Deal Makers (& Fakers) is my podcast where fundraising gets real. No polished success stories. No fake LinkedIn wins. <br/><br/><a href="https://dealmakersandfakers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">dealmakersandfakers.substack.com</a>
Deal Makers (& Fakers) Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Niclas Schlopsna
14 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
Deal Makers (& Fakers) is my podcast where fundraising gets real. No polished success stories. No fake LinkedIn wins. <br/><br/><a href="https://dealmakersandfakers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">dealmakersandfakers.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/8/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 12, 2026
A $400M Fund's Contrarian Bet Against AI Startups | Denis x spectup
<p>In this exclusive episode, we reveal why a $400M New York fund is passing on standard software loops to invest heavily in the physical industries building the future.</p><p>A few days ago, Niclas Schlöpsna sat down with Denis, the visionary lead behind 2BF Global Ventures, a premier <strong>New York-based venture capital firm commanding over $400 million in assets under management.</strong> </p><p>Drawing from his fifth consecutive fund and an impressive portfolio featuring market leaders like ServiceTitan and Fubo, Denis shares a contrarian investment thesis that directly opposes standard industry logic. As a former rocket scientist holding <strong>dual Master’s Degrees</strong> from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, he has built one of the world's most foundational global communities for SpaceTech founders.</p><p>What You’ll Learn in This Video Podcast?</p><p>You will learn how to align your goals with the expectations of an experienced investment fund manager.- The $400M Fund Thesis: Inside the capital allocation strategy of 2BF Global Ventures’ fifth active fund.- 11,000 Pitch Decks Decoded: The core patterns, fatal errors, and traction markers analyzed across 12 years of venture profiling.- The Frontier Tech Paradox: Why a trained rocket scientist focuses on heavy foundational industries over fleeting digital trends.- Building a SpaceTech Community: Deconstructing how specialized global networks help niche tech operators scale efficiently.- The Contrarian Investor Mindset: Overcoming standard analyst groupthink to capture exceptional value in uncrowded, high-barrier markets.</p><p>About spectup:</p><p>Capital advisory for companies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partners</p><p><p>Subscribe for weekly startup funding advice and analysis. Tell us in the comments which part of the venture capital strategy process you want us to cover next.</p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://dealmakersandfakers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">dealmakersandfakers.substack.com</a>
May 29, 2026
From a €15M market operator to a €30M VC – Secrets of a Venture Capitalist
<p>In this episode of Deal Makers, Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Vlad Sarca, Managing Partner at Sparking Capital, to unlock the raw, behind-the-scenes mechanics of early-stage venture capital. </p><p>What actually goes through a venture capitalist's mind when they review your pitch deck? </p><p>Vlad breaks down the exact framework he uses to evaluate founders, moving past the superficial "AI" buzzwords that often ruin otherwise strong pitches. For founders navigating capital advisory and venture capital, understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving your startup’s quality of life and survival rate in a competitive market. We also dive deep into the Eastern European tech ecosystem, deconstructing the secret price arbitrage giving regional startups a massive edge and how the "EU-Inc" initiative could stop founders from fleeing to Delaware. </p><p>This perspective is essential for driving regional economic development and building a sustainable legacy in global tech. </p><p>What You’ll Learn in This Video Podcast?</p><p>- <strong>The 10% Pass Rate</strong>: Why the vast majority of pitch decks are immediately rejected during the initial screening process. - <strong>The "AI" Trap</strong>: Why forcing tech buzzwords into your deck is killing your credibility with experienced investors. - <strong>Cap Table Death Traps</strong>: The specific equity splits, unengaged academic mentors, and broken ownership structures that make your startup completely uninvestable. - <strong>VC Syndicates & Partnership</strong>s: How venture capitalists simultaneously compete and collaborate behind the scenes to close high-quality deals. - <strong>The Price Arbitrage Advantage</strong>: How Eastern European startups leverage lower operational costs to achieve massive scalability with less capital. - <strong>Term Sheet Realities</strong>: The exact founder behaviours, unrealistic projections, and lack of responsibility that cause VCs to pull out of a deal. </p><p><p>Thanks for reading Deal Makers (& Fakers)! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></p><p>About spectup: </p><p>At spectup, we provide high-stakes capital advisory for founders looking to scale their impact. Capital advisory for companies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partners</p><p><p>Check out www.spectup.com</p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://dealmakersandfakers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">dealmakersandfakers.substack.com</a>
May 15, 2026
From academic research to raising €4.5M Capital for AI-powered Scent Tech
<p>The wellness industry is growing rapidly, with unique sensory innovations now leading the way in sleep health. </p><p>In this episode, Niclas Schlöpsna, Managing Partner at spectup, sits down with Dr. Emanuela Maggioni, CEO of <a target="_blank" href="https://hynt.net/">Hynt Labs</a>, to discuss how a sophisticated lab project secured €4.5M in total capital. </p><p><p>Thanks for reading Deal Makers (& Fakers)! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p>Emanuela, an expert with 20 years of experience in olfactory science and neuroscience, shares her journey from researching at <strong>Sussex and University College London (UCL)</strong> to leading a high-growth deep-tech company. We explore how Hynt Labs utilises real-time scent interventions to optimise sleep stages by integrating via APIs with established wearables like:</p><p>Oura, Samsung Watch, and WHOOP. </p><p>What You Will Learn?</p><p>- <strong>The €4.5M Funding Strategy</strong>: How Hynt Labs combined €3.5M in equity and €1 M (£1M) in research grants. - <strong>The Pivot to Sleep Tech</strong>: Why moving from general sensory widgets to targeted sleep intervention was the key to commercial success. - <strong>Davos & Global Marketing</strong>: How demonstrating technology at the World Economic Forum acted as a massive growth multiplier. - <strong>Lab to Boardroom</strong>: Overcoming the academic mindset to embrace B2B licensing and business clarity. -<strong>Deep Tech Landscape</strong>: Navigating the differences between European and US investment risks</p><p><p>Thanks for reading Deal Makers (& Fakers)! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></p><p>About spectup:</p><p>Capital advisory for comapnies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partners</p><p><p>Check out: www.spectup.com</p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://dealmakersandfakers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">dealmakersandfakers.substack.com</a>
14 total episodes available
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