Creativity Is Killing Your Sales (and What to Do Instead)

👋 Hey Founder,

This week’s issue is all about clarity in motion:

✅ Who got funded (and why they’re landing checks)
✅ Why too much creativity in early sales is costing you
✅ How to lead a repeatable sales process
✅ And a chance to have your sales motion reviewed 1:1

Let’s get into it 👇

💸 Who Got Funded—And Why

🛍️ ReFiBuy ($1.7M Pre-Seed, March 2025) – AI-powered resale platform streamlining re-commerce in e-commerce.
✅ Why they got funded: Circular commerce is hot, and AI-driven inventory tech is key to scaling it.
✅ Investors: Undisclosed

🔐 Hawcx ($3M Pre-Seed, March 2025) – Cybersecurity startup building AI to detect and neutralize attack surfaces in real time.
✅ Why they got funded: Security + AI is a timeless bet, especially with rising complexity in infra.
✅ Investors: Undisclosed

🔗 Lagom Chain ($200K Pre-Seed, March 2025) – Lightweight blockchain protocol for digital identity and recordkeeping.
✅ Why they got funded: The market still wants blockchain—but lean, useful, and enterprise-compatible.
✅ Investors: Undisclosed

📈 Glider ($4M Seed, April 2025) – On-chain automated portfolio builder for decentralized asset management.
✅ Why they got funded: a16z is betting that consumer-friendly crypto investing is still a massive category.
✅ Investors: a16z Crypto

🩺 Brellium ($16.7M Series A, April 17, 2025) – Real-time AI healthtech platform focused on chronic care analytics.
✅ Why they got funded: AI-driven care delivery reduces costs for providers while improving patient outcomes.
✅ Investors: First Round Capital

🎓 Meadow ($14M Series A, April 16, 2025) – Student loan repayment platform enabling employer-backed benefits.
✅ Why they got funded: Student debt is a persistent problem—employer involvement is a compelling wedge.
✅ Investors: Matrix Partners

🛡️ 1Fort ($7.5M Early-Stage, April 17, 2025) – AI-powered cyber risk platform for business insurance.
✅ Why they got funded: Cyber insurance needs better underwriting and faster workflows—AI delivers both.
✅ Investors: Undisclosed

🧠 In Sales? Creativity Might Be Your Problem.

Here’s a take from the field that hit home this week:

Early-stage sales isn’t about innovation. It’s about rigor. You don’t need a dozen clever angles—you need a consistent process that qualifies, disqualifies, and moves fast.

Use creativity later—for overcoming objections, crafting proposals, or navigating tricky negotiations. But up front? Be predictable.

🧭 Are You Actually Leading a Sales Process?

Whether you’re selling yourself or leading a GTM team, ask yourself:

✅ Do we have a clearly defined process?
✅ Are we sticking to it?
✅ Are we reviewing and improving it regularly?

If deals feel chaotic or random, it’s not a pipeline problem. It’s a process problem.

💬 Want a 1:1 Review of Your Sales Process?

I’m opening up a few coaching slots to review founder-led sales strategies.
If you want another set of eyes on your motion—and tactical feedback on how to tighten it—let’s talk.

📅 Book a free 30-minute session here

Come with questions, leave with clarity.

Until next week,
Apryl Syed
Founder’s Edge

P.S. Sales isn’t magic. It’s math. Let’s make yours add up.