Why Founders Can’t Outsource Fundraising: Financing and Crowdfunding with Justin Starbird
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Why Founders Can’t Outsource Fundraising: Leadership, Financing, and Crowdfunding Reality is covered in this podcast.
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In this episode of Leadership Live at 805 – Talking Small Business, Andrew Frazier is joined by marketing agency founder and crowdfunding strategist Justin Starbird to unpack a hard truth: you can’t outsource leadership in your financing process.
Together, they explore why so many business owners misunderstand what it really takes to raise capital—whether through crowdfunding or traditional debt financing—and what separates the few standout campaigns from the many that quietly fizzle out. Justin shares lessons from campaigns that helped raise over $23 million in 18 months, including one of the largest equity crowdfunding campaigns of 2025 at $5.7 million, and explains why that kind of success requires founders to be deeply involved every single day.
You’ll learn:
• Why the belief that an agency or advisor will “raise the money for you” is so dangerous.
• What successful founders actually do during an active raise—and how much time it really takes.
• How audience building and authentic storytelling drive funding outcomes, especially in B2B, med-tech, and hard-tech.
• The parallels between equity crowdfunding and debt financing, and why both demand hands-on leadership from the owner.
• A practical playbook for business owners thinking about raising capital in the next 12–18 months.
If you’re a small business owner or founder considering a raise—or just trying to better understand how financing fits into your growth strategy—this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you a clearer roadmap for leading your next move.
Justin Starbird is the founder and CEO of a B2B marketing agency specializing in marketing for med-tech, healthcare, life sciences, and other regulated industries. Over the past 18 months, his team has helped support crowdfunding campaigns that raised approximately $23 million, including one of the largest equity crowdfunding campaigns of 2025 at $5.7 million.
He is also the creator of the TAG Awards and Business to Business Innovation Awards and produces 19 podcasts focused on business growth, innovation, and leadership.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinstarbird/
• Website: https://www.aebligroup.com/
Every Tuesday evening on Leadership LIVE @ 8:05! - Talking Small Business, your host Andrew Frazier, is joined by experienced entrepreneurs and business owners who share their secrets to success via Livestream. You will learn about developing your business leadership skills from our roster of high-performing guest experts. Leadership LIVE is one of the many valuable resources provided through the Small Business Pro University, empowering business owners to learn, profit, and grow.
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