This episode made me rethink everything I believed about fundraising — not as a sprint for cash, but as a discipline of integrity, patience, and business hygiene.
Michael Haskell walks us through two decades of building finance teams across New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the US — and the exact playbook he uses to help founders raise capital without selling their soul. From the early bootstrap choices to the 1–5M sweet spot and the scary truth about VC term sheets, Michael strips away the noise and gives a clear, humane path: prepare your books, pick investors who add real value, and learn to walk away. If you’re building a business that needs fuel (but not a takeover), this conversation is a masterclass in raising money with confidence.
5 key takeaways
- Integrity over glamour: investors back founders who show character, persistence, and a clear plan more than flashy slides.
- Start small and smart: bootstrap or friends & family at seed, then selectively target HNWIs or VCs as your growth justifies it.
- Business hygiene is non‑negotiable: keep IFRS-style reporting and annual audits so you can move fast when opportunity comes.
- Pick investors for skill, not just cash: raise with people who bring legal, accounting or strategic value, not just checks.
- Patience + resilience = power: be prepared to walk away from favorable-sounding deals with hidden, harmful terms.
Timestamps (5–7)
- 00:00 — Why I stopped treating fundraising as a scoreboard (intro)
- 02:00 — Leaving the US for APAC: culture, pace and the restaurant metaphor for global talent
- 05:10 — Seed vs. scale: when to bootstrap, when to phone angels, and when VC makes sense
- 09:40 — What investors really look for: integrity, track record, and believable growth
- 15:30 — The 1–5M playbook: how to be selective and why that matters before you go public
- 17:45 — Audit-ready business hygiene: the single prep that saves you millions and sleepless nights
- 18:50 — Patience, resilience and negotiating with VCs (walk-away power)
Guest links
https://www.facebook.com/navitasgroupph/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/navitasitgroup/
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Junaid Ahmed is a multi-passionate creator, storyteller, and home studio architect who believes your voice can change your world. As the host of Hacks and Hobbies, he dives deep into the journeys of people turning passion into purpose — from garage inventors to global entrepreneurs.
The podcast began as a simple idea: record honest conversations about side projects, creativity, and the hustle behind the scenes. Years later, it’s become a movement — showcasing the real, raw, and inspiring stories of everyday innovators.
Whether he’s building pro-level studios or geeking out over podcast gear, Junaid’s mission is clear: help people show up with confidence, clarity, and character.
🎧 New episodes weekdays. New perspectives in every story.
