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E82: Fundraise as a Service: Inside the Startup Capital Shift with Jeffrey Fidelman
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E82: Fundraise as a Service: Inside the Startup Capital Shift with Jeffrey Fidelman

What if the way you’ve been thinking about startup fundraising is... totally outdated?

In this episode of Perception Paradox, I sit down with Jeffrey Fidelman, a former Wall Street pro turned startup investment strategist, to break down what’s actually working in fundraising today.

We explore:

  • How “Fundraise as a Service” is flipping the script for founders

  • The biggest mistakes startups make when pitching investors

  • Why personalized outreach matters more than ever

  • The surprising power of crowdfunding in 2025

  • How AI is slashing startup costs and changing investor expectations

  • And one big question every founder should ask: “Does my startup actually improve the industry I’m in?”

Whether you're raising your first round or just trying to understand the capital game — this episode gives you the fundraising clarity you didn't know you needed.

🎧 Tune in and get smarter about your next raise.

About Jeffrey:

Jeffrey Fidelman is the Founder and Managing Partner of Fidelman & Company, an advisory firm he launched in 2015 to help early- to mid-stage companies with fundraising and growth strategy. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to a 40+ person remote team supporting clients across capital raises, business sales, and strategic initiatives.

With deep experience as an interim CFO and COO, Jeffrey has guided dozens of companies through pivotal financial transactions. His career spans residential and commercial real estate, Portfolio Manager at Morgan Stanley, Vice President at HSBC, and Partner at an early-stage venture fund focusing on tech startups.

A Harvard graduate (cum laude), Jeffrey has built a reputation as a strategic operator, investor, and trusted advisor to founders and management teams.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fundraising and Startups

03:37 The Journey from Finance to Investment Banking

06:44 Fundraise as a Service: A New Approach

09:38 Shifts in the Startup Ecosystem

12:19 The Impact of AI on Innovation

15:12 Investor Landscape Changes Post-COVID

18:02 The Importance of Structured Outreach

20:58 Asking for Capital: The Founder’s Responsibility

26:20 The Importance of Asking for Funding

27:41 Common Fundraising Mistakes

29:55 The Fundraising Timeline

33:55The Future of Fundraising and Revenue Expectations

35:46 Crowdfunding as a Viable Option

39:17 Emerging Trends in the Startup Ecosystem

45:27 Philosophical Reflections on Building Businesses

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