What if you could raise millions for your startup without giving up a single point of equity? For many scrappy entrepreneurs, non-dilutive funding feels like a complex, unattainable goal. But it doesn't have to be.

In this episode, host Véronique Peiffer sits down with Kate Montgomery, a grant writing expert who helped her company, Enspectra Health, secure millions of dollars in non-dilutive funding through federal grants. This conversation deconstructs the myths and strategies behind successful grant applications.

Kate shares her powerful framework of "Size, Probability, and Effort," reveals why most medtech founders look for money in the wrong place, and explains why getting rejected is often just the halfway point to success.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why thinking of funding as a linear "three-course meal" is a mistake, and how to mix funding sources effectively.
• The three-part framework to identify which grants are worth your time and which to ignore.
• Which government agency funds over 80% of medtech and biotech SBIRs.
• How to demystify the review process by understanding the three "reviewer personas."
• Actionable advice on what to do when your grant application is rejected.
• Kate’s #1 piece of advice for entrepreneurs on where they should focus their energy.

Resources Mentioned:

• Goldenrod Funding: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldenrod-funding/
• The Scrappy Entrepreneur: https://veroniquepeiffer.com/

While this podcast usually features other people's perspectives, this week Véronique flips the script to share her recent guest appearance on the VentureWell Voices podcast.

Join Véronique as she recaps her conversation with host Christina Tamer, a mentor from her time in VentureWell's E-Team and ASPIRE programs. Unlike her previous guest appearance on 'First in Human' which focused on her personal and author stories, this discussion dives into the practical, "how-to" strategies that are central to her book, The Scrappy Entrepreneur.

Tune in to hear them discuss:

• Building a talented, motivated team on a shoestring budget.
• Managing the "administrative chaos" with a simple but powerful "compliance calendar".
• The crucial concept of "experiential ROI".

This episode will appeal to any founder looking for actionable advice that goes beyond the big vision and gets into the real, day-to-day work of building a company from the ground up.

Listen to the full conversation on the Venturewell Voices podcast here: https://venturewell.org/venturewell-voices-podcast/

Entrepreneurs with an exciting technology get endless advice on where to apply it. But when should you actually listen? In this episode, Blake Dubé, CEO of Aeronics (maker of Pawprint Oxygen), shares how his focus on human healthcare was transformed by a chance encounter with a veterinarian—leading him to pivot to the pet market and find clear product-market fit.

Blake also reveals why his company chose to stay scrappy after commercialization, including his counterintuitive approach to fundraising. Tune in for an insightful lesson on how to build a sustainable, mission-driven business by truly listening to your customers.

Have a pet or a veterinarian, or both? Check out Blake's company website: www.pawprintoxygen.com