Jeff Erickson

Forecastr

Forecastr helps founders create GREAT financial models so they can feel confident about making strategic decisions about their company and talking to potential investors about their fundraising needs.

Strategic Partnerships

Founders N' Funders

Founders N' Funders is a pioneering networking and events platform dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between startup founders, angel investors, VCs and others within the startup ecosystem.

We've shaped a unique landscape that harmoniously blends professional interactions with engaging, high-energy events and activities.

We facilitate connection and community by creating dynamic, entertaining experiences that catalyze authentic dialogue and interaction, ensuring optimal founder-funder fit and solidifying long-lasting business relationships. 

With Founders N' Funders, we're not just introducing founders to investors - we're curating a vibrant ecosystem for the genesis of innovation, collaboration, and prosperity and fostering a supportive community for startup founders.

Founder

Listo Global

[ 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.

Advisor

Convoi Ventures

Utah lacks true "early stage, take a bet on founders before anyone else will" capital. Convoi Ventures invests in true "early-stage" startups in Utah - taking a bet on founders before anyone else will, writing checks to Utah founders early and often. In addition to capital, Convoi strives to create the best network of fellow early stage founders, later stage mentors, and investors at pre-seed and later stages to help our early-stage founders.

Investor

RevRoad

RevRoad is a venture studio that helps startups grow and scale.  The RevRoad model is a unique blend of accelerator, agency, and venture capital.  RevRoad works with your business at any level of growth to help you scale your efforts. Grow, scale, and multiply your profits all under one roof.

Investor / Startup Mentor

Savvi Technologies, Inc.

Savvi Technologies has created a world-class, collaborative platform for founders, funds, and attorneys to generate, track, and complete legal documents, filings, and checklists.  Savvi's powerful productivity platform enables companies to easily and efficiently create, customize and deploy easy-to-use processes and workflows using its system.

Investor / Advisor

Alpha Network

Founded in 2005, Alpha is an invite-only networking community for founders, CEOs, and leading technology influencers. The idea is simple: to create an environment where leaders in tech can connect and collaborate with their peers in a private setting where they can speak candidly. Alpha curates events that foster strong professional and personal relationships. We bring together the brightest people on a subject, theme or technology trend and let them decide where to take the conversation. Alpha hosts 60 events per year across 9 cities (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City).

Advisory Board Member, Salt Lake City Chapter

Gabb Wireless

Gabb Wireless is a rapidly growing cellular network company that provides safe technology for kids. Gabb’s products are the only safe offerings in the phones-for-kids niche, filling a clear gap in the market by targeting an underserved demographic. With a mission to solve the growing screen-time addiction among adolescents, Gabb creates the safest technology for kids. As kids grow, Gabb offers age-appropriate products that keep families connected, give kids freedom and provide parents peace of mind. With a price point of under $100, Gabb phones are an affordable  choice for a kid’s first phone. Learn more at www.gabbwireless.com. To receive a discount on your Gabb order you can use PROMO CODE: GETGABB

dōjō (Sales Training)

Dōjō helps individuals from all walks of life quickly learn the skills needed to become top-performing sales reps at high-growth companies in just a matter of weeks. Dōjō's training programs do not require any prior experience and are extremely affordable. (Scholarships are also available.)

Board of Directors / Advisor

Xollective | Cloutchain

Cloutchain is an NFT / Social Token platform for artists, athletes, and creators of all kinds.

Creators design and sell limited edition digital cards which grant fans who collect them access to exclusive social posts, events, and other benefits.

Fans build a collection to access fan-only social posts, media, and receive invitations to exclusive events (live and virtual).

www.cloutchain.io

Forecastr | Startup Advisor | Angel Investor

I lead Partnerships at Forecastr, where we help founders build investor-ready financial models that win trust, close funding rounds faster, and give them full clarity to run their business with confidence.

I’ve worked with hundreds of founders to:

Impress investors with professional, dynamic financial models
Confidently raise capital from angels, VCs, and strategic partners
Plan for growth with clear, actionable financial insights

Beyond Forecastr, I’m 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.

Previously, I founded and scaled a consumer goods company from $1M in year one to $40M+ in year four, landing at #138 on the Inc. 500 list. My background also includes executive sales and business development roles in venture-backed startups and managing investments for Sentry Financial Corporation.

