Fundraising isn’t a pitch deck moment—it’s a process. And if you treat it like a last-minute sprint, you’ll lose more than equity.

In this 5 in 5 episode, Hakeem Adebiyi shares five hard-earned lessons every founder needs when raising capital, especially at pre-seed, seed, or early Series A. From avoiding diluted equity to knowing what investors actually care about, this episode helps clinician-founders and MedTech entrepreneurs approach funding with strategy—not desperation.

You’ll learn how to:

1. Approach fundraising as a structured process, not a one-off event
2. Get in front of investors without relying on warm introductions
3. Lead with the problem—not the tech—when pitching
4. Avoid damaging credibility by targeting the wrong investors
5. Understand what investors look for right after they say “yes”
6. Use preparation as your best defence against unnecessary dilution

Whether you're building a medical device, a healthtech platform, or preparing to scale internationally, this episode gives you the mindset and tactics to raise smarter and protect what you’ve built.

Raising investment as a healthcare founder isn’t about better science it’s about understanding investors.

In this episode of The H-Files, we’re joined by Scott Kelly, CEO of Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch, to break down how healthcare and health-tech startups can raise funding without losing control of their company.

Scott shares practical insights from working with thousands of founders and investors worldwide, including:

1. How healthcare startups can get in front of investors without warm introductions
2. What investors really look for beyond clinical data and technology
3. How to pitch healthcare innovation in a way investors care about
4. Common fundraising mistakes that cost founders equity
5. How to think about valuation, dilution, and milestone-based fundraising
6. Why building investor relationships early is critical to successful raises

Whether you’re a healthcare founder, health-tech entrepreneur, or early-stage startup planning a fundraise, this episode will help you pitch smarter, protect your equity, and avoid costly mistakes.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l6gxX9_vJeQ

Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hands-on-business-the-h-files-unlocking-growth/id1548129226

📝 Join the mailing list to get the show notes for every episode here: https://thesalesaccelerationformula.com/podcast-show-notes

#healthcare #podcast #hfiles #businessgrowth #investing #startup #healthtech

Breaking into the US healthcare market is one of the toughest challenges for medtech and healthtech founders and most underestimate just how slow, disciplined, and evidence-driven it really is. In this 5 in 5 from The H-Files episode, I share five hard-earned lessons from working with companies trying to scale into the US. In just five minutes, you’ll learn why speed doesn’t equal success, how the wrong distributor can quietly kill momentum, and why clinical data and cash flow matter more than optimism.

This episode covers:

1. Why the US healthcare market rewards preparation, not speed
2. How to spot weak or generalist distributors
3. Why clinical proof is non-negotiable in US sales
4. The real cash realities of US distribution
5. How to avoid partnerships that look good early but fail later

If you’re a medtech founder, healthtech leader, or healthcare startup planning US expansion, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and build a strategy that actually works. Comment or message which action you took and what surprised you.

Listen to Full Episode: https://youtu.be/3v8N7F2gGqo

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hands-on-business-the-h-files-unlocking-growth/id1548129226

Join the mailing list to get the show notes for every episode here: https://thesalesaccelerationformula.com/podcast-show-notes

#healthcare #us #usmarket #5in5 #podcast #hfiles #medtech