Jeff Erickson

Forecastr | Startup Advisor | Angel Investor

🏆 Top Advisor on Hubble | Startup Growth & Fundraising Expert
** Founder (2x Exits)  |  Angel Investor (40+ investments) **

4x founder and active angel investor. I am passionate about helping startups thrive. 

I'm the founder of Founders N’ Funders - a community platform that helps connect founders and investors.  Founders N' Funders nationally acclaimed VC ReversePitch™ Events, are highly-curated events where we flip the script and have the VCs pitch to the founders. Look for upcoming events coming to a city near you.

As a startup advisor, I've worked with hundreds of startup founders, helping them prepare to raise capital, evaluate funding opportunities, map out their growth strategy and connecting them with other investors.

I regularly help startup founders with:

✅ Fundraising Strategy
✅ Pitch Preparation & Pitch Deck Review
✅ Investor Research & Connections
✅ Go-To-Market & Sales Strategy for B2B and Consumer Startups
✅ Partner Strategy & Channel Development for Early-Stage Companies

As an active angel investor and advisor to dozens of startups across SaaS, fintech, consumer products, and emerging tech, I’m passionate about helping entrepreneurs navigate the fundraising process, avoid costly mistakes, and maximize their chances of success.

If you’re a founder preparing to raise, I’d be happy to share strategies, insights, and introductions to help you hit your fundraising goals.

You can book a call with me on Hubble here:  https://app.hubble.social/jefferickson

Background & Achievements:
🔹 Founder of Founders N’ Funders
🔹 Angel investor with 40+ angel investments
🔹 Founder of The Startup Stack (sold to Startup Science)
🔹 Led Strategic Partnerships at Carta & Forecastr, helping hundreds of startups prepare to raise capital
🔹 Founder & CEO of a consumer goods company that scaled from $1M to $40M+ in 4 years (Inc. 500 #138)
🔹 Former National Sales Director at a VC-backed tech startup—drove $45M+ in client contracts
🔹 MBA in Finance & former VP of Investments at Sentry Financial

Investor and/or advisor in:

• Angel Studios, Inc.
• Happiest Baby, Inc.
• Sweater
• Vouch
• Carta
• RevRoad, LLC
• Savvi Technologies, Inc. / PaperOS
• Gabb Wireless, Inc.
• CloutChain
• KingsCrowd
• Sales Dojo
• DefiQ (dba Giddy)
• Journey
• Startup Stack (Sold to Startup Science)
• Nivati
• Convoi Ventures
• HYVV
• Velvet
• Kado
• wümgo 
• Lighter Capital
• InsideFluence
• Errand / Vamo
• Evolution Space
• Particl 
• Quikix
• StartEngine
• Pelion
• Thunderstrike.ai
• PlaneAhead
• Kemper Snowboards
• Angel Cake
• Listo Global
• Harmony AI
• Juju
• Stealth

Advisor

[ Find · Hire · Pay ]
Listo is on a mission to lift people everywhere by making it easy find, hire and pay global talent with a world-class team and technology platform.

Looking for founders raising Seed/Series A!


If you could spend 2 hours in a room with VCs who actually invest in your stage...

And they pitched to YOU (not the other way around)...

Would you show up?

Well, now you have a chance.

On Thursday 12 March, in Austin, Texas, we are having a Founders N' Funders event where you'll get:

• Inside info on what VCs actually look for
• Direct access to partners actively giving capital
• Their check sizes before you pitch
• Live networking with other founders and investors

Last event we had these VCs:
• Insight Partners ($90 billion),
• Alumni Ventures ($1.5 billion),
• and Thomson Reuter Ventures ($150 million)

If you're serious about raising your Seed or Series A round, this is the room you want to be in.

Spots are limited. Last time we had over 500 applications and we couldn't accept everyone.

So reserve yours here while there is still space: https://lnkd.in/giQnHxHf

P.S. You can keep cold emailing VCs and hoping for a reply. Or you can be in the same room as them on March 12. Your call.

Startup Advisor & Angel Investor | Helping Founders Confidently Raise Capital | Forecastr

Last night’s VC ReversePitch™ by Founders N' Funders offered a refreshing twist as VCs took the stage to pitch to a packed room filled with Seed and Series A founders.

