Kristian Marquez is the founder and CEO of FinStrat Management. In our chat, Kristian shares lessons learned on his journey from starting a telemedicine startup, experiencing startup failure and an IPO, to founding FinStrat. He discusses the importance of validating your idea with customers through market feedback before building a product. He dives more into FinStrat’s unique approach, and also offers practical guidance into fundraising challenges, highlighting the need for accurate financials and metrics and financial transparency for a truly healthy investor and founder relationship.

Key Takeaways

[2:48] Kristian’s background.

[4:22] Co-founding a telemedicine startup and raising $2.5 million.

[5:58] Starting FinStrat.

[9:55] The importance of understanding investors' perspectives.

[10:14] The importance of transparency between founders and investors.

[13:02] Technology improves accounting processes but expertise is still fundamentally required.

[14:10] Healthy founder-investor relationships are built on trust and transparency.

[18:50] Raising capital for FinStrat.

[20:10] Pros and cons of debt financing.

[22:30] Fundraising from a position of strength.

[26:55] Remembering “the ask” in a meeting.

[32:16] What investors and founders shouldn’t do.

[36:47] Lessons learned from his telemedicine startup.

[38:08] The market must demonstrate demand.

[41:15] What has surprised Kristian along his journey.

[43:24] Kristian’s positive experience with Novel.

Resources:
RBF Network
Keith’s Twitter

Keith’s Linkedin

Novel Capital

Kristian: FinStrat | LinkedIn