The Weapon May Form, But It Will Not Prosper

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Welcome to the 19th edition of The Good News Newsletter—proudly serving over 3,376 founders! Here, we break down the latest insights from our weekly Investor Office Hours sessions and equip you with tools to help you secure capital, customers, and talent for your business.

Missed the live session? Listen to the recording here.
Want to join the next session? Check out the full list of investors here.
Help us build Plaza 210! Learn more about this exciting project here.

Support this newsletter by learning about Surf Lakes. Click below ↓

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INTRODUCING - FEATURE DAY: Founders Uncut Convos (Tulsa Tech Week)

Date: Tuesday, September 23
Where: Gradient
Hosts: Darrel Frater & Rodney Walton
Presented with support from: Tulsa Innovation Labs, Regent Bank, Visible Hands, and more

We’re bringing candid, no-fluff conversations with standout founders who are building real companies in and beyond Tulsa. Expect unfiltered lessons, practical playbooks, and the connections to move your venture forward.

What to expect

• Founder spotlights and live “uncut” interviews

• Tactical sessions on fundraising, sales, and growth

• Real stories from the Tulsa ecosystem — wins, losses, and what’s next

RSVP: https://lu.ma/igu9sdid
Nominate a founder: During registration, submit your pick for Founder of the Year—or email me directly at [email protected].

Interested in Pitching During Feature Day? Let us know in your registration or message me directly.

Special thanks to Tai Nehisi for leading the charge on Tulsa’s first Tech Week. You don’t want to miss it.

— Darrel Frater

P.S. If your company wants to partner or sponsor a segment, reply to this newsletter and we’ll connect.

Office Hours Recap:
We are now partnering with the Startup Community led by @TheBestOfAdam on X to bring our Office Hours to over 156,500 community members!

Session #1 - Jay Kapoor, General Partner at VSC Ventures

Stage: Seed & Series A

Industry: “Dirty, dusty, and dangerous” industries (construction, electrical contracting, solar panel installation, industrial painting, recycling, law enforcement, public safety) with a strong focus on automation and AI.

Check Size: $500K – $1M

How to Apply: Founders can reach Jay via Twitter or LinkedIn, where he is active and regularly publishes content on storytelling, brand, and pitch improvement. VSC Ventures values authentic relationships and favors founders with a strong earned insight into the industries they serve.

Key Takeaways from Session:

1. Team > Market > Product: Jay evaluates companies using an inverted pyramid: 60% team, 30% market, 10% product. He wants to know why the founder is the best person to solve the problem and emphasizes earned insights that come from real experience.

2. Storytelling Wins: Founders often underestimate storytelling, but Jay sees it as critical for memorability and persuasion. He teaches that the best stories entertain, educate, and energize—helping founders attract investors, recruit talent, and sell customers.

3. Pitch to Your Audience: Too many founders fail to tailor their pitch to the investor’s business model. Jay encourages founders to ask discovery questions first—just as they would with customers—so they can frame their story around the investor’s perspective and decision-making process.

Session #2 - Khadijah Robinson, General Partner at Fictive Ventures

Stage: Idea+ through very early Seed

Industry: Black-led tech startups across the U.S., especially those creating new markets or expanding existing ones.

Check Size: $25K - $250K

How to Apply: Founders can apply via their website at fictiveventures.com. Khadijah is also very active on LinkedIn and encourages entrepreneurs to connect there.

Key Takeaways from Session:

1. Idea+ Means Validated Insight: Fictive isn’t just funding napkin sketches—they look for founders who have validated their idea through customer conversations and market research, even before building a product.

2. Capital + Network: The fund is backed by up to 250 LPs, all Black investors, intentionally structured so founders gain not only capital but also access to a powerful network for intros, advice, and customer acquisition.

3. Customers First: Khadijah emphasized that most companies shouldn’t raise venture at all. For those who do, customer obsession is key—revenue is the “cheapest form of capital,” and serving customers well often attracts investors rather than the other way around.

Funding Resources:

💰 Resources of the Week:

AI x New Energy Tech Startup Bootcamp - $100K | Deadline: 9/10/2025

Camelback Ventures 2026 Fellowship - $40K | Deadline: 9/10/2025

Alzheimer's Insights AI Prize - Up to $1M | Deadline: 9/12/2025

WomanUp & Pitch Competition - Up to $10K | Deadline: 9/19/2025

2048 Ventures Biotech Pitch Competition - $100K | Deadline: 9/20/2025

Purina 2026 Pet Care Innovation Prize - $25K | Deadline: 9/21/2025

Poker Power x IFW Small Business Grant - $100K | Deadline: 9/26/2025

DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund - Up to $15K | Deadline: 9/29/2025

Cornerstone Grant by Square - $10K | Deadline: 9/30/2025

She's Connected by AT&T - Up to $50K | Deadline: 9/30/2025

Catalyst by Beemok - Up to $1M | Deadline: 9/30/2025

NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant - $25K | Deadline: 11/1/2025

Strategic Supply Chain Initiative - Up to $5M

Tulsa Remote - $10K | Rolling

💸 Alternative Funding Sources:

Access up to $2M in non-dilutive debt financing. Request information here.

Raise up to $5M in equity capital through a Community Round. Request information here.

Interested in 1 on 1 support from Darrel? In preparation for launching my own fund, I will be working 1 on 1 with select founders as an advisor. Interested founders can learn more and consider submitting their company here.

🎙️ Podcast of the Week: Uncapped with Jack Altman - Inside a16z’s $1.25B Infra Bet | Martin Casado, General Partner at a16z

Summary:
Martin Casado breaks down why infrastructure is the bedrock of enduring value in tech and why a16z is doubling down with its new $1.25B infrastructure fund. He contrasts today’s era of specialization with the generalist model of old VC firms, explains how infrastructure creates durable multiples because it powers everything built on top, and shares how talent competition has become fiercer than market competition in AI. Casado also dives into the value of open source in keeping ecosystems healthy, the evolution of board dynamics, and why the only “sin” in venture is backing the wrong company in a promising space.

Why I recommend it:
This episode offers a rare inside look at how one of the world’s top VCs thinks about firm structure, specialization, and long-term value creation in tech. Casado’s insights on infrastructure, open source, and AI talent wars aren’t just theory—they reveal how billion-dollar funds are being deployed right now. For founders and investors alike, it’s a masterclass on picking durable markets, building trust with boards, and understanding what really matters when competition heats up. You can listen here.

✨ Inspiration

💬 Tweet of the Week

🙏🏽 Scripture of the Week

That’s all for this week’s edition of The Good News Newsletter. We hope you found these insights valuable as you continue your journey to securing funding.

What’s next?

On Friday, I will be on a retreat for a new leadership program I recently was accepted to called LT360 so there will be no Office Hours. We will resume next Friday on the 19th!

If interested in joining and/or pitching, please register here.

You can see the full list of past and future VCs on this Calendar.

Be on the lookout for our newsletter next week where we’ll bring you more actionable advice, resources, and success stories.

Let’s All, spread ‘The Good News’

Best,
Darrel Frater
Co-Founder
The Frater Family Foundation
Linkedin | Twitter/X | 609-804-5999

P.S. - If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to a founder you know who could benefit from these insights!

P.S.S. - Got ideas or suggestions for The Good News? Shoot me an email at [email protected] for us to discuss!

About TFFF: The Frater Family Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the family office of Darrel and Roselly Frater, dedicated to promoting human prosperity through entrepreneurship. To learn more, reach out to Darrel Frater directly.