Deal Makers (& Fakers) Podcast

Deal Makers (& Fakers) is my podcast where fundraising gets real. No polished success stories. No fake LinkedIn wins. dealmakersandfakers.substack.com

Deal Makers (& Fakers) Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Niclas Schlopsna, with 20 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Niclas Schlopsna hosts Deal Makers (& Fakers) Podcast, a business show with 20 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

  From a €15M market operator to a €30M VC – Secrets of a Venture Capitalist

  May 29, 202631 minS1

  <p>In this episode of Deal Makers, Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Vlad Sarca, Managing Partner at Sparking Capital, to unlock the raw, behind-the-scenes mechanics of early-stage venture capital. </p><p>What actually goes through a venture capitalist's mind when they review your pitch deck? </p><p>Vlad breaks down the exact framework he uses to evaluate founders, moving past the superficial "AI" buzzwords that often ruin otherwise strong pitches. For founders navigating capital advisory and venture capital, understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving your startup’s quality of life and survival rate in a competitive market. We also di...

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  Deal Makers (& Fakers) Podcast

  From academic research to raising €4.5M Capital for AI-powered Scent Tech

  May 15, 202643 minS0

  <p>The wellness industry is growing rapidly, with unique sensory innovations now leading the way in sleep health. </p><p>In this episode, Niclas Schlöpsna, Managing Partner at spectup, sits down with Dr. Emanuela Maggioni, CEO of Hynt Labs, to discuss how a sophisticated lab project secured €4.5M in total capital. </p><p><p>Thanks for reading Deal Makers (& Fakers)! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p>Emanuela, an expert with 20 years of experience in olfactory science and neuroscience, shares her journey from researching at Sussex and University College London (UCL) to leading a h...

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  Episode #10

  She raised €4.5M without giving equity.

  May 13, 20261 minS1

  <p>In this exclusive trailer for Episode 10 of Deal Makers (& Fakers), Niclas Schlöpsna, Managing Partner at spectup, sits down with Dr. Emanuela Maggioni, the founder of Hynt Labs. Dr. Emanuela Maggioni reveals how she is transforming wearable data from devices like Oura, Samsung Watch, and WHOOP into real-time sensory interventions to improve sleep performance. </p><p>This perspective highlights the bridge between complex neuroscience and the consumer wellness market, illustrating how economic development in the deep tech sector is set to improve the quality of life for millions. </p><p><p>Thanks for reading Deal Makers (& Fakers)! Subscribe for f...

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  Episode #9

  From Mastercard to Raising $5M from 20VC on a Weekend

  Apr 24, 202643 minS1

  <p>Raising millions at record speed is often portrayed as luck, but for serial founders, it’s a calculated play of leverage, unit economics, and deep-tech infrastructure.</p><p>In this episode of Deal Makers (& Fakers), Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Kirk to break down the transition from corporate leadership at Mastercard to navigating the Death Valley of fintech startups.</p><p>Kirk shares his journey of leveraging a $45M exit to bypass the standard fundraising cycle, closing a $5M round in a single weekend.</p><p>He also shared why he believes your unit economics matter infinitely more than a...

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  Episode #8

  He raised $400M for Biotech, an MIT PhD and a secret to the Roche deal.

  Apr 10, 202637 minS1

  <p>🚀 Episode 8 of Deal Makers (& Fakers) - with Armon Sharei, Founder of Portal Bio and SQZ Biotech.</p><p>Biotech startup IPO success and raising $400M in venture capital is a dream for many founders, but what happens after you go public? </p><p>In this episode of Deal Makers (& Fakers), Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Armon Sharei, former founder of SQZ Biotech and current founder of Portal Bio, to discuss scaling cell therapy and the reality of the biotech industry.</p><p>Armon Sharei shares his journey from a PhD at MIT under Robert Langer to closing a massive dea...

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