Funded | How They Raised Millions

In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore strategies to help a founder turn investor interest into momentum during a challenging fundraise. From avoiding reliance on a single viral moment to showcasing consistent progress, we discuss practical ways to create the perception of unstoppable growth. Whether you’re pitching now or planning your next round, this episode offers sharp, actionable insights for closing strong.

In this episode of The Backchannel, we explore why making in-person connections can be a game-changer for founders. Recorded on location in Austin, Texas, Jason shares insights sparked by his own travel experiences, focusing on why meeting face-to-face can have a major impact on relationship-building, especially when it comes to securing investments.

Alex Salazar didn’t need to prove he could build a company. He’d already done that and sold it, then spent time as a VC, and had the kind of background that usually makes raising money the easy part. But when he started Arcade, he decided to do things differently. In this episode, we talk about what it means to go back to zero even when you don’t have to. Alex shares why he and his co-founder stayed in stealth, how they tested product ideas without writing a single line of code, and what it took to get real traction in a category moving as fast as AI. We get into opportunity selection, investor conviction, and what it actually looks like when someone gets preempted before they’re even out fundraising. Arcade eventually closed a $12M round... but the process behind that raise had very little to do with pattern-matching or momentum. It was all about building something that hit a nerve.