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Welcome to the 11th edition of The Get Funded! Newsletter—where we break down the latest from our Get Funded! Office Hours session on Twitter/X and equip you with tools to take your fundraising to the next level.

Missed this session? Listen to the recording here.
Interested in joining the next session? See what VCs are coming next and register here.
Local to Tulsa? Join us on Dec. 17th for a Founder Coffee Meet-up in partnership with Forum Ventures, RSVP here.

Hey Everyone!

It’s been a few weeks since our last session. I’ve been traveling a lot between AfroTech, ClimateTech BootCamp, and the Thanksgiving Holiday. I’m glad to be back with another issue of this newsletter!

1. Overview:

This week, we hosted two insightful sessions with our fantastic guest investors:

• Session #1: JD Audena, Venture Associate at Connetic Ventures
  Connetic Ventures is a digital VC that leverages AI to allow any founder with an internet connection a fair shot at getting funded.

• Session #2: Kate Evinger, Investment & Operations Associate at 46 Venture Capital

  ​​46 Venture Capital is a Tulsa, Oklahoma based VC firm investing in early-stage technologies, driving lasting impact.

Funding Announcement: Serac Ventures is pleased to announce our seventh investment, Sunny Day Fund. Sunny Day Fund is a Washington, DC-based fintech company that works with employers to make workforce financial well-being easy, starting with employee emergency savings accounts. We are thrilled to be a part of Sunny Day's journey as they help Americans build a strong Financial Safety Net.

2. Office Hours Recap:

Key Takeaways from the VC Office Hours on December 6th:

• Session #1 - JD Audena, Venture Associate at Connetic Ventures:

  • Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed

  • Industry: Industry-agnostic, with a focus on software, fintech, AI, and consumer

  • Check Size: $250K - $500K Initial Check, Up to $800K Follow On

  • How to Apply: Apply using their AI Analyst Wendal at http://www.wendal.io/invite/connetic or contact JD directly.

  • Key Takeaways from Session:

    • Data-Driven Decisions: Connetic Ventures employs a proprietary AI tool, Wendal, to evaluate startups using demographic-blind data analysis, fostering inclusivity and transparency in venture capital.

    • Founder-Centric Approach: JD emphasized that while data guides investment decisions, strong founder conviction and the ability to communicate value remain critical.

    • No Warm Intros Needed: Founders are encouraged to apply directly through their platform without requiring traditional warm introductions, democratizing access to funding opportunities.

• Session #2 - Kate Evinger, Investment & Operations Associate at 46 Venture Capital:

  • Stage: Pre-Seed to Series A

  • Industry: Tech and Tech-enabled Companies across multiple industries

  • Check Size: $25K - $750K, Dependent on fund

  • How to Apply: Apply on their website at https://www.46.capital/pitch or contact Kate directly.

  • Key Takeaways from Session:

    • Multi-Fund Approach: Kate highlighted the uniqueness of 46 Venture Capital operating six funds, including partnerships with universities and other strategic entities, allowing them to support innovative technologies across diverse industries.

    • Focus on Tech-Enabled Companies: The firm prioritizes tech or tech-enabled startups, emphasizing early-stage innovation with robust market potential.

    • Collaborative Ecosystem: Kate stressed the value of leveraging university partnerships and networks to uncover groundbreaking opportunities and provide resources for portfolio companies.

3. Funding Resources:

Resources of the Week:

• Gold House Ventures Founder Fellowship

  A 14-week immersive program designed to accelerate diverse-led tech startups; up to $250K in funding.
  Deadline: 12/11/2024

• Fearless Fund x JP Morgan Chase Get Venture Ready Program

  A 12-week intensive training program for WOC business owners to acquire the needed training, mentorship, knowledge, and skills needed to gain access to capital; opportunity to receive a $30K grant.
  Deadline: 12/15/2024

• Betaworks’ AI Camp

  An in-residence investment & mentorship program for startups building with frontier technologies; receive a $500K investment.

  Deadline: 12/15/2024

• 757 Accelerate

  A 9-week-long mentorship-driven, milestone-based program; receive $20K in funding.
  Deadline: 1/24/2025

• Midwest House '25 SXSW Midwest Madness

  An opportunity to pitch during SXSW for a $10K prize and travel stipend.

