In this episode, Jess Loren, founder and CEO of Global Objects, shares her journey on raising capital as a female founder, including turning down a $20M offer and building her business using digital twins technology.

Jess dives into how she's building a tech company rooted in culture, purpose, and innovation, while navigating the fundraising landscape as a female CEO. We talk about generative AI in media, managing a startup as a mom, building a tech community, and how to use AI to boost productivity.

A great story about leadership, innovation, and startup resilience.

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Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode83&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode83&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 - Intro

00:35 – Raising Capital as a Female Founder: Intro to Jess Loren & Global Objects

03:06 – Building a Tech Community in LA

06:05 – Balancing Life as a Female CEO

08:42 – Digital Twins Technology for Culture & Innovation

13:16 – Using AI to Boost Productivity in Creative Industries

16:34 – Generative AI in Media & Entertainment

22:18 – Jess Loren’s Journey: From 2X Exit Founder to Building Global Objects

25:47 – Funding Strategies & Investor Alignment

28:16 – Global Objects' Mission and Growth Plan

31:30 – Startup Leadership as a Female CEO

34:05 – Jess Loren on Persistence, Boards & Building Visibility

ABOUT JESS LOREN

Jess Loren is a 2X exited founder and the CEO of Global Objects, a cutting-edge startup at the intersection of digital twins technology, cultural preservation, and generative AI. With a background in community building, immersive experiences, and Web3 innovation, Jess is known for her bold leadership, fundraising acumen, and vision for reshaping how we digitally capture and interact with the world. Her journey includes turning down a $20M term sheet to stay mission-aligned, proving that purpose and persistence can coexist at scale.

You can reach out to Jess through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessloren/

Global Objects' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalobjects/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.

This week, I host IPO market expert Peter Goldstein, who talks about the best time to IPO, how to position for strong IPO performance, what true IPO readiness looks like, and how companies are being valued in 2025.

If you're a founder eyeing the public markets, this is your roadmap. We dive into shifting investor sentiment, the surge in the secondary market, and strategic insights on when to go public, build public company credibility, and leverage equity in IPOs to your advantage.

______________________________________________________________

Raising capital?

Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode81&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:

https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Episode81&utm_id=FundraisingDemystifiedPodcast

Here's what you're in for:

00:00 – The 2025 IPO market

02:15 – Investor sentiment in the current IPO climate

04:40 – Why IPO timing is critical: the best time to IPO

07:25 – IPO valuation expectations and market sensitivities

10:05 – IPO readiness checklist for founders

12:50 – What happens after IPO: risks and surprises

16:15 – IPO performance in 2024 vs 2025

19:30 – Market cap requirements for IPO explained

22:10 – How equity in IPO impacts control and growth

25:20 – Benefits of going public beyond capital

28:05 – Public company credibility and strategic advantages

31:15 – The rise of the secondary market and investor access

34:30 – Private stock trading trends and access to liquidity

37:20 – When should you go public?

40:10 – Employee stock incentive strategies in public companies

43:30 – Parting shot from Peter Goldstein

ABOUT PETER GOLDSTEIN

Peter Goldstein is a leading expert in the IPO market, founder of Exchange Listing LLC, and author of The Entrepreneur’s IPO. With decades of experience guiding small and micro-cap companies through public offerings, Peter is known for helping founders navigate the complexities of going public. His deep understanding of IPO readiness, valuation, and investor strategy makes him one of the most trusted voices in the space.

You can reach out to Peter through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-goldstein-exchangelisting/

ABOUT JASON

Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development.

You can reach out to Jason through:

Email: jason@thunder.vc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/

ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED

Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape.

Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.