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No Warm Intros Needed: How Founders Are Getting Funded Before They Hit Product-Market Fit
Learn how founders are raising capital before product-market fit. Discover flexible, founder-friendly funding with Chisos.
4-minute read
In today’s volatile market, investors are rethinking how they deploy capital, especially in early-stage ventures. As traditional venture capital faces diminishing returns and longer timelines, a new asset class is emerging. It redefines how to back innovation at the individual level.
At Chisos, we believe the future of investing isn’t about chasing unicorns. It’s about aligning with real builders: founders, athletes, and creators who are forging new paths. And it’s about doing it with a model designed to support both investor outcomes and entrepreneurial impact.
Traditional VC models rely on outsized wins from a few companies to carry an entire portfolio. Most early-stage bets fail. Some break even. Just a handful drive any meaningful return.
While this strategy worked in past boom cycles, it’s now showing serious cracks. Holding periods have stretched. Fees remain high. And according to recent industry benchmarks, median VC fund returns often underperform index funds once all costs are considered.
For investors, that means longer waits, higher risk, and fewer exits. The asymmetric return profile that once defined venture capital now feels more like a gamble.
Chisos is building something different. Something smarter.
We back people, not just businesses, with a model that blends income-generating components and upside participation. Every Chisos investment includes an Future Earnings Agreement, providing a structured, capped return based on future earnings. It also includes a SAFE or royalty agreement for equity-like upside.
This dual structure means that even if a founder’s company doesn’t “exit,” investors are still positioned for capital return. And when the business does scale or raise, the equity component kicks in. That creates the potential for outsized gains.
This structure brings the reliability of cash flowwith the potential of equity upside. It aligns closely with how modern investors think.
Our approach isn’t just theory. It’s attracting seasoned investors and backers who see where the market is headed.
Eric Bunting, Founder of Overbrook Capital, was one of Chisos’ earliest investors.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the direction Emmanuel and Will have been taking the business. I think it’s a completely untapped market, and the type of capital that is sorely needed. I believe they’re on their way to being a real leader in the space, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Ben Padnos, Entrepreneur and Investor, CEO of ThinkFISH, sees Chisos as a powerful driver of entrepreneurship and an attractive vehicle for capital deployment.
“I’ve loved what they’re doing since the first time I met them. This is an interesting asset class. It helps entrepreneurs, creators, and athletes who need just a small amount of capital to go for their dreams. 25, 50, $75,000. As an operator and investor, I think it’s a smart way to spur a new economy.”
These investors aren’t just betting on individual founders. They’re backing a model designed to scale impact while protecting capital.
Several macro trends are making the Chisos model not just compelling, but essential:
Chisos fills that gap with capital that’s accessible, flexible, and aligned. By doing so, we unlock innovation from communities and creators who have historically been overlooked.
If you're an investor looking to diversify, de-risk, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs, Chisos offers a unique alternative. Our structure solves for three core investor challenges:
You’re not betting on unicorns. You’re backing real people with real ambition. And you’re doing it through a system designed to return your capital, plus upside, without waiting a decade.
The economy is evolving. So should your investment strategy. The Chisos model wasn’t built to chase headlines. It was built for sustainability, access, and alignment. Whether you’re a family office, angel investor, or impact-minded LP, our approach gives you a front-row seat to a smarter, more inclusive future of funding.
Let’s redefine early-stage investing, together.
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