- Foundevo Newsletter
- Posts
- š $8M Raised! No Pitch Deck Needed.
š $8M Raised! No Pitch Deck Needed.
š„ Musk vs. AltmanāAIās Billion-Dollar Battle
In partnership with

In This Edition:
š«š· Franceās ā¬109B AI Bet!
š STARTUPāS STRATEGY
This Startup Raised $8M Without a Traditional Pitch DeckāHereās How

What if we told you that a startup just raised $8M without a traditional pitch deck, a clear business model, or even a face-to-face meeting with investors before securing a commitment?
Thatās exactly what Boardy pulled off in its seed round, backed by Creandum and 100+ investors. Instead of fancy slides and perfect financials, they let AI do the pitchingāliterally.
In a world where founders obsess over crafting the perfect deck, Boardy flipped the script. And it worked.
Hereās how they did itāand what every startup can learn from their playbook.
The Fundraising Playbook Flipped
Most startups follow a predictable formula:
Slick pitch deck packed with traction metrics and financial projections.
Well-rehearsed investor meetings to sell the vision.
Clear monetization strategy to ease concerns.
Boardy ignored all of that. Instead, they:
ā
Let investors speak to their AI before meeting the team.
ā
Listed reasons why investors shouldnāt invest.
ā
Focused on network effects over revenue numbers.
The result? Creandum committed after speaking only with Boardyās AI.
This isnāt just a gimmickāitās a glimpse into the future of fundraising.
3 Unconventional Tactics That Won Investors Over
1. Product-Led Fundraising: AI as the Pitchman
Rather than dazzling investors with numbers and slides, Boardy let them experience the product firsthand.
Investors had conversations with the AI itself before ever speaking to a human. This flipped the traditional processāproving the productās value before the pitch even began.
Itās a bold move that makes perfect sense:
If your AI can impress investors, it can impress customers too.
This approach forces clarityāeither the product works, or it doesnāt.
And in Boardyās case, it worked.
2. Radical Transparency: "Why You Should NOT Invest"
Most startups spend hours perfecting how to sell the dream. Boardy did the opposite.
Their pitch deck explicitly listed:
ā āThis is a crazy idea.ā
ā āWe are very early (~10k users).ā
ā āNo clear business model.ā
Why? Because in a world flooded with overhyped AI startups, honesty is a differentiator.
Instead of playing defense, Boardy leaned into the risksāand built trust in the process.
Investors donāt expect startups to have everything figured out. But they respect founders who are self-aware about their challenges.
3. Emphasizing Network Effects Over Vanity Metrics
Rather than traditional growth metrics, Boardy highlighted its network-driven value
ā
EQ: Boardy learns to build better relationships over time.
ā
IQ: Boardy gets smarter at making high-value introductions.
ā
Network: The more people Boardy knows, the more powerful it becomes.
This shifts the focus from short-term revenue to long-term compounding growthāa strategy that legendary companies like Airbnb and Uber have mastered.
And itās why investors bought in.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Fundraise Matters
Boardy isnāt just changing how startups raise moneyāitās redefining how AI fits into human relationships.
In a world where AI can build anything, trusted networks become the real competitive advantage.
This raises big questions for founders:
Will AI-driven fundraising become the norm?
Will investors prefer products they can test before meeting the team?
Will radical transparency replace the traditional āpolishedā pitch?
One thing is clear: AI is no longer just an automation toolāitās becoming an integral part of how we build relationships, trust, and even raise capital.
Key Lessons for Founders: How to Apply Boardyās Playbook
If youāre raising a round, hereās how to stand out in an investor-saturated world:
ā Let your product do the pitching.
If your product is compelling, let investors experience it firsthand. Show, donāt tell.
ā Radical transparency wins trust.
Be upfront about your challenges. Investors appreciate honesty over hype.
ā Prioritize network effects over vanity metrics.
Demonstrate how your productās value compounds over time, not just how many users you have today.
Is This the Future of Fundraising?
Boardyās $8M raise proves that the strongest pitch isnāt always about perfect slides or polished storytellingāsometimes, itās about letting your product speak for itself.
The question is: Are you ready to rethink how you pitch?
š Want to dive deeper into unconventional pitch decks that actually get funded?
Need a Winning Pitch Deck? Drop a comment below!
What If Networking And Introductions Could Be Automated?
Meet Boardy - an AI networking partner who makes introductions to investors, founders, recruiters, executives, operators and anyone else that you would like to meet.
Boardy just raised an $8M seed round from VC firm Creandum - the guys behind Spotify, Klarna, Depop - and built a network of over 25,000 incredible individuals to connect with.
No forms, fees or signups required. All you do is šš»
Send Boardy a DM on Linked
He will call you immediately
After the call, he will make an introduction to someone who he thinks you should meet!
In the past 6 months alone, Boardy has already:
Helped 3 founders raise over $1M
Introduced a CEO to his new CTO
Raised $8M for himself
Connected grad students to full time positions
Sourced a $60k software deal
Brought together countless business partners
And much moreā¦
Youāre always one introduction away from changing your life and your business in ways you canāt imagineā¦
Send Boardy a DM and see what he can do for you.
š” AI INSIGHTS
DeepSeek Just Took Over AI.comāWhat Does It Mean for the Global AI Race?

