What they learned in 15 minutes (so you don’t waste 15 months)

I ran four short coaching calls this week. Fifteen minutes each.
Here’s what my clients learned quickly, because I’ve already been where they are—and why copying proven plays beats “figuring it out” the expensive way.

1) Cross-Border Raise (Dubai + UK)

The situation: Founder with businesses in Dubai and England, loyal (and wealthy) customers, first-time raising.

My play:

• Split the raise. Get the easier tranche first with UK debt (faster, more options), then deploy to Dubai.

• Customer capital for the rest. Ask your loyal clients to pre-pay or co-invest. If they buy from you already, they’ll back growth when the upside is clear.

• Guardrails: Use proper structure (SPV/loan agreements), handle FX, banking, and tax cleanly.

What to do next:

1. Package a UK debt ask (via a broker) with a clear use-of-funds into Dubai.

2. Build a simple prepaid offer (bonus value, priority access, price lock).

3. Paper it properly. Fast is good; sloppy is fatal.

Lesson: Stack capital in the path of least resistance, then top up with customer money that wants you to win as they already know and love you.

2) Flipping Property in Dubai

The situation: Wants to flip houses; needs investors.

My play:

• Match the deal to the investor. For flips, your ideal backers are often wealthy retirees—golf-course crowd—comfortable, bored, and looking for something to keep them busy and earn some spending money.

• Keep it simple: One investor per property (or two), SPV per deal, priority return + profit split.

• Parallel not pooled: Want to run more flips? Multiple investors across multiple SPVs, side by side.

What to do next:

1. Network where they live: golf courses, private member clubs.

2. Bring a 1-pager: purchase → refurb → exit, timeline, comps, risks, your edge.

3. Offer a clean structure: capital in, priority out, then split.

Lesson: Right deal, right money, right structure. Don’t sell a fund to a person who wants the simplicity of a house.

3) Online Magazine Rebrand

The situation: Considering launching a second magazine vs. rebranding the current one. Same audience.

My play:

• Don’t clone your audience. A second brand aimed at the same people splits traffic and dilutes momentum.

• Rebrand the current asset. Keep authority, redirects, and backlinks. Then layer new traffic on top.

What to do next:

1. Ship a rebrand plan: name, design, messaging, and site-wide 301 redirect map.

2. Content audit: cut dead weight, refresh winners, build cornerstone pieces.

3. Unify socials/handles. Tell the audience why the rebrand helps them.

Lesson: Focus compounds. Rebrands preserve equity; spin-offs burn it.

4) Clothing Brand Raise (Pre-Launch)

The situation: Big day-one launch planned, no proof, trying to raise a chunky round.

My play:

• Cut scope. Micro-launch first. Smaller raise now + proof → bigger raise later on better terms.

• Two wins: Easier to fund today. Easier to close tomorrow because numbers talk.

What to do next:

1. Launch a focused capsule or single hero SKU.

2. Pre-sell to your warm list; measure CAC, conversion, repeat rate.

3. Take those numbers to investors for the scale round.

⚠️ They didn’t want my play. They were only interested in doing a large scale launch.

Lesson: Proof before puff. If you hire a mentor, don’t pay to argue with the playbook that gets you funded.

They Key Money Takeaways

• Get the easiest money first. (Then stack.)

• Design the deal to fit the investor, not the other way round.

• Don’t split your audience. Compound what you’ve already built.

• Raise less now, prove, raise better later. Terms improve when you’re de-risked.

• Experience collapses time. Fifteen minutes with someone who’s done it can save you fifteen months of wandering.

Want this level of No Bollocks™, tailored advice?

I’ve opened a handful of discounted, 15-minute No-Bollocks™ Strategy Calls before the end of the month. If you’re raising, rebranding, or planning a launch and want a clean, working plan:

→ Book your call with me here.

Who it’s for: Founders who want straight answers and will execute.

Who it’s not for: Tourists, debate club, or “I’ll think about it” energy.

See you on the call!

Matt

P.S. If you’re mid-raise and stuck, bring your deck or one-pager. I’ll mark it up live and tell you exactly what to change.