In a competitive fundraising environment, traction is everything. Investors want to see proof that people care about what you’re building, and few signals are stronger than an active, engaged community.

When customers gather around your product, share ideas, support each other, and drive word-of-mouth growth, you’re not just building a loyal user base. You’re creating an ecosystem.

And that makes your startup far more attractive to investors. A well-built community is proof of demand, trust, and staying power, three things investors look for before they write a check.

It shows that people aren’t just buying your product. They believe in your mission, engage with your brand, and want to be part of what you’re building.

In this episode of Seed Money, we’re joined by Ash Lennar, founder of Odd Circles, a cutting-edge platform that helps startups and brands build high-impact communities at scale.

Odd Circles has powered more than 300 communities worldwide, including one used by none other than Seth Godin. Ash shares how founders can use community as both a growth engine and a credibility signal, especially when fundraising isn’t going to plan.

Topics Covered:

• How Odd Circles grew to power over 300 real-world meetups

• The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching to investors

• Why bootstrapping might beat fundraising in a competitive market

• How to build a community even if your product isn’t “community-based”

• What consumer brands, SaaS startups, and even food companies can learn from Ash’s approach

• Leveraging community to generate revenue and investor traction

• How to grow community engagement beyond social media noise

Guest Bio

Ash Lonare is a speaker, the Founder and CEO of Odd Circles, and host of The Founders Podcast. Odd Circles streamlines community and event management with world-class support, making it easier for you to monetize your events with direct payouts at a fraction of the cost. Connect with Ash on LinkedIn.

About Your Host

Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she’s on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality!

Connect:

Website: https://seedmoneypodcast.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylasiciliano/

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