😡 This made me furious (and grateful)

3 weeks ago, I was in Phoenix for RaiseFest. And I couldn't believe the very first words spoken from stage:

"It's hard raising capital right now."

My first thought - don't tell my clients. I don't want that thought in their heads. Besides, they're raising way more than ever.

But here's where we can all agree - Investors are nervous (scared out of their pants perhaps). Investing has been volatile.

This isn't 2021 anymore. So you need an upgrade in your techniques if you want to upgrade your bank account.

If you’ve been struggling to close commitments or grow your investor network, you’re not alone.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, there are strategies that are working right now—even in this market.

Why This Matters

Capital is the lifeblood of your deals. Without it, nothing moves forward.

If you can’t raise capital effectively, you:

❌ Miss out on great opportunities.

❌ Lose investor confidence.

❌ Struggle to scale.

But if you do get this right?

You’ll raise more money AND you’ll also build a loyal investor base that trusts you no matter what the market is doing.

What Most People Get Wrong

When markets tighten, many people panic and start pushing harder. They send more emails. They post more content. They try to automate everything.

The problem? Investors don’t invest based on volume—they invest based on trust.

And trust isn’t built through automation alone. It’s built through connection.

What’s Working in Capital Raising Right Now

✅ Personal Engagement

With AI and automations everywhere, there’s never been a better time to go old school. Call someone. Meet for coffee. Jump on a Zoom.

Investors are craving real conversations.

When you engage personally, you find mutual values and build long-term trust.

✅ Funnels for Educational Content

AI does have its place—it’s great for creating many touch-points at scale.

Use it to share your story, your track record, your family, and your interests.

Raisemasters’ research found that people develop trust after seeing you: for 7 hours across 11 touch-points on 4 different platforms.

Make sure they’re seeing you often.

✅ Authenticity = Leadership

When people feel nervous, they look to leaders to soothe their anxiety.

And the best way to lead?

Be you.

Share your predictions and your point of view.

Show how you're personally navigating the recession.

People are naturally drawn to visionary leaders—especially during uncertain times.

✅ Build Community

Loneliness is at an all-time high.

Most investors feel isolated.

Give them a compelling community to be part of.

When you learn about their goals, connect them with others:

“One of our investors is using his cash flow to take his wife on a dream trip.”

“We have investors in our fund who are using their returns to start a nonprofit.”

When people feel connected, they stay loyal.

The Takeaway

Raising capital in today’s market is doable.

This is the time in the cycle when REAL relationships mean the world.

✅ Engage personally.

✅ Build trust through education.

✅ Lead with authenticity.

✅ Create community.

Do this every day and watch your numbers soar.

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Research citations:

Hart, E., Bitterly, T. B., Zlatev, J. J., & Cooper, C. D. (2023). Novel insights into who, where, and why we trust. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1), 12345.

Hennig-Thurau, T., Gwinner, K. P., & Gremler, D. D. (2002). Understanding relationship marketing outcomes: An integration of relational benefits and relationship quality. Journal of Service Research, 4(3), 230-247.

Lehmann-Willenbrock, N., Kauffeld, K., & Spurk, S. (2023). Navigating the unknown: Uncertainty moderates the link between visionary leadership and follower’s perceived meaningfulness. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 96(2), 345-367.

Chris

P.S. Still not sure what to do?

Sleep on it. Sometimes the answer gets clearer when you stop staring at the problem.

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I help you:

1. Become a $500MM Syndicator

A 1:1 custom experience designed to 3x your capital raising and 10x your assets under management. Train your brain to make success inevitable without sacrificing your personal life.

2. Money Mental Community

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