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 here: https://lnkedin.link/6wU8bh6

Angel Investor and/or advisor in:

• Angel Studios, Inc.
• Happiest Baby, Inc.
• Sweater
• Vouch
• RevRoad, LLC
• Savvi Technologies, Inc.
• Gabb Wireless, Inc.
• CloutChain
• KingsCrowd
• Dōjō 
• DefiQ (dba Giddy)
• Journey
• Startup Stack
• Nivati
• Convoi Ventures
• HYVV
• Velvet
• Kado
• wümgo 
• Lighter Capital
• InsideFluence
• Errand
• Evolution Space
• Particl
• Quikix
• StartEngine
• Pelion
• Thunderstrike.ai
• PlaneAhead
• Kemper Snowboards
• Angel Cake
• Stealth

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.

December 4th in Miami.
December 10th in New York.

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

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...

Miami: https://lnkd.in/gRjwx8F7
New York: https://lnkd.in/g2ckRDdm

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

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

The only 3 slides that matter in your pitch deck.

I've sat through hundreds of founder pitches. You know what VCs actually remember after the meeting?

Not your 15-slide deck.
Not your beautifully designed mockups.
Not even your traction slides (unless they're exceptional).

It comes down to 3 slides...

1. The Problem (Slide 2)
If I don't feel the pain in 30 seconds, I'm out.
Make me feel why this problem costs people time, money, or sanity.

2. Your Traction (Slide 8-ish)
Revenue. Users. Growth rate. Retention.
This is where you prove you're not just another idea.
If the numbers are strong, everything else gets forgiven.

3. The Ask (Last slide)
How much. What for. What milestones you'll hit.
Vague asks = vague interest.

Everything else? Supporting characters.

Your team slide matters if you're repeat founders.
Your market size matters if it's massive or surprising.
Your competitive landscape matters if you have a unique moat.

But if those core 3 don't land? The other 12 slides won't save you.

This is why Founders N' Funders events exist.

December 4th in Miami and December 10th in New York, you'll hear directly from 6+ VCs:

→ What they actually look for in those 3 slides
→ What makes them lean in vs. check out
→ What traction metrics matter for their thesis

Stop guessing what investors want to see. Hear it straight from them, before you pitch.

Register here while there is still space left...

Miami: https://lnkd.in/gSVvEPqk
New York: https://lnkd.in/gr5iqEkS

The #1 reason your deck gets ignored.

(It's not what you think.)

It's not your design. 
It's not your traction. 
It's not even your problem slide.

It's because you sent it to the wrong VC.

This is what most founders learn too late.

Your deck isn't bad. 
You're just pitching someone who was never going to invest.

They don't do pre-seed. You're pre-seed. 
They don't touch B2B SaaS. You're B2B SaaS. 
They write $5M checks. You need $1M.

But you wouldn't know this from their website.

So you spend 3 weeks perfecting your deck. 
You craft the perfect cold email. 
You send it off with hope.

And then... nothing.

Not because your startup isn't good. Because you were never in their mandate.

The fix isn't a better deck. It's better targeting.

Know their check size. 
Know their thesis.
Know their recent investments.

Before you hit send.

Most founders optimize the wrong thing. They spend 40 hours on their deck. And 40 minutes on their target list.

It should be the opposite.

Because of this we are having Founders N' Funders event where VCs pitch their investment criteria to YOU: 

→ Check size 
→ Stage focus 
→ Sector thesis 
→ What they're actively looking for

Stop guessing who might be interested. Hear it directly from investors who are deploying capital right now.

One night. Zero wasted decks sent to wrong-fit VCs.

10th December, New York. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gHHrPdb6

P.S. Your deck is probably fine. Your target list isn't.

NEVER Show This in a Pitch Deck (or You’re DONE)

Most founders think investors want to see everything.

Every detail. 
Every number. 
Every idea.

But the wrong slide can kill your pitch before you even finish talking.

• Overcomplicated financials that don’t add up
• Metrics that don’t actually matter
• Generic “TAM is $10B+” slides that scream “Google search”

When investors see these, they check out instantly.

Here’s what they actually want to see:

1. A clear growth story backed by numbers that make sense
2. Milestones that prove you’re building momentum
3. A financial model that shows how their money turns into returns

Because at the end of the day, your pitch isn’t about showing everything.