  Deadline: 1/31/2025

• VOA Futures Fund Community Health Incubator

  A 14-week accelerator with partnership opportunities for ventures in community health that provides a $15K grant and business training to help you scale.
  Deadline: 3/5/2025

• OHUB’s Climate Tech Bootcamp

  A 10-week pre-accelerator program for climate tech and new energy entrepreneurs from around the country that have an interest in building in or expanding to South Louisiana; opportunity to receive a $100K investment.

  Deadline: 3/28/2025

Book of the Week:

• The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
  Written by Chris Guillebeau, this book explores how anyone can start a small business with limited resources and turn it into a sustainable income source. Through case studies of entrepreneurs who built thriving businesses with $100 or less, the book provides actionable insights, from finding profitable ideas to marketing and scaling efficiently. It emphasizes the power of simplicity, passion, and low-cost entrepreneurship to transform your life and create meaningful work.

• Why I recommend it: This book is perfect for founders looking to take the leap into entrepreneurship without needing significant startup capital. It demystifies the process of starting a business, showing that with creativity and focus, you can build something impactful with minimal resources. It’s a motivational guide that empowers you to embrace entrepreneurship on your terms and highlights the importance of creating value for others while pursuing work you truly love. You can get your copy here.

Alternative Funding Sources:

• Access up to $2M in non-dilutive debt financing. Request funding here.

• Raise up to $5M in equity capital through a Community Round. Request information here.

• Get $10,000 to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Apply here.

• Serac Ventures is looking to invest $250K - $500K into 1-2 more deals by the end of this year. Learn more and consider submitting your company here.

4. Founder Spotlight:

Featured Founder: Sid Pailla, CEO of Sunny Day Fund

• Overview:
  Sid Pailla, inspired by personal experiences as an immigrant navigating financial challenges in the United States, founded Sunny Day Fund, a groundbreaking employee benefit aimed at making saving for emergencies and personal goals simple, accessible, and rewarding. The company empowers employees through high-interest FDIC-insured accounts while incentivizing savings behavior with employer contributions. Sid’s vision is rooted in creating an inclusive financial ecosystem that benefits historically underserved communities, such as immigrants, women, and BIPOC individuals.
  

  Their Success Story:
  Sunny Day Fund has become a vital solution for employers seeking to enhance employee loyalty, reduce financial stress, and improve workplace productivity. By blending personal experience with innovative technology, Sid has led the company from an idea on a refrigerator pitch to influencing federal policy that promotes workplace emergency savings. Under his leadership, Sunny Day Fund has addressed the longstanding need for financial well-being tools for millions of hardworking Americans.
  

  Future Plans:
  Sid envisions Sunny Day Fund as a critical component of a broader movement to create equitable financial opportunities for underserved groups. The company aims to expand its reach by partnering with more employers and continuing to advocate for systemic changes that support financial inclusion. Future initiatives include enhancing the platform’s features to better meet the diverse needs of employees while ensuring measurable ROI for employers.

What we can take away:
Sid’s story underscores the power of resilience, hunger, and a bold vision in addressing complex societal challenges. Founders can learn from his approach to deeply understanding the problem through extensive research, building a mission-driven team, and leveraging personal experience to create innovative, impactful solutions. His journey also highlights the importance of aligning business goals with social impact to drive meaningful change.

5. Tweet of the Week:

That’s all for this week’s edition of The Get Funded! Newsletter. We hope you found these insights valuable as you continue your journey to securing funding.

What’s next? Join us in Tulsa on Tuesday, Dec. 17th for a Founder Coffee Meet-up in partnership with Forum Ventures, RSVP here.

Be sure to join us for the next Get Funded! Office Hours session. You can view and register for upcoming sessions using this Calendar.

Be on the look out for our newsletter next week where we’ll bring you more actionable advice, resources, and success stories.

Let’s All, Get Funded!

Best,
Darrel Frater
Investor at Serac Ventures
Twitter/X | Linkedin | Preneur

P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to a founder you know who could benefit from these insights!

P.S.S. Got ideas or suggestions for Get Funded? Shoot me an email at [email protected] for us to discuss!

About Serac: Serac Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that targets companies at the seed stage writing checks between $250K - $750K. Our core sectors include fintech, SaaS, and commerce enablement. Learn more at SeracVentures.vc.