For years, AI.com has been the ultimate mystery domain in artificial intelligence. It first redirected to OpenAIās ChatGPT, then Elon Muskās xAI. But now? It points to DeepSeek, a fast-rising Chinese AI startup making serious waves.
Hereās why this matters:
A Silent Endorsement? Whoever controls AI.com just handed DeepSeek a massive credibility boost. This domain has only ever pointed to AI heavyweights, so landing it is a huge signal of legitimacy.
DeepSeekās Meteoric Rise: In just weeks, DeepSeekās chatbot app skyrocketed to 21 million daily active users, outpacing ChatGPTās early growth.
Server Struggles: Demand has been so intense that DeepSeek had to pause API top-ups last week and restrict free-tier access.
Price Hike: They just doubled API pricing, yet itās still significantly cheaper than OpenAI and Anthropic.
Chinaās AI Power Play: DeepSeekās models compete with top US AI models but are trained at a fraction of the cost. Thatās got everyoneāfrom Sam Altman to Donald Trumpātaking notice.
Hereās what we think:
AI.com isnāt just a domaināitās a statement. And right now, that statement is: DeepSeek is the next big thing in AI. Whether this is a business deal or a strategic play, it just pushed DeepSeek to the forefront of the global AI race.
š„ CREATOR CATALYST
YouTubeās Biggest AI Leap Yet! What It Means for Creators

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan just announced a major wave of AI upgrades, supercharging content creation, moderation, and audience reach with cutting-edge tools.
Whatās New?
AI Detection & Control: High-profile creators and artists will get expanded tools to identify and manage AI-generated content that mimics their likeness or voice.
Auto-Dubbing for All: The feature is now available to all monetized creators, after YouTube revealed that dubbed videos accounted for over 40% of translated content watch time.
AI-Powered Age Estimation: A new machine-learning system will analyze viewer age ranges, optimizing content recommendations and safety measures.
Enhanced AI Tools for Shorts: YouTubeās Dream Screen and Dream Track will integrate Googleās Veo 2 for more advanced background and music generation.
Why It Matters
YouTube is weaving AI into every aspect of the platform, making content creation more efficient and expanding global reach.
With auto-dubbing and AI-powered tools rolling out more broadly, creators can connect with larger audiencesāfaster than ever.
š® AI AGENTS
The Vertical AI Agent Market No Startup Can Afford to Ignore

