HOW IT WORKS FOR FUNDERS
Invest in the next generation
Remember when you were building your company and wished you had access to experienced operators who could provide candid feedback, make strategic introductions, and help you avoid costly mistakes?
Now you can be that resource for the next generation.
At The Founder’s Chair, we bring together former operators—people who’ve built, scaled, and exited companies in insurance and wealth tech—with carefully vetted Founders who are solving real distribution problems.
As a Funder, you’ll meet high-quality companies, provide strategic feedback, and invest when you see strong alignment. But there’s no obligation to fund a company. Your feedback alone creates tremendous value in and of itself.
Why Operators Become
Pay It Forward
You’ve navigated the challenges of building in this industry. You know what it takes to earn advisor trust, scale through distribution channels, and build something that endures.
Now you have the opportunity to share that hard-won knowledge with Founders who need exactly what you’ve learned and who will actually listen because they respect where you’ve been.
Access to Carefully Selected Deal Flow
TFC founders aren’t random pitch deck submissions. They’ve been vetted for:
- Distribution understanding (they get how this industry works)
- Coachable leadership (they want feedback, not just capital)
- Real traction (pilots, customers, meaningful progress)
- Financial viability (we collect financials and pro-forma projections)
- Strategic fit with the operator community
- Reasonable negotiation approach (they can defend their valuations and will negotiate when real value is demonstrated—they’re not jerks)
By the time you meet a founder, they’ve already cleared multiple filters. You’re seeing quality deal flow, not volume.
Learn Alongside Peer Operators
TFC events bring together other former founders and operators who share your investment philosophy. These relationships often become as valuable as the deal flow—co-investment opportunities, shared diligence, strategic partnerships, and genuine friendships with people who’ve walked a similar path.
Multiple Ways to Engage Beyond Investment
There’s no requirement to invest in every company you meet. You can:
- Provide feedback without investing (value in itself)
- Invest directly if you see strong alignment
- Co-invest with other Funders from the event
- Become a client – implement solutions in your own business or portfolio companies for competitive advantage
- Partner strategically – help founders access your distribution relationships
- Explore acquisition – evaluate founders for potential strategic acquisition
- Participate in future SPVs or fund opportunities
- Build relationships that lead to investment later
Your role is to provide feedback and perspective. Investment, partnership, or client relationships are optional.
What You’ll Experience as a TFC Funder
Pre-Event: Curated Founder Profiles
Before each event, you’ll receive profiles of the Founders presenting, including:
- Company overview and market approach
- Current traction and milestones
- Funding needs and use of capital
- Strategic questions they’re navigating
This allows you to come prepared with thoughtful questions and identify companies you’re particularly interested in.
During the Event: Structured, High-Quality Experience
Founder Presentations
Each Founder presents their company, market opportunity, and current progress. Presentations are refined through preparation with our team (so you won’t sit through rambling, unprepared pitches).
Operator Q&A
You’ll have structured time to ask questions, probe assumptions, and provide feedback based on your experience. This is genuine, substantive dialogue.
Networking & Relationship-Building
Meals, breaks, and social time are built into the event so you can have deeper conversations with founders (and peer Funders) in a relaxed setting.
Debrief & Collaboration
At the end of the event, Funders have the opportunity to share perspectives, discuss potential co-investments, and coordinate follow-up with Founders.
Post-Event: Follow Your Interest
After the event, you decide your level of engagement:
- No investment, just feedback: Your strategic insights were valuable enough. No follow-up required
- Advisory relationship: Stay connected to help the founder refine their approach over time
- Due diligence: Explore investment further with additional calls and information requests
- Investment commitment: Move forward with a term sheet or investment agreement
- Co-investment with peers: Partner with other Funders from the event
There’s no pressure. You control the timeline and level of involvement.
What TFC Provides to Funders
Carefully Selected Pipeline
Access to vetted Founders solving real problems in insurance and wealth tech. We’re talking companies that understand distribution, demonstrate financial viability, and approach negotiations reasonably.
Peer Community
Relationships with other operator-investors who can co-invest, share diligence, and collaborate on portfolio support.
Multiple Value Creation Opportunities
Beyond traditional investment:
- Implement solutions in your own portfolio companies
- Become an early client and gain competitive advantage
- Source acquisition targets for strategic growth
- Build advisory relationships with promising founders
Structured Environment
Professional event experience with prepared Founders, thoughtful agendas, and quality accommodations. No chaos, no unprepared pitches, no wasted time.
Flexibility
Attend events that fit your schedule and interests. No long-term commitments or obligations.
Ongoing Opportunities
Consideration for future investment vehicles and ongoing access to the TFC Founder pipeline.
Ready to Join?
If you’ve built and exited a company in insurance or wealth tech and want to support the next generation of founders—while exploring high-quality investment opportunities—we’d love to have you at an upcoming event.
What Makes a Great TFC Funder
We look for Funders who:
- Have built and exited a company in insurance, wealth management, or adjacent financial services
- Value alignment over speed and understand that great companies take time
- Provide candid, constructive feedback rather than just validation or criticism
- Understand distribution realities and can help Founders navigate them
- Want to give back by supporting the next generation of builders
You don’t need to be a professional investor. In fact, we prefer operators who are investing their own capital and making decisions based on judgment, not fund mandates.