😅 Tariffs, coffee, valuations, fundraising, active investor list, funding opportunities, stocking up, and more
This is a monthly newsletter of curated actionable insights and resources for over 20,000 underestimated founders, funders, and friends.
Uffff. Tariffs. Trade war. Market instability. The noise is loud. But don’t give in to the mania. This is a moment to stay clear-headed, nimble, and focused on what actually moves the needle. I’m personally stocking up on shelf-stable essentials (like coffee ☕️/chocolate 🍫/toilet paper 🧻) and keeping my energy on what I can control —like filing taxes… or at least asking for an extension 😅.
For founders, this situation means stretching capital, prioritizing efficiency, and staying ready to act. For funders and friends, it means continuing to write checks and to support the community - be it through resources, intros, or programs.
Changing topics: I’m grateful for your survey feedback. 60% of you read every issue 🥹, and many of you have already used this community to access funding, intros, and real traction! And, if you haven’t yet, I invite you to:
✅ Use the Startup-Matching Tool for warm intros to founders and investors.
✅ Pitch Ganas your startup.
✅ Sign up to mentor, scout, or support at ganas.vc.
✅ Collab with us.
Thanks for being here. You make this community what it is.
✨ Lolita Taub, GP at Ganas Ventures | X | LinkedIn
Ganas Ventures invests $100K checks into pre-seed and seed community-driven startups in the US and Latin America. We’ve been featured in Forbes, Nasdaq, Techcrunch, and more.
Congrats
Unvale (port co) raised $1.8M. Nufi (port co) raised $1.5M. Storybook (port co) made the top charts on the Apple App. Leadsales (port co) partnered with Meta. The Swarm (port co) partnered with Clay. LiquiDonate (port co) partnered with Loop. Ceremonia (port co) won the Founder Made 2025 Future of Beauty Award and made the 2025 Inc Female Founders 500 List. Careerflow (port co) made the 2025 Best AI-Based Career Platforms. Ganas Ventures was featured in the Pilot's 2025 Founder Salary Report and the new edition of the Community-in-a-Box book.
Sponsored | Ganas Ventures is building the 2025 Active Women Investor List to help you get discovered by founders, recognized by LPs, and tapped into more dealflow. If you’re writing checks, add your name. Then, check out the 2025 Women Founder List!
For investors
CBInsights | Early-stage deals are getting squeezed. Don’t sleep on underdog founders.
Pitchbook | Plan for tariffs, inflation, interest making valuations fuzzy.
Funds | More solo founders = more risk, less perceived balance. Most investors still favor teams with complementary skills.
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | VCs, meet thesis-aligned underestimated founders.
Sponsored | Founders: Come connect with Ganas Ventures! We’re here to build community, add value, and back the best founders.
For founders
Pitchbook | Tariffs = rising costs. Rework your pricing + supply chain now.
CBInsights | More $ in market, but fewer deals = harder to get funded. You’ll need a tight story, strong traction, and warm intros to stand out.
HCP | 2 new diverse unicorns (Helion Energy, Twelve) = proof of what’s possible at scale. Keep building.
LaaS | Underestimated founders, get resources made for you.
Sponsored | Ganas Ventures launched the 2025 Women Founder List to help more women get seen and funded. If you’re raising, add yourself and then check out the 2025 Active Women Investor List!
Money
Famous | Black founders: apply for $50K by 4/23
Galaxy | Founders: apply for $23K by 4/30
BAPC | Black founders: apply for $100K by 5/2
Boundless | Women founders: apply for $25K by 5/15
Santander | East Coast founders: apply for $20K
Ganas Ventures | Pre-seed & seed founders: apply for $100K
RCF | Social Impact founders: Apply for $15K grants
Square | Black founders: Apply for $15K
Workers Lab | BIPOC women: apply for $200K
Amber | Women founders: apply for <$10K grants
Z Fellow | Technical tinkerers: apply for a $10K grant
Equity Crowdfunding | Raise up to $5 million
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | Founders: get intros to investors
Want more? Follow @lolitataub and get additional resources here. Want to support our newsletter and get featured? Become a sponsor.
Extremely insightful! Thank you. 🙌🏼