Nine Figures of Funding Through Strategic Partnerships with Jason Fishman

What if a simple LinkedIn message could get you on the phone with decision-makers immediately?

In this episode, Jason Fishman shares how DNA has worked on over 500 investment crowdfunding campaigns that have collectively produced nine figures of capital. His agency specializes in investor marketing and user acquisition, helping brands raise capital through Reg CF, Reg A+, and Reg D filings. Jason's mission stems from a sobering statistic: nine out of ten businesses fail in their first year, and nine out of ten that survive fail the next year. Many of them fail because they're undercapitalized. By using his digital marketing skillset to bring the right investors to marketing funnels and measure actual conversion and return on ad spend, Jason helps companies that are having trouble meeting new investors access the capital they need to survive and thrive.

He reveals how he met his business partner Tim Martinez at a 2009 conference after almost skipping a workshop. Jason waited in line 10-15 minutes just to talk to Tim, and that conversation eventually led to co-founding DNA together. Jason also shares his LinkedIn outreach strategy: send 25 invitations per day with customized messaging, look for a 20% acceptance rate, and include a scheduling link by message three. This simple tactic helped DNA connect with FINRA regulated portals and build the strategic partnerships that became instrumental to their success.

 

[00:05:20] DNA: Investor Marketing and User Acquisition

• Focused on investor acquisition, targeting investors with advertising and outreach

• Worked on over 500 deals that collectively produced nine figures of capital

• Campaigns in 2025 alone have surpassed $100 million raised altogether

• Helps brands that are having trouble meeting new investors

[00:06:20] Why Jason Does This Work

• Nine out of ten businesses fail in first year, nine out of ten that survive fail the next year

• Many fail because they're undercapitalized

• Can use digital marketing skillset to bring right investors to marketing funnel

• Measure conversion, return on ad spend, total transactional value

[00:07:20] Background in Ad Tech

• Part of social gaming startup in Los Angeles, played role in capital raise

• Raised over $3 million in seed capital, created countless versions of deck

• Company merged with advertising network, started working with Fortune 500s

• Quickly found fundraising was common part of conversation

[00:08:20] First Campaign: $2.83 Million

• First campaign through Reg D 506(c) which allows solicitation of accredited investors

• Able to target high net worth, high household income audiences with advertising

• Raised $2.83 million on first campaign for Rayon Solar back in 2015

• Reg CF (Regulation Crowdfunding) went into effect May 2016

[00:09:00] The Filings Available Today

• Can raise up to $5 million on Reg CF campaign

• Up to $75 million on Regulation A+ campaign (hoping for $150 million soon)

• Important to have specialization and niche as marketing agency

• Fell into this area, succeeded, kept getting introductions

[00:11:00] What Inspires Jason Most

• Stat that nine out of ten businesses fail is not acceptable

• Part of LA accelerator community, works with universities and founders

• Want to make sure right eyeballs are on their products, companies, brands

• Funding could be make or break for them

[00:12:00] Watching Companies Grow

• Watch clients' teams grow, their offices, their equipment, market share

• Seen groups go from $20 million valuations to $3.5 billion valuations

• Part of Crowdfund Professional Association working on tax credit for investors

• Would put Regulation Crowdfunding on tax form for every American

[00:15:40] Meeting Tim Martinez in 2009

• Met at SR Action Sports Retail conference in San Diego

• Almost didn't attend workshop, last minute walked into "50 Ways to Promote Your Skate Shop"

• Tim was professional skateboarder, worked in snow/skate/surf sports world

• 50-100 business owners taking notes on everything Tim said

[00:16:20] Waiting in Line 15 Minutes

• Had to wait in line 10-15 minutes to talk to Tim after presentation

• First thing Tim asked: "How old are you?" (Tim few years older)

• Hit it off, had great discussion

• Tim said "I'm in Hollywood, you're in Hollywood, why don't we grab coffee sometime?"

[00:17:00] The Path to Partnership

• Started pulling Tim into projects at agency, later worked for Tim's agency

• When Jason was at ad network, Tim asked if interested in starting new firm

• Tim was consulting companies with no idea about digital marketing

• Created DNA together, Tim has brought in countless introductions since

[00:19:00] Don't Be Bashful

• Don't let self-doubt and little thoughts stop you ("maybe I'm too young or he's busy")

• Everyone wants to talk to speakers, why stick around? But Jason did

• Speakers are there for a reason, looking to have outcome for their time

• They're thought leaders, experts, probably things you can do together

[00:20:40] How Tim Led to Crowdfunding

• Wouldn't have been possible without relationship with Tim

• Tim's relationship with Fundable introduced them to Reg D campaigns

• After success, Tim had friend in film industry with crowdfunding company

• That partner brought them to first Reg CF campaign in May 2016

[00:25:20] Building Strategic Partnerships

• Building strategic partnerships has been instrumental to success

• Would tell founder to incorporate into business plan, marketing plan, model

• Went to great lengths because saw how effective it was

• LinkedIn outreach in 2017-2018 got DNA on phone with portals right and left

[00:26:00] The LinkedIn Strategy

• Can send 25 invitations per day from your profile

• Search by company, job title, company size, industry, zip code

• Send message with invitation, look for 20% or higher acceptance rate

• By message three, add scheduling link to streamline booking process

[00:27:00] Customized Outreach

• Have very clear call to action, very visible opportunity on how to connect

• Every founder, if not every professional, should be doing this

• Start manually, really customize messaging

• Build relationships with people who can introduce you to target audience

[00:30:00] Do More

• Don't think "I have a few relationships, I'll hit my goal"

• It's all about driving enough traffic at high enough conversion rate

• 50,000 visits per million raised at 2% conversion rate and $1,000-$2,000 average investment

• Engage experts, talk to people, do not be bashful

 

KEY QUOTES

"It's all about relationships. Your net worth is your network. Some people say it the other way around. Your network is your net worth." - Jason Fishman

"Whether they're on television or a billionaire or leading a workshop or whatever it may look like, don't be afraid to go up to 'em and talk to 'em. There's no telling what it could look like 16 years into that relationship." - Jason Fishman

"Building strategic partnerships has been instrumental to the success of our business, and it's something I would tell a founder to incorporate into their business plan, marketing plan, and their model." - Jason Fishman

CONNECT WITH JASON FISHMAN 

🌐 Website: https://www.digitalnicheagency.com 

📺 YouTube: Test Optimize Scale Podcast (200+ episodes) 

💼 LinkedIn: Connect with Jason Fishman 

📱 Monthly webinars with educational content and new deck every month 

 

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