Written by
Robert Hokin
Coming Soon. Now confirming early-stage funders to interview on Fundraising 101’s new podcast channel! This is about having honest conversations with investors who actually write pre-seed checks.
No platitudes about “backing great founders.” No generic advice about “being coachable.” Just straight talk about what makes investors invest…and what makes them pass.
Hosted by Robert Hokin, Founder of Fundraising101™ Academy. After spending 30+ years in tech and finance, deploying millions in tech ventures during stints in corporate venture funds at ABB and Marconi, and then coaching over 500 ventures to raise millions more in funding, Robert has deep insight into what works and what’s theatre. This isn’t theatre – and now we want more on stage to join him!
Each episode unpacks:
* What actually convinces investors to write a check
* The uncomfortable truths about early-stage investing
* Real deal mechanics that founders need to understand
* What investors won’t say in pitch meetings and what that means
Why this and why now?
Founders often see the investment-raising process as a mystery and populated by ‘insiders’. We explode the myths. Every week, the Fundraising 101, Inside Track Podcast will shine a light onto funds and founders who have navigated multiple rounds of funding.
Who do we want to interview? Early-stage Fund managers, SEIS/EIS funders, angel syndicates, family offices, institutional pre-seed investors and individual angels actively deploying £££ into UK tech.
If that’s you, what do you get? Great exposure to our 34,000+ connections, positioning as a thought leader, hopefully better-quality deal flow from founders who get to understand what kind of ventures you’re looking for.
What do founders get? Real intelligence on how investors think, what they expect, and how to stop wasting your time on pitches that were never going to work in the first place.
We’ll be cutting through the noise to bring you the unvarnished truth about raising pre-seed capital in the UK. This series is for founders raising first cheques and investors who want to be heard.
New episodes starting May 2026. Join us when we launch.
Want to join? Write robert.hokin@fundraising101.academy with ‘Podcast!’ In the subject.
Robert Hokin is the Founder in Chief of Fundraising101™ Academy, where he teaches pre-seed Scottish tech startups the DIY fundamentals of effective investment-raising. With 30+ years of UK technology investment experience and 500+ ventures guided through fundraising, he’s seen what works – and what doesn’t.
