<p>In this episode, Curtis Northcutt, MIT PhD and founder of CleanLab, shares his compelling journey from rural Kentucky to raising $25 million from Menlo Ventures and Bain Capital. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Curtis reflects on the challenges of growing up with limited opportunities, the loneliness of dreaming big in a small town, and how those experiences ignited his drive to build something meaningful. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>He also dives into the complexities of raising capital during a downturn, balancing investor relationships, and making tough decisions about dilution. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>With a mix of personal stories, sharp insights, and practical advice, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a startup from scratch and scale it with purpose.</p> <p><br />--</p> <p> </p> <p>If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/c13f32e7-dbfe-489f-8c1b-9da1f632aec2/shows/37a9ca33-2896-414e-a790-43a2620f0b43/episodes/70b9f899-5909-4a34-b1c0-a1233bb573f9/For%20a%20topic%20that%20seems%20to%20be%20%22cliche%22,%20it%20sure%20is%20important.%20%20What%20if%20we%20were%20to%20tell%20you%20that%20getting%20support%20around%20your%20fundraise%20is%20one%20of%20the%20best%20ways%20to%20guarantee%20success?%20%20As%20founders,%20you%20are%20automatically%20biased%20toward%20your%20own%20product.%20%20%20That%20means%20you%20are%20also%20biased%20toward%20your%20pitch,%20deck,%20and%20any%20other%20materials%20you%20might%20share%20with%20an%20investor.%20%20In%20this%20episode,%20Jason%20dives%20into%203%20areas%20of%20fundraising%20you%20should%20be%20getting%20support%20around,%20and%20why%20it%27s%20so%20important.%20%20See%20you%20guys%20next%20week%20on%20The%20Backchannel!%20%20--%20%20If%20you%27re%20looking%20for%20more%20fundraising%20content,%20grab%20our%20weekly%20newsletter%20packed%20full%20of%20strategies%20and%20insights%20around%20how%20to%20raise%20money:%20fundedpod.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">fundedpod.com/newsletter</a><br />If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: <a href="https://www.admnt.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">admnt.com</a></p>

Funded | How They Raised Millions

Adamant

How Curtis Northcutt Closed a $25M Series A for Cleanlab (Curtis Northcutt / Cleanlab - Ep 51)

OCT 29, 202462 MIN
Funded | How They Raised Millions

How Curtis Northcutt Closed a $25M Series A for Cleanlab (Curtis Northcutt / Cleanlab - Ep 51)

OCT 29, 202462 MIN

Description

<p>In this episode, Curtis Northcutt, MIT PhD and founder of CleanLab, shares his compelling journey from rural Kentucky to raising $25 million from Menlo Ventures and Bain Capital. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Curtis reflects on the challenges of growing up with limited opportunities, the loneliness of dreaming big in a small town, and how those experiences ignited his drive to build something meaningful. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>He also dives into the complexities of raising capital during a downturn, balancing investor relationships, and making tough decisions about dilution. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>With a mix of personal stories, sharp insights, and practical advice, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a startup from scratch and scale it with purpose.</p> <p><br />--</p> <p> </p> <p>If you're looking for more fundraising content, grab our weekly newsletter packed full of strategies and insights around how to raise money: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/c13f32e7-dbfe-489f-8c1b-9da1f632aec2/shows/37a9ca33-2896-414e-a790-43a2620f0b43/episodes/70b9f899-5909-4a34-b1c0-a1233bb573f9/For%20a%20topic%20that%20seems%20to%20be%20%22cliche%22,%20it%20sure%20is%20important.%20%20What%20if%20we%20were%20to%20tell%20you%20that%20getting%20support%20around%20your%20fundraise%20is%20one%20of%20the%20best%20ways%20to%20guarantee%20success?%20%20As%20founders,%20you%20are%20automatically%20biased%20toward%20your%20own%20product.%20%20%20That%20means%20you%20are%20also%20biased%20toward%20your%20pitch,%20deck,%20and%20any%20other%20materials%20you%20might%20share%20with%20an%20investor.%20%20In%20this%20episode,%20Jason%20dives%20into%203%20areas%20of%20fundraising%20you%20should%20be%20getting%20support%20around,%20and%20why%20it%27s%20so%20important.%20%20See%20you%20guys%20next%20week%20on%20The%20Backchannel!%20%20--%20%20If%20you%27re%20looking%20for%20more%20fundraising%20content,%20grab%20our%20weekly%20newsletter%20packed%20full%20of%20strategies%20and%20insights%20around%20how%20to%20raise%20money:%20fundedpod.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">fundedpod.com/newsletter</a><br />If you're looking to learn how Adamant is helping founders prepare for their fundraise, head here: <a href="https://www.admnt.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">admnt.com</a></p>