Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charlotte Ketelaar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Charlotte, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Fundraising is broken for both founders and investors. Founders waste months chasing investors who are not the right fit, while investors get flooded with cold emails from startups that do not match their investment focus. After more than a decade in investment banking and venture capital, raising over $400 million for startups, I saw this problem up close. The best companies do not always get funded. Often, the most connected ones do.

That is why we built Capwave. We are bringing the white-glove fundraising experience that was once only available to a select few and making it accessible to more founders through AI-driven execution. Capwave ensures founders are truly investor-ready, connects them with the right investors based on actual investment behavior, and automates key parts of the fundraising process to save time and improve outcomes.

Our agentic AI system does more than match startups and investors. It analyzes pitch decks, refines investor outreach, maps warm intros, and guides founders to events where their matched investors will be. This creates a better experience for investors too by curating high-quality startups that meet their actual criteria instead of filling their inboxes with irrelevant pitches.

This is personal for me. I have seen how frustrating and inefficient fundraising can be for both sides. Capwave is making it structured, data-driven, and effective so great startups connect with the right investors and capital flows where it should based on merit, not just networks.

Charlotte, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A few years ago, a friend asked if I could help raise capital for their startup. At the time, I was working in investment banking in New York, closing billion-dollar deals. I thought, sure, I can apply my IB process to a VC raise and get it going.

I did, and it worked. That one deal turned into another, and before I knew it, I had built a boutique investment bank focused on helping founders raise capital. We brought the same rigor and strategy that institutional investors expect, giving founders a white-glove service to get them ready for their raise and help close their deals. We did really well. But there was a problem.

This kind of high-touch, strategic fundraising support is expensive and only accessible to a small group of startups. Most founders simply cannot afford a dedicated fundraising consultant. That never sat right with me. If the best companies are not always the ones getting funded, how much innovation are we losing?

That is why, when I met my cofounder and CTO, Kinjal Mehta, I knew we could change the game. With his expertise in AI and automation, we asked ourselves, what if we could take the same techniques that helped our founders raise over $400M and build a platform where AI could act as the mentor, the analyst, and the investor strategist?

So that is what we did.

Capwave is an AI-powered fundraising assistant that gives every founder the edge of working with a top-tier fundraising consultant, without the hefty price tag. Our AI system acts as:

• A mentor giving real-time feedback on pitch decks
• A fundraising assistant that refines investor outreach and tells the right story
• An investor analyst that maps out which investors are actually investing and where warm intros exist

Capwave removes the guesswork from fundraising by making it structured, data-driven, and efficient. Founders get the guidance and connections they need, and investors get high-quality, relevant deal flow instead of being spammed with cold pitches.

We built Capwave because we believe fundraising should be about merit, not just access. Now, any founder can have the same strategic advantage as those who can afford expensive advisors. That is how we are leveling the playing field—and that is why we are on this mission.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

We started on TikTok by giving fundraising advice with no hard selling, no pitching, just valuable insights for founders trying to navigate capital raising. It turns out there are thousands of great founders who are hungry for this kind of content, and they started showing up, engaging, and sharing our videos.

The strategy has always been simple. Give before you plug the business. We focus on breaking down fundraising in a way that is clear, actionable, and real, not the fluffy advice you see everywhere. We cover how to get investor meetings, what a good pitch deck actually looks like, and why most founders struggle to raise. The goal is to teach founders the skills they need, not just sell them a platform.

We take the same approach across all social media platforms, but TikTok has been the place where people engage with our content the most. Founders are eager for straightforward, no-BS fundraising insights, and TikTok has given us a way to reach them in an authentic and direct way.

In the end, I am super passionate about making sure every founder has a real shot at raising capital. Fundraising is often treated like an insider’s game, and we are here to change that. We are not gatekeeping the knowledge that helps founders succeed. We are sharing it openly because when more great startups get funded, the entire ecosystem benefits.

The best social media growth happens when you focus on helping people rather than trying to sell them something. That has been our approach, and it is why founders trust what we share.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My reputation comes from delivering real results, not just advice. I have spent over a decade in investment banking and venture capital, helping startups raise over $400 million, and founders know I focus on what actually works.

What made the difference:
• Proven results. Raising capital is high stakes. When founders succeed, they refer others.
• No fluff, just actionable insights. Founders appreciate straight talk, not vague advice.
• Helping first. I share fundraising knowledge openly, not just with paying clients.
• Credibility with investors. If I introduce a founder, it is because they are truly investor-ready.
• Scaling expertise through Capwave. Now, more founders get the same strategic edge without high consulting fees.

Reputation is built on showing up, delivering, and helping founders succeed. That is what I have done, and that is why people trust me in this space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.capwave.ai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capwave.ai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-ketelaar/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapwaveAI
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capwave.ai