Researchers often employ signaling theory to explain the effect of entrepreneurial communication on fundraising success. This focus on signaling can lead researchers to overlook alternative explana...
Philanthropy 2.0: What the Evolution of For-Profit Investment Tells Us About the Future of Giving
Gaps in philanthropic funding for era-defining science and discovery demand a new approach. In this piece, we look at how learning from venture capital is a game changer for catalytic philanthropy.
Philanthropy 2.0: What the Evolution of For-Profit Investment Tells Us About the Future of Giving
Gaps in philanthropic funding for era-defining science and discovery demand a new approach. In this piece, we look at how learning from venture capital is a game changer for catalytic philanthropy.
Reasonable
A straightforward funding mechanism that rewards innovators and risk-takers while remaining sensitive to the social impact of new…
Ten more unintuitive things about impact philanthropy fundraising
some more lessons I’ve learned, for the $free.99
Sidecar funds, corporate vehicles, club deals: how do startup studios get financed?
As explained in The Rise of Startup Studios, a white paper published by The Global Startup Studio Network in 2019, the term “startup…
Jessica Livingston – Why Startups Need to Focus on Sales, Not Marketing
The most important thing an early-stage startup should know about marketing is rather counterintuitive: that you probably shouldn’t be doing anything you’d use the term “marketing
How Zapier Pulled Off Its One-and-Done Approach to Fundraising
Zapier CEO and Co-founder Wade Foster is a fundraising contrarian. But he doesn't think he should be. He shares how it's possible to approach financing as a boost — not a crutch — and ways to approach key business decisions early on to keep the itch to fundraise at bay.
Op-Ed: If you want to influence people don't try to persuade them. Use ‘pre-suasion’ instead.
Today and every day we are the targets of salespeople, marketers, advertisers, fundraisers and (heaven knows) politicians trying to persuade us to buy something, do something or think a certain way.
crawshaw - 2026-04-22
Today is fundraising announcement day. As is the nature of writing for a larger audience, it is a formal, safe announcement. As it should be. Writing must necessarily become impersonal at scale. But I would like to write something personal about why I am doing this. What is the goal of building exe.dev? I am already the co-founder of one startup that is doing very well, selling a product I love as much as when I first helped design and build it.
The Smart Family Fund provides angel philanthropy funding to early-stage nonprofit organizations with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet built the evidence base or… | Shawnta Jackson, MPH | 36 comments
The Smart Family Fund provides angel philanthropy funding to early-stage nonprofit organizations with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet built the evidence base or sustainability model needed for larger growth funding. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with the IRS that can clearly explain how they will measure effectiveness, quantify impact, and demonstrate how their approach is distinct from other organizations in the field. Applications are submitted through the “Send Us a Pitch” portal and require organizational information and a one-page elevator pitch aligned with the fund’s mission. Funding amounts are not publicly listed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eYNhqsVB | 36 comments on LinkedIn
Persuasion: Empirical Evidence
We provide a selective survey of empirical evidence on the effects as well as the drivers of persuasive communication. We consider persuasion directed at consumers, voters, donors, and investors. We organize our review around four questions. First, to what extent does persuasion affect the behavior of each of these groups? Second, what models best capture the response to persuasive communication? Third, what are persuaders' incentives, and what limits their ability to distort communications? Finally, what evidence exists on the way persuasion affects equilibrium outcomes in economics and politics?
How Bad Entrepreneurs Reveal Themselves in the First 5 Seconds of a Pitch
A few simple words is all it takes to figure out a founder’s odds of startup success.
Putting Post Growth Theory Into Practice
The Post Growth Entrepreneurship Incubator helps founders break free from traditional business models and implement sustainable…
GoFundMe | The #1 Crowdfunding and Fundraising Platform
Start your fundraiser in minutes with tools to help you succeed. GoFundMe is the global leader in crowdfunding, trusted by 100+ million people.
How To Be Successful
I’ve observed thousands of founders and thought a lot about what it takes to make a huge amount of money or to create something important. Usually, people start off wanting the former and end up...
Purpose Ventures - Purpose
Conventional VC is often at odds with the ambitions of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and their founding values and missions. These founders are interested in more than growth for growth’s sake. They want to build lasting, impactful businesses and preserve their mission in the future.