What Makes a Founder Fundable: Inside the VC Playbook with Brett Calhoun

Episode notes

Venture capital in the heartland is evolving, creating unique opportunities for tech entrepreneurs. In this episode of SaaS That App: Building B2B Web Applications, Brett Calhoun, co-founder and general partner at Redbud VC, joins Aaron Marchbanks and Justin Edwards to share insights about investing in early-stage tech companies, building sustainable startup ecosystems in the Midwest, and identifying promising founders beyond traditional tech hubs. What You’ll Learn: Why founders should focus on building conviction before seeking investment How to leverage emerging AI capabilities to unlock opportunities in traditionally low-tech industries Why distribution channels and customer acquisition strategies matter more than cutting-edge technology How to demonstrate long-term vision when pitching to investors The advantages of building tech companies in the Midwest Brett Calhoun is the co-founder and general partner at Redbud VC, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies across the United States with particular emphasis on the heartland region.