Building a Startup in a Tough Funding Environment

January 30, 2024

Yaroslav Danylchenko/Stocksy

Summary.

Startup founders are facing a brutal environment. While never easy to secure, venture funding is more scarce, valuations are down, exit options are dwindling, and shutdowns, fire sales, and hard pivots are happening everywhere. Even VC firms are laying off employees — something that was practically unheard of until now.

Catalina Daniels is an entrepreneur, angel investor, Venture Partner at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA), and former McKinsey partner. She sits on multiple boards, splits her time between New York, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, and loves coaching young entrepreneurs. She is the co-author of Smart Startups: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know—Advice from 18 Harvard Business School Founders (Harper Collins, 2023).

James Sherman is a serial internet entrepreneur who has launched three ventures, including an internet strategy consulting firm, ShermansTravel Media, and an e-commerce firm. He is an active angel investor, mentor to entrepreneurs, and former Bain consultant and media company executive. He sits on the board of HBS Alumni Angels of New York. He is the co-author of Smart Startups: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know—Advice from 18 Harvard Business School Founders (Harper Collins, 2023).

Read more on Entrepreneurship or related topics Fundraising, Entrepreneurial financing, Entrepreneurial management, Entrepreneurs and founders and Start-ups

Building a Startup in a Tough Funding Environment

Summary.

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