In this episode of Inside the Round, Helena Fogarty speaks with Ella Moloney-Cook, co-founder and COO of Upper Echelon, about her unique entrepreneurial journey from Australia to the US, the importance of strategic capital, and the role of mental health in entrepreneurship. Ella shares insights on building community, effective investor outreach strategies, and creating unique experiences for investors. She also discusses the challenges of navigating investor relationships and the surprising realizations she has had as a founder in the investor-backed space. In this conversation, the speaker discusses the significance of strategic capital in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for founders to align with investors who can provide more than just financial support. They share insights from their experience in the VCPE program at Columbia, offering advice for new founders on raising capital and building meaningful relationships within the startup ecosystem. The discussion also touches on the evolution of business models in response to changing market dynamics, the importance of mental well-being for founders, and the role of community in fostering success.00:00 The Importance of Strategic Capital02:15 Ella's Entrepreneurial Journey05:21 Mental Health and Community in Entrepreneurship08:02 Transitioning from Australia to the US12:01 Building Upper Echelon: The Business Model16:13 Effective Investor Outreach Strategies18:26 Creating Unique Investor Experiences23:38 Navigating Tough Conversations with Investors30:49 Surprises in the Investor-Backed Journey31:40 The Importance of Strategic Capital34:10 Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Technology35:43 Learning from the VCPE Program37:14 Advice for Founders Raising Capital43:39 Building Meaningful Relationships in Fundraising44:39 Evolving Business Models Post-Funding51:53 Controversial Insights on Fundraising54:44 Leveraging Founder AI Labs for Success57:39 Maintaining Well-Being as a FounderHelena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty Ella's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellamolonycook/🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York CityLearn more at: https://28thpark.com/📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/Inside the Round is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/