We heard from the founders that changing up the format is not only enjoyable but also effective. 

For founders, it becomes easier to authentically engage with a VC at networking events after they have shared their name, their role, and, importantly, what they care about and invest in.

Huge thank you to the awesome VCs who showed up to share what they are looking for with the founders.

- Alumni Ventures (Wesley Yiu, Drew Collins): America’s most active co-investor, leveraging a vast network to provide "low-friction" capital.

- Comcast Ventures (Ryan Z. Lee): Utilizing the scale of a global giant to support startups in data, AI, and connectivity.

-  Lerer Hippeau  (Maurice Russo): Very active New York VC specializing in the critical "0-to-1" journey.

- Insight Partners (Sunpreet Singh, Jake Bash): A top-tier software powerhouse VC focused on "ScaleUp" companies with significant upside.

- Whipsmart Ventures (Lylan Masterman): Bridging the "valley of death" for deep tech and SpaceX-ecosystem ventures.

- FNF Ventures (Adam Shaw) Founders N' Funders new VC arm focused specifically on consumer and e-commerce brands and software companies that support eCommerce.

Thank you NYC!!!! ❤️ 
We will be back on March 31st!

——————
Next up …… SXSW in Austin, TX on March 12th.
🤠 Apply to attend here:  https://lnkd.in/g-pURCy2

No alternative text description for this image

95% of founders pitch VCs who will never write them a check.

Why?

Not because the pitch is bad.
Because the fit was never there.

You're pre-seed. They write Series A checks.
You're in fintech. They don't touch financial services.
You need $500K. Their minimum is $2M.

But nobody tells you this upfront.

So you spend months:
→ Perfecting a deck for the wrong audience
→ Taking "get to know you" calls that go nowhere
→ Getting soft nos disguised as "let's stay in touch"

Most founders learn this too late:

The fastest way to raise isn't a better pitch. It's better targeting.

Know the check size. 
Know the thesis. 
Know the stage.

Before you send a single email.

That's why we built Founders N' Funders events.

And this time it's gonna be in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, 12 March.

VCs take the stage and pitch YOU:
→ Their investment thesis
→ Their check sizes
→ What they're actively looking for right now

Last event we had these VCs:
• Insight Partners ($90 billion),
• Alumni Ventures ($1.5 billion),
• and Thomson Reuter Ventures ($150 million)

No guessing. 
No wasted meetings. 
No months of pitching wrong-fit funds.

One night to find the investors who actually want to back companies like yours.

You can register here: https://lnkd.in/gU5vzAwu

But we have limited capacity, last time we had over 500 registration and we can't accept everyone.

So, be fast to reserve yours. Good luck. ✌️

P.S. Every attending VC is actively deploying capital.

When top-notch founders and investors come together  ....... It's pretty magical!

Founders N' Funders hosted a Series A+ founder & investor dinner while we were in NYC last week.

The energy was palpable.
The insights were meaningful.
The atmosphere was truly remarkable.

Thank you to Nandini Agrawal (Wells Fargo), Caragh Kennedy (HubSpot For Startups), and Mike Dunckley and his team at Sequoia for making this event possible!

Next up .......  Austin, Texas for the Founders N’ Funders VC ReversePitch™ at SXSW on March 12th!

Most founders will waste their time going to SXSW.

They’ll bounce between panels.
Hit the happy hours.
“Network.”
Pitch anyone with a pulse.
And go home with a lighter wallet and a bunch of new contacts that go nowhere.  

If you're a founder actively raising a Seed or Series A round who will be at SXSW this year, here's one event that will make the trip worth your time. 

On March 12th we are hosting a Founders N' Funders VC ReversePitch™ event at the Atlassian offices in Austin for SXSW ...... where the investors are pitching the founders.

No chasing.
No awkward cold intros.
No guessing who actually writes checks.

Highly-curated.
Limited capacity (120 seats available)
Only Seed and Series A founders actively raising will be in the room.

VCs will share:
 • What they’re deploying into right now
 • Check sizes + ownership targets
 • What gets a deal done
 • What makes them pass
If you’re serious about fundraising, you don’t need more parties.
You need signal.

If you're raising Seed or Series A and want to be considered, apply below.
Must be approved to attend.  

