006 Micah Green on Quitting Cornell at 19 and Raising $30M+ to Automate Commercial Cleaning

Whether you're a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply interested in venture capital, this episode offers deep insights into what it really takes to secure funding and scale a business.

In this episode of Money Moves, Neil is joined by Micah Green, a founder who dropped out of college at 19 to launch his startup, raising his first $220,000 in funding. Micah shares his journey from pitching angel investors with nothing more than a prototype to now having raised over $30 million. We explore the challenges and triumphs of startup life, including navigating investor rejections, the importance of perseverance, and how one strategic partnership saved his company during the early stages of COVID-19. 

Micah's candid story highlights the value of building relationships with investors, the importance of refining your pitch, and the tactical ways to prepare for every stage of raising capital. From balancing team growth to overcoming skepticism from potential backers, you'll hear about the realities of entrepreneurship and how determination and vision can lead to success—even when the odds are stacked against you. Learn how Micah's early lessons, like leveraging family exposure to entrepreneurship, shaped his approach, and how a clear focus on product-market fit propelled his business forward.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Micah’s first fundraising experience at 19 and the challenges of building a founding team.
• Securing $220,000 in seed funding by building relationships with angel investors.
• The focal shift from hardware to software in robotics and its role in scaling the business.
• Lessons learned from early investor rejections and how persistence pays off.
• Raising $30 million through various rounds and surviving COVID-19 with strategic investments.

Connect with Micah Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahgreen7/

Connect with host Neil Devani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildevani/

For more information on Necessary Ventures, visit the website at: https://www.necessary.vc/

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