MAKERS MINDSET
PODCAST
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In conversation with Alisa Carmichael, Investment Partner at VMG Partners
SEASON 2 | EPISODE 6
Episode Highlights
- Choose Your Investors Wisely. Select investors who can give you more than just capital — people who understand your field and can share strategic insights.
- Build Relationships Early. Start building relationships with potential investors well before fundraising. Go to trade shows and industry events, and even send cold emails to grow your connections.
- Understand Your Financial Needs. Know your cash flows to have a good sense of how much funding you’ll need. This helps you avoid constant fundraising — and protects your equity ownership, too.
- Be Extra-Prepared for Fundraising. Have your pitch deck, financials, and other key details organized and ready to present at any time. This helps you keep up your momentum with potential investors and stay competitive.
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Alisa Carmichael is the proud mom of two growing boys and Investment Partner at VMG Partners. Like many investors, she got her start in investment banking before joining the ever-evolving world of private equity. Unlike many of her fellow investors, however, Alisa was a black woman who was grappling with imposter syndrome at every turn. Fast-forward to today and she’s not just embracing her role as mother, daughter, investor, mentor, and friend, but owning it. Her unrelenting focus on the BIPOC community inspired the firm’s formation of The Parity Collective: an initiative focused on investing in founders of color across the consumer industry.