Register here: https://lnkd.in/g-pURCy2

----------------
Sponsors:  Atlassian, Fidelity Private Shares, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Justworks, Forecastr, Agora, Amazatic Solutions, SHOPLINE

❄️ Thank you to Jaron A. Erickson for bringing Snow to Utah!

Last week Jaron announced he is joining Snowflake and will be the only member of his team in Utah.  He said he was bringing Snow to Utah ….. and he delivered!!!

If you’re scaling on AWS/Azure/GCP and evaluating modern data infrastructure …. Snowflake is typically in the conversation, so reach out to Jaron!

—————
⛷️ Clayton Walker and I missed the Wed/Thur storm, but enjoyed some leftover powder pockets in Honeycomb Canyon at Solitude Mountain Resort as the ropes dropped this morning.

NYC Series A+ Founders 
VC & Founder Dinner - Feb 18th

Apply to join this exclusive evening connecting top VCs and founders. 

This Series A+ focused dinner is all about real conversations, genuine connections, and exploring high-potential opportunities in a relaxed, intimate setting.

Who Should Attend

Founders raising Series A+ rounds

VCs and angel investors actively deploying capital

Topic: Fundraising Readiness — What to Focus On

You must be APPROVED to attend!

​Exact location sent upon approval!

Sponsored by:
HubSpot • Wells Fargo  • Founders N' Funders

Check out this group of elite high-schoolers on LinkedIn ...... LockedIn!!!! ❤️ 

I met Hunter Earls at one of our Founders N' Funders @VC ReversePitch™ events when he was 16 years old.

He was in a suit and a tie and came to the event by himself.

He sat on the front row watching intently and taking notes as every investor pitched.  

He waited after the event to talk to me, and I knew immediately there was something special about this kid.

I was right!

Fast-forward to today ..... Hunter has founded several startup companies and has introduced me a to a network of incredible teenagers who are way smarter than I am.

One of these other high-schoolers is Mikey Wessman.  Hunter and Mikey connected on LinkedIn.  Mikey happened to be from Utah - so Hunter made the connection to me.

Most high-schoolers are not interested in LinkedIn as a social platform.  But, these guys are not "most high-schoolers".

They want to connect with other builders, entrepreneurs, developers, coders, and doers who want to change the world by solving problems that matter.

They are the future ..... and I'm honored to be associated with them.

Hunter and Mikey have created a movement on LinkedIn where they are getting other high-schoolers to join LinkedIn to connect with each other.  They have helped establish "LockedIn" as a community.

Hunter reached out to me a couple months ago to see if I would be willing to participate in a live-stream event to talk about startup fundraising for their community.  I am so honored and I'm excited to be presenting to their group tonight.

Below is the info about the event they are hosting tonight.  I can't wait!

-------------------

Learn how to raise seed and pre-seed funding for your startup from the ones who give it. 

This Thursday, February 26th at 9 PM EST we will be hosting LockedIn’s second ever live stream event. 

We will be speaking with investors on what they’re looking for when they review companies and strategies that you can use to raise funds for your business. 

Jeff Erickson is the founder of Founders N' Funders, a platform for builders to meet investors through Reverse Pitch Events where founders talk about what kinds of companies they’re interested in investing in. 

Rich Robinson has been an executive, advisor, mentor, investor, and founder for the last 30 years. He has helped builders through his time at 500 Global, Animoca Brands, and the University of Southern California. 

Tune in at 9pm EST this Thursday to learn more in 90 minutes than some do in an entire semester of school. 

You can watch the live stream on our YouTube, @LockedInhs, but make sure you subscribe now so you don’t miss it! (link in the comment section)

Also, follow us here on LinkedIn to keep up with our journey and comment “LockedIn” for the application to join our community!

taplio

Jeff Erickson's Linkedin Analytics

Jeff Erickson

Performance ScoreJeff Erickson's LinkedIn Performance

Jeff Erickson's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Jeff Erickson's Linkedin Analytics

Jeff Erickson

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jeff Erickson's LinkedIn Performance

Jeff Erickson's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Jeff Erickson's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreJeff Erickson's LinkedIn Performance

Jeff Erickson's Best Posts (last 30 days)