Thunder

We're a tech-enabled investment bank for founders, by founders. We help companies navigate their capital strategy for acquiring funding to fuel their growth.

Founders: AI-assisted fundraising for companies. Join the network for free to see which investors are more likely to invest in you.

Investors: Access vetted deal flow and invest with no fees direct on cap table

Thunder X Capital, LLC offers securities through Stonehaven, LLC, a Member FINRA/ SIPC.

Managing Director & Founding Partner

Interplay

Operating Partner

PEF Community

Brining together the London PEF community

Chapter Lead

Hustle Fund

Angel Squad Member

Angel Investor & RE/VC/PE LP

Investor / Advisor 

Generation Esports

President & COO

Walmart Technology

Director Of Digital Media

LiquidSky Software, Inc. (Acquired)

Chief Revenue Officer

ConveyIQ by Entelo

VP of Marketing

Misc Small Businesses and Startups

Built, grew, and sold a few small businesses that are still actively running today.

Founder

I'm a serial entrepreneur that has raised $135M+ and has had multiple exits. I'm now on a mission to support founders with their capital strategy and acquire the capital they need to grow their businesses. 

Thunder.vc is a tech-enabled investment bank for founders, by founders.

When it comes to supporting the founders in our Thunder.vc community, here are some free resources that can help you with your capital raising efforts.

 - Fundraising Demystified newsletter - Sign up at http://join.thunder.vc
 - Free list of AI-recommended VCs specific to your business - https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders 
 - Free tool to source lending partners for your working capital needs - https://lp.thunder.vc/apply-for-working-capital-for-your-startup-company
 - Private Slack community for founders - Apply to join at https://app.thunder.vc/signup

Jason Kirby

Founders think raising capital is hard.
Try selling your company while running it. ⚙️

If you’re a founder thinking about selling in 2026, here’s your M&A survival guide (from two people who’ve done it the hard way):

5 Steps to Sell Smart - Not Desperate:

1️⃣ Start early. Build relationships with strategics 12–18 months before you plan to sell. Seek partnerships, integrations, and POCs in the early days to build trust and rapport with them.

2️⃣ Know your numbers. Buyers don’t fund dreams; they fund predictability. After a few intro calls you'll know if you're ready or not with the numbers.

3️⃣ Run a process. Competitive tension is your best negotiation leverage. In today’s market, selling to a strategic is harder; that's why you need to prepare for a private equity buyer, it keeps strategics honest and makes them move faster.

4️⃣ Avoid the earnout trap. Structure cash up front. Earnouts sound great, but rarely workout. Maintain control over the KPIs of an earnout or drop the earnout all together.

5️⃣ Control your narrative. Don’t let your board, your VC, or your emotions run the process. If you're not 100% behind the narrative, it will fall apart.

Bonus6️⃣ Don't run a process without help. Selling your company is a full-time job, similar to fundraising, but even harder. As the CEO, you'll be expected to hit your targets. Having a banker or board member leading the process allows you to stay focus and drive momentum on both fronts.
  
If you want to explore M&A and want to pick someone's brain, comment below or send Oliver Low a DM! He leads M&A deals at Thunder.vc and sold his previous company, he knows what it's like to be in your shoes.

4x Exits, $100M+ Raised. Helping founders raise/exit with clarity, control, and conviction.

I just denied an applicant solely because they have a @hotmail email address. Does that make me a bad person?

I'm looking for tech forward partners who have a deep understanding of technology companies. 

If I was one of my clients and saw that the partner that's supposed to competently understand my business had a hotmail account... I'd immediately discount their abilities. That's my justification.

Is that a fair assessment? or am I just an a** hole

If you're a founder looking to hire a PR in the middle of a crisis, it's likely too late and the damage will get worse.

David Meadvin (CEO, One Strategy Group) breaks down why even the best crisis consultants can’t fix what founders don’t already have... trust.

If your reputation isn’t built before the storm hits, you’re in for a rough time.

