during the intense pitch preparation process to make sure they’re adequately prepared to hook investor interest.
During her recent discussion, Feinzaig shared insights about her fundraising journey:
“It was hundreds of pitches. It was raised almost entirely from individuals. We ended up with 105 LPs,” – Leslie Feinzaig.
This statement highlights the extensive effort involved in securing funding and underscores the importance of building relationships with potential investors.
Fubini added depth to the conversation by emphasizing the personal aspects of investment:
“You work with this person for forever. So it’s everything from like, are they fun? Do you trust them? Do they have the juice to get the deal done? It’s everything around this human,” – Ross Fubini.
These conversations highlight why interpersonal relationships are so critical in the fundraising journey. This is even more true for founders who are navigating this space for the first time.
Through her films, Johannessen equips early-stage founders with the knowledge to better understand, and therefore best navigate, their obstacles. Additionally, it fosters a nurturing environment that promotes collaboration between the next generation of entrepreneurs. She is a proud graduate of Hofstra University in New York, where she received a B.S. This uniquely educational background informs her work at TechCrunch as she helps bridge budding innovation with smart investment potential.
Watch along Build Mode is a new episode every Thursday. Listen in to learn important lessons learned on the entrepreneurial journey and actionable tips to help you cut through the chaos of the fundraising process. Founders who want to get in touch or confirm their information can reach out to Johannessen directly, using the email address isabelle.johannessen@techcrunch.com.
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