Archive - Spotlight by Xartup

The Key to MVP Success: Validate, Then Build

Before you build, test. Here’s how validating your idea before development could save time, money, and heartbreak

Jul 2 •

June 2025

Why Most Startup Waitlists Suck (And How To Fix Yours)

A deep dive into the benchmarks behind great waitlists — and the proven tactics to turn interest into action.

Jun 11 •

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ESOP Buybacks & Founder Liquidity: The New Fundraising Milestone

Why startups are turning equity into cash and how buybacks are becoming the hottest new milestone in fundraising.

Jun 7 •

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What Sequoia Wants Every Founder to Know About Runway

From debt traps to milestone math, here’s the playbook VCs use to assess whether you’ll raise again or run out.

Jun 4 •

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May 2025

How Founders Are Raising Money via WhatsApp DMs

How founders are skipping decks, data rooms, and raising funds straight from DMs.

May 31 •

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The Forecast Model Every Startup Needs

How to predict your financial future without needing a finance degree

May 28 •

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The Fundraising Funnel: Why Smart Founders Treat It Like Sales

Steal the sales funnel playbook top founders use to close term sheets faster.

May 24 •

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The Anti-Pitch Deck: What Founders Are Sending Instead of 15 Slides

Pitch decks are dying. Here's what top founders are using in 2025 to raise funding without a single slide.

May 21 •

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7 Startup Fundraising Frameworks

How Top Founders Nail Their Fundraise (And What You Can Learn)

May 17 •

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The Two Laws that Govern Startup Success

Learn why capital is not a solution, how growth engines decay, and how to spot the signs before it's too late.

May 14 •

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Fundraising Trends VCs Are Watching in 2025 (And You Should Too)

Where Venture Capital is Headed (2025–2030)

May 10 •

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Uber’s fundraising playbook decoded

How Uber Raised Billions: From an idea in Paris to a global giant, Lessons from a Fundraising Powerhouse

May 7 •

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