It’s about showing what matters most.

If you want to hear directly from VCs what actually matters (and what kills deals before they start)…

You’ll get that chance at Founders N’ Funders: Miami VC Reverse Pitch

At this event:

• You'll learn their check sizes and what they’re funding next
• They’ll share what makes them say yes
• And exactly how to structure your raise

👉 Apply now before spots fill up: https://lnkd.in/gfJsd2tD

When should I start fundraising?


Wrong question!

Better question: "When should I start preparing to fundraise?"

Here's the timeline nobody tells you:

12 months out:
→ Start attending events where VCs speak
→ Follow relevant investors on LinkedIn
→ Engage with their content (intelligently)
→ Build awareness you exist

6 months out:
→ Get warm intros for "informational" coffee chats
→ Share updates on your progress
→ Ask for advice (not money)
→ Build genuine relationships

3 months out:
→ Finalize your target list (20-30 VCs who fit)
→ Perfect your deck
→ Get your data room ready
→ Line up customer references

1 month out:
→ Send the deck to your warm connections
→ Schedule all first meetings in a 2-week window
→ Create urgency with a closing timeline

Week of:
→ Pitch everyone
→ Generate FOMO
→ Close the round

Most founders do this:
"We need money in 60 days. Let me start reaching out."

Smart founders do this:
"We're raising in 6 months. Let me start building relationships now."

The difference? Leverage.

Raising in 2026? You should be building VC relationships right now.

December 10th, New York: Founders N' Funders event.

Meet VCs, hear their criteria, start the relationships.

By the time you're ready to raise, you'll already be a warm intro.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJYb_dpj

P.S. Fundraising starts way before you send the first deck.

Airbnb was rejected by 7 VCs before Y Combinator said yes.

The pitch didn't change.
The VCs did.

This is the fundraising lesson nobody talks about.
Your "no" isn't always about your company.

It's about:
→ Thesis fit (do they even invest in your space?)
→ Check size (are you too early or too late for their fund?)
→ Portfolio conflicts (did they already back a competitor?)
→ Timing (are they actively deploying capital right now?)

Most founders treat every rejection as validation that something's wrong with their startup.

Sometimes? You're just pitching the wrong room.

This is exactly why we created Founders N' Funders events.

December 4th in Miami, we're flipping the script.
And on December 10th in New York.

6+ active VCs pitch YOU their: 

• investment thesis, 
• check sizes, 
• and what they're actively looking for.

No more guessing. 
No more wasted pitches to funds that were never going to invest.

One night. 
One room. 
The right investors for YOUR stage and category.

Register here...

Miami: https://lnkd.in/geS3SXiu
New York: https://lnkd.in/gE-SGhiV

P.S. Seats are filling fast. If you're raising Seed or Series A, don't wait.

Solitude Mountain Resort - Let the season begin! ⛷️ 

Yes - it was only the Link Lift open, but still fun hanging out with David Weinstein for another opening day! 

——————
Spirit of Solitude (lyrics)
By The Electric Ski Poles 
(Release Date: Dec 2nd)

Snow-packed roads, snow is hittin’ the glass,
Big Cottonwood Road, not moving too fast
Snow’s so deep it swallows the road—
Solitude’s parking hitting overload.

Finally clicking in, no time to wait—
Storm day rush, and we’re feelin’ great.

It’s the Spirit of Solitude,
Fresh tracks rollin’, and settin’ the mood.
Milk Run hittin’ like déjà vu—
Parachute - We’re floatin’ the whole way through.
Calling the crew, the storm came true—
We’re ridin’ on the wild side of Solitude.

Ropes drop, on the spot, skiers all cheer,
Honeycomb powder - best of the year,
Face shots, non-stop, legs on fire—
One more lap, we never get tired.

Heart beating fast, yeah dropping in now —
Storm day rules — respect the pow.

It’s the Spirit of Solitude,
Fresh tracks rollin’, and settin’ the mood.
Milk Run hittin’ like déjà vu—
Paradise powder -  fresh and new
Calling the crew, the storm came true—
We’re ridin’ on the wild side of Solitude.

Whoa-oh! First tracks again.
Whoa-oh! Let the storm never end.

