Fundraising in the US: A European Founder's Bay Area Strategy

ClarityCare AI & Founder's Path

• 💡 ClarityCare AI deploys AI agents in healthcare operations, specifically processing prior authorizations in real-time to reduce patient wait times for critical treatments.
• 🌍 Hermine, originally from Paris, moved to the US for healthcare research and studied at MIT, driven by a desire to make an immediate impact.
• 🚀 She joined Entrepreneur First (EF) to find a co-founder and build a company, choosing impact over a PhD.

Co-Founder Discovery at EF

• 🤝 The Entrepreneur First program emphasizes finding a co-founder you want to work with for the next 20 years, not just for a single company.
• 🧩 Hermine iterated through four co-founder relationships before successfully partnering with Alex, highlighting the importance of alignment and serendipity.
• ✨ Building together as humans and fostering a strong working relationship was key to their success.

Mastering US Fundraising Culture

• 🇺🇸 Fundraising in the US requires understanding and playing by specific unwritten rules, which differ significantly from European norms.
• 🗣️ European founders often undersell themselves, but in the US, it's crucial to clearly articulate achievements and stand up for your company.
• 🎯 Hermine learned to practice selling herself and her company, even adopting a new intro like "Hi, I'm Hermine, an MIT researcher" after a friend's suggestion.

Strategic Fundraising Process

• 📈 Running a tight fundraising process with concentrated meetings (e.g., 86 in one week) helps create fear of missing out (FOMO) among investors.
• ⚠️ Founders should avoid early VC meetings if not fully prepared, as initial "data points" can set an uncontrollable narrative.
• ✅ To maintain control, founders should politely decline premature meetings and take charge of calls by asking VCs about their firm and investment thesis.

The San Francisco Advantage

• 🌉 San Francisco offers a unique environment where serendipity can lead to significant fundraising success, as Hermine raised $400,000 through unexpected connections.
• 🌐 VCs operate within a tight-knit network, sharing deals and information, meaning founders must impress every contact.
• 🔍 The city's culture encourages directness and self-promotion, which Hermine embraced to unleash her impressive background on the world.