💡 2 actionable truths from David’s experience:

1. Your reputation is earned long before crisis day. The founders who invest in team trust and transparent communication recover fastest.

2. The calmest person in the room wins. When everyone panics, composure becomes a superpower, and the board will remember it.

Founders: Don’t wait until you’re trending for the wrong reason.
Start building your “reputation reserve” now.

👇 Watch/listen to the full story:

Watch the full video here. Most founders think they’ll never face a real crisis, until they do. In this episode, David Meadvin shares what happens whe

Open article: The $100M founder’s playbook for surviving bad press by Jason Kirby • 2 min read

The $100M founder’s playbook for surviving bad press

I'm hiring a partner to join Thunder.vc... anyone else getting the AI slop applications like these?

Like they're not even trying to mask the AI. I've gotten like 10 of these identical applications via email. Their cover letters make them sound like a perfect fit, but the resume and the past jobs are WAY off, like not relevant at all. And they all say the same thing.

I hope these desperate people aren't paying for a service like this. I've already created a filter to block them.

For those of you hiring, how obvious has been the AI and what are you doing about it?

Spoke my mind on the AI bubble and where I think it's going and shared some personal deal dynamics I rarely mention publicly. Check it out on the The Mergers podcast

Jason Kirby sold his startup for $40M - but only after the CEO of Samsung Electronics went to prison and nearly blew up the deal.

Investors got greedy.

The new Samsung CEO shut everything down.

Jason's team showed up at 9am to celebrate… and there was nothing to announce.

Welcome to the world of venture capital — where founders are often left holding the bag.

This week on The Mergers, Kenneth Kashif Thomas and Rory Mason sat down with Jason Kirby, now founder of Thunder.vc, to hear the wild behind-the-scenes of what really happens when you raise, scale, and try to exit a venture-backed company.

Jason has:

- Raised $100M+, 
- Sold 4 companies
- Advised on $200M+ in founder exits
- Navigated M&A deals with Walmart, Samsung, Verizon... and lived to tell the tale
- Watched VCs ghost founders when they no longer show “breakout velocity”
- Built Thunder VC to help bootstrapped and “orphaned” founders find exits, growth capital, or both

In this episode:

🖊️ What most founders get dead wrong about term sheets, preferences, and secondary sales
🖊️ The dirty secret of management fees and why VCs often win even when startups lose
🖊️ How to create “phantom leverage” when you have no options left
🖊️ Why AI is a bubble — and why that might not matter

If you’re a founder, investor, or operator - you need to hear this

🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/dDCNNsTr
 📺 Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eNztGnxG

When Oliver Low sold his startup, he thought he’d hit the dream exit.

Instead, he walked straight into a trap most founders never see coming:

The earnout...

He hit his growth targets, but the parent company missed theirs — and the big payout disappeared.

Nine out of ten earnouts fail for this exact reason.

That’s why, at Thunder, we help founders structure exits, not just chase them.

Here’s the truth no one tells you:

Selling early isn’t losing. It’s creating optionality.

Once you have liquidity, you can take bigger swings, with less risk — and 10x your next outcome.

But you only get there if you understand deal architecture: competitive process, buyer psychology, and clean incentives.

Oliver Low breaks it down in this week’s episode:
 🎧 “How to Sell Your Startup: The Founder’s M&A Playbook”

💡 Tactical takeaways:
- How to avoid the 9/10 earnout failure rate
- Why selling in the fourth inning is often smarter than waiting
- How private equity is changing founder exits forever

Listen on: Youtube Spotify Apple Most founders wait too long to sell and end up losing leverage. In this episode, Jason Kirby and Oliver Low share the

Open article: The M&A playbook for founders in 2025 by Jason Kirby • 2 min read

He left venture capital to help take Life360 from Seed to a $7B public company. 

When Itamar Novick joined Life360, it wasn’t yet the household name it is today. The team was small. The product was early. The vision was big but uncertain. 

