How I Secured $11 Million for My Start-Up | LGBTQ Venture Capital | Queer Money

Many LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs bootstrap their businesses, leveraging the capital we’ve got to get our venture going. But what if you pitched your idea to your network? Imagine what you could accomplish if you raised a large sum of money for your startup from investors. Mark Cozzi is Founder and CEO at The Bettering Company, a luxury edibles brand in the cannabis industry. Mark spent 35 years in corporate finance and private equity before he decided to build his own company.

On this episode of Queer Money®, Mark explains what inspired his interest in the cannabis sector and how he raised $11 million for The Bettering Company. Mark describes what it’s like to pitch your startup to potential investors and discusses the responsibility associated with taking money from friends and family.

Listen in for Mark’s advice on sharing the vision for your business with investors and learn how landing $11 million in funding changed The Bettering Company—for the better!

Topics Covered on how I secured 11 million dollars

Mark’s background in finance and private equity investments
Why Mark offers his employees equity stock ownership
Where Mark got the courage to build his own company (and if being gay influenced his decision)
How investing in startups informed Mark’s decision to become an entrepreneur
What inspired Mark’s interest in the cannabis industry
Why Mark chose edibles and what steps he took to learn about the sector
What part of the business Mark bootstrapped and when he started taking on investors
The responsibility associated with taking money from friends and family to fund your startup
What it feels like to pitch your company to potential investors
Mark’s advice on reaching out to your network and sharing the vision for your startup
How it changed Mark’s view of the business when he landed $11M in funding
Mark’s plans to add new flavors and expand to other markets

Connect with Mark Cozzi

The Bettering Company
The Bettering Company on Instagram

Resources on how I secured 11 million dollars

Arlan Hamilton on Queer Money EP476
Employee Stock Purchase Plans on Queer Money EP430
The Dropout
WeWork Documentary
CreditWise
Debt Free Guys on Facebook
Debt Free Guys on X
Debt Free Guys on YouTube
Queer Money on Instagram
Subscribe to Queer Money on Apple Podcasts
Email [email protected]