Is AI just another passing tech trend, or are we on the brink of a transformation that will reshape entire industries?
Every few decades, a major shift redefines the startup landscapeāthe SaaS boom of the 2000s, the rise of mobile-first businesses in the 2010s. Today, AI stands at a similar tipping point, but this time, the impact could be even greater.
The AI agents market is projected to grow from $5.1 billion in 2024 to $47.1 billion by 2030, fueled by an astonishing 44.8% CAGR.
At the heart of this explosion are vertical AI agentsāindustry-specific AI solutions designed to automate complex workflows in sectors like finance, retail, and healthcare.
Unlike horizontal AI, which provides broad, general-purpose tools, vertical AI agents deliver highly specialized automation, unlocking new levels of efficiency and profitability.
And yet, many founders are underestimating the scale of this opportunity.
A leading VC predicts that within the next two to three years, at least five Vertical AI companies will surpass $100M+ ARR, fundamentally transforming their industries.
YC takes this a step further, forecasting that Vertical AI Agents could outscale SaaS by 10X, redefining automation as we know it.
For startups looking to build the next wave of AI-powered businesses, one thing is clear: ignoring the vertical AI agent market is no longer an option.
š INVESTMENT & FUNDRAISING
Macronās ā¬109B AI Gamble: Can France Take on the U.S. and China?
AI is heating up, and France just went all in. President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a jaw-dropping ā¬109 billion ($112 billion) AI investment planāhis boldest move yet to put France on the global AI map.
Hereās the breakdown:
Paris is center stage as it hosts the AI Action Summit, where Macron used the spotlight to drop this massive funding announcement.
Franceās answer to Stargateāthatās what Macron is calling it, referencing the U.S.'s $500 billion AI push. (France has 5x fewer people, so he says the numbers check out.)
Big money is backing itāthe UAE, Canadaās Brookfield, Franceās Bpifrance, and telecom giant Iliad have already pledged ā¬83 billion ($85 billion), with more expected to follow.
Infrastructure firstāmost of the funding is going into AI-focused data centers, the backbone for training and running massive AI models.
Franceās AI startups are inātop European OpenAI competitor Mistral and others are investing billions in new AI clusters.
Nuclear energy is a strategic playāFranceās stable, low-carbon power supply gives it an edge in meeting AIās massive energy demands.
Why It Matters
France is making a serious power move in AI. The nuclear advantage is smart, and theyāre backing it up with real money. But hereās the real test: Can they keep their top AI startups from relocating to the U.S.? Thatās the billion-euro question.
What do you thinkādoes France have what it takes to stay in the AI race?
ConverzAI, a U.S.-based AI recruitment platform, raised $16M in Series A led by Menlo Ventures. It automates candidate engagement and interview scheduling. (Link)
Positron, a U.S. AI hardware startup, secured $23.5M in Seed funding from Flume Ventures. It builds energy-efficient chips for multimodal AI. (Link)
Moderne, an AI-powered code analysis platform, raised $30M in Series B from Acrew Capital. It automates code migration and security
analysis.(Link)Stellaromics, a biotech firm, secured $80M in Series B from Catalyst4. It specializes in 3D spatial transcriptions and multi-omics research. (Link)
QuEra, a quantum computing startup, raised $230M in Series B from SoftBank Vision Fund. It develops Rydberg atom-based quantum computers. (Link)
š NEW JOBS
AI at Work: Powering Coders and Creators

A recent analysis of 4 million interactions with Anthropic's AI assistant, Claude, provides valuable insights into how artificial intelligence is currently utilized across various professions.
The findings highlight that AI's impact is most pronounced in software development and writing-related roles, while its presence in physically intensive jobs remains minimal.
Key Insights:
Dominant Sectors: 37.2% of AI usage is in the computer and mathematical sector (software modification, code debugging, network troubleshooting).
Arts & Media: 10.3% of AI interactions occur in arts, design, sports, entertainment, and media, primarily for writing and editing tasks.
Limited Physical Labor Integration: Minimal AI adoption in construction, healthcare, and transportation due to physical task requirements.

Augmentation vs. Automation: 57% of AI use augments human capabilities (learning, brainstorming, task iteration).
Automation: 43% of AI use automates tasks (formatting documents, generating code snippets).
Mid-to-High Wage Professions: AI is widely used by computer programmers and copywriters.
Low AI Engagement: Minimal usage in low-wage (shampooers) and high-wage (obstetricians) roles due to manual dexterity and complexity.
These insights suggest that while AI is making significant inroads in certain sectors, particularly those involving cognitive tasks, its role remains largely supportive.
The technology is currently enhancing human productivity rather than replacing it, especially in fields that require creativity, analytical thinking, and specialized knowledge.
Find the Remote Jobs Youāve Been Searching For!

Check out these exciting job opportunities in top companies, offering remote and flexible roles in software engineering, backend development, and more. Explore the details and find your next career move!
Campany Name | Job Profile |
Frontend Engineer (Contract) | |
Full-Stack Software Engineer (4+ years experience: Canada) | |
Founding Developer Success Engineer | |
Data Engineer | |
Staff Software Engineer (Gen AI Focused) |
š¼ Ready to take the leap? Get the full list of remote opportunities with Y Combinator-backed startups and find your perfect role today! š
š FREE AI AGENT COURSE
AI Agent CertificationāEnroll Today!