It’s the Spirit of Solitude,
Fresh tracks rollin’, and settin’ the mood.
Headwall’s hittin’ like déjà vu—
Here Be Dragons coming into view,
Calling the crew, the storm came true—
We’re ridin’ on the wild side ….. 
of Solitude.

#Solitude #skiing

Just when the snowstorms are lined up for Utah .... I'm heading to Miami ☀️ 
But, it's for a good reason and I'm excited!!!!

Founders N' Funders is hosting its VC ReversePitch™ event this week in Miami during Art Basel.  We have some awesome VCs lined up to pitch to founders.

The event is just about at capacity, if you are a founder who is actively raising a Pre-Seed, Seed or Series A round, sign up now!

Registration Link:  https://lnkd.in/gjHhKCna

Can't wait to see everyone there, including the fantastic group of investors who are going to be presenting!

Ascendo Venture Capital - Laura I. Maydón
11 Tribes Ventures - Mark Phillips
Treeo VC - Arzu Tekir
Outside the Box Ventures - Katherine Tarbox
Sopris Capital - Vickram P.

________
Sponsored by Fidelity Private Shares, Amazatic Solutions, Justworks and Forecastr

After a slow start to the ski season in Utah …. 
⛷️ Solitude Mountain Resort was the first to open last week. 

Brighton Resort opens tomorrow.

Park City, Alta Ski Area, and Snowbasin Resort are planning to open this weekend with more snow coming this week! ❄️ 

(I’ll be in Miami and NYC for upcoming Founders N' Funders Events the next couple weeks - So, save me some pow!)

—————
🎧 New ski music drop by The Electric Ski Poles - Enjoy!

“Wasatch Pow” now available on Spotify:
https://lnkd.in/gUiK-GMv

No alternative text description for this image

🎧  The newest ski song by The Electric Ski Poles called "Wasatch Pow" just dropped on Spotify. It should also now be available now on iTunes, Apple music, Amazon Music, and all the major music streaming platforms. 

Here's a link to it on Spotify:   https://lnkd.in/guqkk3_H
(Feel free to share) 
 
Several of our Utah mountains are mentioned in the song.  See the lyrics below.

Rad Music, for Rad Skiers --- Enjoy! ⛷️ 🎵 

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

Wasatch Pow
by The Electric Ski Poles

Morning light breaks the night,
Snow is falling soft and slow
Brighton waking, Alta’s shaking, everyone’s chasing that first snow
Snowbird rising with the sun, Solitude feeling like a dream
Every trail along the Wasatch front is calling out to me

[Pre-Chorus]

Fresh tracks on the mountain
Blood is pumpin’, heart is poundin’

[Chorus]

Wasatch pow, drifting down
Floating five feet off the ground
Let it fall, don’t stop now
Nothing beats the ride - we’re high on Wasatch pow

[Verse 2]

Pow Mow stompin’ perfect lines, Snowbasin shining in the cold
Park City rockin’ all the time,
Deer Valley always good as gold
Every ridge a piece of heaven, every lift a getaway
Utah skies and frozen highs — we’re riding them all day

[Pre-Chorus]

Fresh tracks on the mountain
Blood is pumpin’, heart is poundin’

[Chorus]

Wasatch pow, drifting down
Floating five feet off the ground
Let it fall, don’t stop now
Nothing beats the ride - we’re high on Wasatch pow


[Bridge]

When the clouds break open wide
And the snow starts fallin’ from the sky
We chase the storm, we’re shreddin’ now
We’ll never stop chasin’ Wasatch pow

[Final Chorus]

Wasatch pow, drifting down
We’re floating five feet off the ground
Let it fall, don’t stop now
Nothing beats the ride - we’re high on Wasatch pow

Open article: Wasatch Pow by open.spotify.com

Amazing Marketing turns a $2 can of Red Bull into $6/can.

Ya - that’s the power of creative marketing and packaging.

I wanted to get this Red Bull Advent Calendar as a white elephant gift.  Figured it would be maybe $40.  
(You can normally get a 24-pack for $35)

Nope!  They were originally going for $50, but they are all sold out at the stores.

But, you can get them online now at Walmart for $149.99.  Or on eBay for a more reasonable $90 price point.

Gotta love the power of great marketing and supply and demand!

Any alternative ideas for white elephant gifts this year? 🐘 😃

#marketing #RedBull

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