Like every early-stage company, there were challenges: 

💬 Raising VC capital was tough. 
💸 The company didn’t have much cash. 
🚀 The future was uncertain. 

But instead of staying in VC, Itamar made the rare move, he joined the founding team, betting his career & his networth on building something lasting. 

Years later, that decision helped shape Life360’s journey to 80M users, $200M+ raised, and a dual listing on the ASX and NASDAQ.

In our latest episode of $100M Exits, Itamar shares: 

🔥 Why he left venture to join a scrappy startup 
🔥 How Life360 scaled from early chaos to IPO readiness
🔥 What founders can learn from dual IPOs and post-IPO growth

Watch the full video here. When Itamar Novick joined Life360, it wasn’t yet a global brand — it was a small, ambitious startup still proving itself. T

Open article: The VC who quit to build a $7B company - Itamar Novick on Life360’s wild ride by Jason Kirby • 2 min read

The VC who quit to build a $7B company - Itamar Novick on Life360’s wild ride

SY Strategy

At SY Strategy, we help SMB owners break through plateaus, streamline operations, and unlock 7-figure growth using AI & proven business strategies—without wasting time on complexity or guesswork.

We eliminate inefficiencies, unlock hidden revenue, and optimize operations so your business runs smoother, scales faster, and profits more. We don’t just advise—you get real strategies that drive results.

How We Help You Win:

👉 AI Growth Advisory – Cut costs, increase efficiency, and stay ahead of the competition by leveraging AI the right way. No fluff, no jargon—just profit-driving AI strategies tailored to your business.

👉 Business Strategy Consulting – Our proven 6-step INSIGHTs framework helps you scale smarter, optimize operations, and turn inefficiencies into growth opportunities. Whether you're stuck at $5M+ revenue or pushing for $10M, we build the roadmap to get you there.

Want to scale faster with AI? Let’s talk.

President

Want a speaker who actually moves the needle for your audience? I don’t just talk about AI & strategy—I break down exactly how SMBs can scale faster, work smarter, and drive real ROI with AI.

✅ No-fluff insights that create immediate business impact
✅ Engaging, thought-provoking, and actionable—every talk delivers real takeaways
✅ Proven experience: 4x Founder, 2 Exits, Advisor to scaling SMBs

WHAT I SPEAK ON:

💡 How to use AI to scale faster & stay competitive
💡Cut costs, boost efficiency, and unlock new growth
💡 Making AI & automation work for your business
💡 How SMB leaders can future-proof their companies

PERFECT FOR: Business Conferences, Industry Summits, and Growth-Focused Events

If you need a high-energy speaker who delivers real value and clear strategies SMBs can use today, let’s talk.

Professional Speaker

HBCU Founders Initiative

Advisor

The RAW Founder Podcast 

The RAW Founder Podcast emerged out of the unrealistic advice saturating social media and the business world. From fluctuating strategies for business growth to the constant pressure to adopt the latest AI technology or secure funding, the cacophony of mixed messages often overlooks the unique paths and customized solutions essential for success.

The podcast aims to empower business owners/leaders facing a continuous influx of impractical and costly advice lacking real-world relevance.

We empower entrepreneurs with practical, immediately actionable steps that yield tangible results. 

The RAW Founder isn't just a name; it embodies:

► Actionable Insights: No fluff, just practical advice you can implement immediately.
► Real Talk: Addressing the challenging, scary, and pivotal aspects of business.
► Empowerment: Fueling your success with the tools and strategies needed to thrive.

Whether you're navigating the startup landscape or steering an established business, The RAW Founder podcast offers a wellspring of practical wisdom and transformative guidance.

Join me on a journey of RAW wisdom, actionable insights, and empowering stories.

If you're an entrepreneur with a compelling story or expertise to share, I invite you to join me as a guest on the show. Send a DM sharing the one thing you want to impart to our listeners and why it matters

Host

A global community of post-exit founders, supporting each other on life’s endless journey to find purpose, fulfillment, and meaning

Techstars

Mentor

PredictivEye Inc.

