Solving the Startup Dilemma: Getting Funded to Hire vs. Hiring to Get Funded

​The classic startup catch-22: Investors want to see a strong team before funding, but you need funding to hire that team. Sound familiar?

​Join Ray Gibson (Founder & Chairman of Funded.club) and Vlad Cazacu (Ex-VC/angel investor, Co-Founder & CEO of Flowlie) as they break down this startup paradox and share strategies that have helped founders navigate this challenge successfully.

​🎯 What You'll Learn

​The Chicken-and-Egg Trap

• ​Why 70% of startups mistime hiring vs. fundraising

• ​Data on how team decisions impact valuation and investor interest

• ​The hidden cost of getting this wrong

​What Actually Works

• ​Building lean, fundable teams

• ​Landing top talent before your Series A

• ​Running hiring & fundraising in parallel – without burning out

​Smart Hiring Decisions

• ​When to hire co-founders, employees, or contractors

• ​Benchmarking team composition against successful raises

​Inside the Investor Mindset

• ​What VCs look for in your team slide

• ​Red flags that quietly kill deals

• ​How to pitch a hiring plan that excites

​Tactical Playbook

• ​Framework for sequencing hires around raise milestones

• ​How to recruit A-players when you can’t pay market

​❓ Q&A – Get your questions answered live