The AI landscape is evolving fast, and AI agents are at the forefront of this transformation. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, developer, or entrepreneur, understanding how to build and deploy AI agents is a game-changer.
Thatās why Hugging Face just launched a FREE AI Agent Courseāand itās already making waves! š In just 1 hour, 160+ students have earned their first certification.
Whatās in it for you?
š¹ Learn AI Agent fundamentalsāfrom theory to hands-on coding
š¹ Use top AI libraries like LangChain, LlamaIndex & smolagents
š¹ Build and share your own AI agents on Hugging Face Hub
š¹ Compete in challenges to refine and test your agents
š¹ Earn industry-recognized certifications to boost your credentials
How to get started?
āļø Sign up and explore the syllabus
āļø Join the Discord to connect with AI experts & peers
āļø Create your Hugging Face account and start building
āļø Take quizzes & earn certificates to showcase your expertise
š” AI agents are reshaping automation, productivity, and innovation. Are you ready to be part of this revolution?
š¤ AI TOOLS
šÆ Boost ROI with These AI Ad Tools!
Traditional ad strategies are no longer enough in todayās competitive digital landscape. Marketers need real-time insights, hyper-personalization, and automation to maximize ROI. Thatās where AI-powered advertising tools come inātransforming how businesses create, optimize, and scale their campaigns.
š Hyros ā Advanced ad tracking and attribution for accurate performance insights.
šØ AdCreative.ai ā AI-powered ad creatives that boost engagement and conversions.
š Hoppy Copy ā AI-generated ad copy optimized for performance and impact.
š Metadata ā Automates B2B ad targeting and campaign optimization.
š¤ Madgicx āØ ā AI-driven ad management for scaling campaigns effortlessly.
š¬ Wavel.ai & DeepBrainAI ā AI-powered video creation and voiceovers.
š¢ Hootsuite ā AI-assisted social media ad management and scheduling.
š Lunio ā Fraud detection to eliminate wasted ad spend on bots and fake clicks.
š” AI is reshaping the future of advertising, making campaigns smarter, more efficient, and highly targeted. Are you leveraging AI in your ad strategy?
Ready to explore AI tools thatāll revolutionize your editing game?
š FREE FINDS
200 Online Side Hustles That Can Replace Your 9-5!

Artificial Intelligence isnāt just transforming industriesāitās reshaping how we create wealth. Whether youāre an entrepreneur, creator, or professional looking for new revenue streams, now is the time to leverage AI for financial growth.
š The Big Question: How can you use AI to build a sustainable income?
This guide reveals 200+ actionable strategies designed for:
ā
Solopreneurs & Freelancers ā Automate workflows, optimize pricing, and enhance services.
ā
Content Creators ā Scale content production, monetize engagement, and build AI-powered communities.
ā
E-commerce Innovators ā Use AI for smarter product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and automated fulfillment.
ā
Tech Professionals ā Develop AI-driven solutions or consult on AI implementation.
ā
Side Hustlers ā Launch low-cost, AI-powered businesses with minimal upfront investment.
š Why This Matters:
AI is no longer optionalāitās a competitive advantage.
The future of work is changingāadapt now to stay ahead.
Opportunities exist across industriesāfrom AI-generated art to automated investing.
š Your AI Wealth-Building Playbook Awaits!
This isnāt just a list of ideasāitās a roadmap with clear steps to get started. If youāre ready to future-proof your income, download the guide and explore practical, high-impact AI opportunities.
š¬ Which AI income idea interests you the most?
š STARTUP SPOTLIGHT
How to Break Into Venture Capital & 10 Years of AI VC Insights (Link)
š Ready to land a role at a Y Combinator startup? Discover remote positions hiring NOW! Plus, tips to break into Venture Capital & 10 years of AI VC insights. and more in today's #newsletter.
#StartupJobs#VentureCapital#RemoteWork
foundevo.beehiiv.com/p/dreaming-of-ā¦ā Compare BizTech (@CompareBizTech)
1:28 PM ā¢ Nov 6, 2024
7 Startup Valuation Strategies Every Founder Needs (Link)
25 Must-Answer Questions for Winning Founders (Link)
300+ Investor Questions Every Founder Must Know (Link)
15 Key Questions to Define Your Funding Strategy (Link)
Go-to-Market Strategy 2025: Beyond Just Sales (Link)
Founder Pay: Why It Matters & How to Get It Right (Link)
šÆWEB PICKS
no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
ā Sam Altman (@sama)
9:11 PM ā¢ Feb 10, 2025
Reply