PredictivEye is an AI company with its own proprietary AI tech predicting customer behaviour with 90% accuracy.

As the Chief Growth Officer, I created and executed strategies that accelerate business growth by identifying new opportunities, increasing brand awareness and customer acquisition.

Chief Growth Officer

In addition to my role as the CMO, I have built the company's sales, business development and operations. I have sought and implemented high-impact, low-cost methods to increase digital marketing efforts, brand awareness and customer acquisition to meet or exceed revenue growth targets.

Chief Marketing Officer

GeniusMesh

Member Of The Board Of Advisors

Shopterra

As the COO of a US-based e-Commerce marketplace for natural and eco-friendly products and a graduate of Y-Combinator's 2017 cohort, I brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. With a keen eye for detail and a results-driven approach, I was instrumental in overseeing the company's business operations and financial procedures. My focus on designing and implementing effective operations strategies, plans, and procedures, combined with my unwavering commitment to performance and growth, helped drive significant improvements in the company's bottom line. Specifically, my efforts led to a 20% increase in client acquisition within just 4 weeks, resulting in a substantial increase in the company's profitability.

Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer

UPSocial Wine & Spirits Agency

York Region

As head of team, I managed cross-functional teams, effectively collaborated with stakeholders, and drove results. 

Achievements: 

► Orchestrated 15+ successful technology-integration projects, spanning over 1000 client sites, ensuring projects were completed on time and within budget.
► Developed and executed strategic project plans that aligned with organizational goals and educational priorities, enhancing operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
► Led cross-functional collaboration efforts, fostering effective communication channels among educators, IT professionals, administrators, and external vendors.
► Tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of educational institutions, managing project activities across diverse client sites and delivering tailored outcomes.
► Prepared comprehensive project reports that ensured transparency and alignment with organizational objectives, facilitating informed decision-making.
► Cultivated a culture of continuous learning, initiating professional development and training initiatives that empowered teams to excel.

Digital Transformation Consultant

Instructor, Trainer, & Facilitator

Helping startups understand the nuances of fundraising, attain their subsequent rounds of cash, and consult on the structures of the business as seen by an expert | Host of the Raw Founder Podcast | Wellness Advocate

I work with ambitious business owners running $5M+ companies who are ready to break through plateaus and scale with clarity. 

Growth isn’t just about working harder or adopting the latest tech—it’s about making smarter decisions that create lasting impact. 

With an entrepreneurial background, I’ve built and scaled businesses across product and service industries. I know firsthand what fuels sustainable growth—and what quietly holds businesses back. My work spans growth-stage companies across the US, EU, and UK, bringing fresh, strategic insights to even the most complex challenges. 

Where most consultants focus on either strategy or technology, and most coaches stay in the realm of leadership, I take a different approach. Just like a great doctor looks beyond surface-level symptoms to diagnose the real issue, I help business owners see the bigger picture—bridging strategy, AI, and leadership to ensure the entire business ecosystem is built for long-term success. 

Recognized as one of the "Most Inspirational Women in AI" (2024), I’m passionate about making AI practical, accessible, and profitable for established businesses. But technology is just one piece of the puzzle. The real power comes from integrating AI with sound strategy and strong leadership—because tools alone don’t drive growth. People do. 

My global perspective, shaped by working with diverse businesses across industries and geographies, allows me to bring fresh insights to local challenges. 

When I’m not working with growth-stage companies or speaking on stage about AI and scaling, you’ll find me by the ocean—where the rhythm of the waves fuels my creativity, sharpens my thinking, and inspires new ideas.

If you’re looking to finally work with someone who understands business beyond the buzzwords, let’s connect.

taplio

The Battle

Jason Kirby

Shadi Yazdan, MBA

Followers

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Performance ScoreJason Kirby's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Jason Kirby

Shadi Yazdan, MBA

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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);}Jason Kirby's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreJason Kirby's LinkedIn Performance