How To Raise Capital When ALL The Odds Are Against You – With Tech Startup CEO Lindsay Padilla

Got a business idea, but don’t know how to raise the funds? Listen up.

🔥 Join our next Money Making challenge: https://makemoneymoves.co/

Only 3% of venture capital goes to women—Lindsay Padilla got funded anyway.

In this episode, Rachel Rodgers sits down with Lindsay Padilla, CEO of Hello Audio, to break down how she built a tech startup from scratch and raised capital in an industry that rarely bets on women – let alone women of colour.

Lindsay shares the unfiltered truth about navigating the tech world as a first-time founder, and pushing forward when everything seems stacked against you. This is an inspiring, no-BS guide to building the business you believe in even when no one expects you to win.

If you're dreaming big and ready to defy the odds, this one’s for you.

📚Order Rachel’s new book Future Millionaire: https://helloseven.co/ytfmb165

Follow Lindsay!
Lindsay’s Instagram: @drlindsaypadilla
Lindsay’s TikTok: @drlindsaypadilla
Check out Hello Audio: https://helloaudio.fm/

Follow Rachel!
Rachel’s Instagram: @rachrodgersesq  
Rachel’s Threads: @rachrodgersesq
Hello Seven's TikTok: @hellosevenco

00:00 – Asking for money as a woman entrepreneur
 01:02 – The shocking stats on women getting funded
 01:26 – How Hello Audio got its first $100K
 02:34 – From prototype to first subscribers
 03:15 – Deciding whether to raise capital or bootstrap
 04:00 – Mentorship from tech founders on raising
 05:16 – Getting the first check: why it matters
 06:12 – Raising capital vs. selling to customers
 07:01 – Building an inclusive cap table
 07:26 – Prepping for investor conversations without a pitch deck
 07:52 – Growing up with financial instability
 08:53 – Overcoming money trauma and shame
 09:13 – The reframe: raising money as a gift
 10:16 – Why investors want to be part of your vision
 11:05 – Rachel’s first startup investment experience
 11:51 – What makes a great investor–CEO relationship
 12:28 – Why founder diversity is critical to innovation
 13:03 – The risk of building tech without representation
 13:50 – How Lindsay landed her first check with courage
 14:38 – The power of community-funded startups
 15:30 – Crafting your fundraising narrative
 16:45 – Talking to your audience before building your product
 17:52 – Building a business that doesn’t burn you out
 18:57 – Moving from course creator to tech CEO
 20:18 – What investors really want to hear
 21:01 – Pitching with vision instead of pressure
 21:52 – How to use your network to raise capital
 22:57 – Making space for women in tech leadership
 23:46 – Managing fear around other people’s money
 24:48 – Getting comfortable with scaling and systems
 25:41 – Investing in companies

🌐 Stay Connected

 Behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and updates. 📸 Instagram

 Rachel's corner of the Internet for hard-hitting articles and empowerment.  💌  Risky Women Substack

 Watch full conversations, highlights, and additional video content. 🎥 YouTube

🚀 Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re serious about taking what you’re learning on this podcast and turning it into real results, check out The Hello Seven Mastermind.

 Inside the Mastermind, you’ll get:

✨ Unlimited 1:1 coaching
✨ Three in-person retreats each year
✨ A powerful network of ambitious peers committed to growth 

👉 Learn more and apply: Mastermind