Podcast 🎧 - Bootstrapping to $2M ARR, Turning Down $6.5M, and Funding 500+ Startups: Nathan Latka

Hey There,

The newest episode of The Startup Growth Podcast is live!

Listen to the episode here.

In this episode, I chat with Nathan Latka, the founder and CEO of Founderpath, who has invested nearly $200 million across 500 software companies. Nathan shares his journey from starting Heyo, a SaaS company he bootstrapped to $2M in ARR, to navigating the challenges of raising venture capital and ultimately selling the company. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of fundraising, particularly how it can limit a founder's optionality and affect future acquisition opportunities.

We also dive into Nathan's current venture, Founderpath, which offers debt financing for software companies based on their performance metrics rather than relying on venture capital backing. He discusses the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, the significance of capturing attention in a crowded market, and the potential for founders to access liquidity through secondary sales. Nathan's insights provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs on navigating funding options and maximizing their business potential.

Key takeaways:

• Missed Acquisition Opportunity

• Advice on Raising Money and Optionality

• Evolution of Venture Capital and Software Costs

• Differences Between Venture Debt and Traditional VC

• Importance of Secondary Sales for Founders

I hope you find this educational content valuable and can apply it in your business.

David Phillips

Founder & CEO at Fondo

LinkedIn | Twitter/X