Who you are is the Strategy

👋 Hey Founder,

This week’s newsletter is about evolution and execution—in your business, and in yourself.

✅ Who raised capital in April and where investor focus is shifting
✅ A personal question every founder should be asking right now
✅ A simple framework for leading at your next level
✅ And: how to create momentum to close your raise before May ends

Let’s get into it 👇

💸 April’s Funding Climate: Big Checks, Big Shifts

April saw a surge of later-stage rounds in AI, fintech, healthcare, and infrastructure. While pre-seed was quieter, the volume of capital proves the market’s still very much alive—for those who are ready.

🔍 Highlighted Funding Rounds

🧠 Auradine – $138M–$153M Series C (Santa Clara, CA)
Web3 infrastructure, AI, and privacy-focused systems
✅ Trend: Infra + privacy is a long-term VC bet

🏥 Chapter – $75M Series C (New York, NY)
Medicare navigation + senior health benefits
✅ Trend: Aging population + digital tools = massive growth

📊 Doss – $18M Series A (San Francisco, CA)
AI-native resource and ops integration for modern companies
✅ Trend: Enterprise coordination tools are hot again

🛡️ Cyberhaven – $100M Series C (Palo Alto, CA)
Data detection and prevention, powered by AI
✅ Trend: Cybersecurity continues to attract premium capital

⚙️ Goodfire – $50M Series B (US)
AI infrastructure tooling for developers
✅ Trend: Tools that power builders are essential

💸 atomic – $10M Seed/Series A (Salt Lake City, UT)
Modern financial services infrastructure
✅ Trend: Fintech infrastructure over consumer apps

👣 Butlr – $7M Seed/Series A (Burlingame, CA)
People-sensing AI for physical spaces
✅ Trend: Bridging physical + digital for real-world intelligence

🧠 Who Do You Need to Become?

Here’s a mindset shift I keep coming back to:

Whether it’s fundraising, scaling GTM, or keeping your team aligned—your business can’t grow faster than you evolve.

Ask yourself:

• Am I showing up as the CEO this company needs right now?

• What would future-you say needs to shift—urgently?

• Where am I defaulting to execution over leadership?

You’re not waiting for someone else to do it. This part’s on you.

🧭 The Founder Identity Ladder

Use this to pinpoint where you’re leading from:

1. The Doer – Gets things done, fast

2. The Manager – Delegates and checks in

3. The Operator – Designs the system

4. The Architect – Sees what’s next, builds what lasts

You’ll need all four. But one needs to lead. Who’s in charge this week?

⏱️ Want to Raise by End of May? You Need Momentum Now.

If you’re planning to raise before summer hits, your clock is ticking.

Here’s your near-term focus:

• Tighten your story: Why now? Why you? Why this?

• Finalize your data room and get your materials in order

• Stack multiple conversations into a 2-week window to build urgency

• Tune your deck to answer: Is this a good investment? And how do I win?

Fundraising isn't about slow drip follow-ups. It's about energy, velocity, and precision.
You still have time—but you need to move now.

👀 Want to Workshop It Together?

If you're thinking through how to lead more powerfully, fundraise more effectively, or drive GTM with more focus—let’s talk.

📅 Book a 30-minute session here
We’ll pinpoint what’s holding you back—and how to shift.

Until next week,
Apryl Syed
Founder’s Edge

P.S. Don’t ask “What do I need to do?” Start asking, “Who do I need to become?” That’s where momentum starts.