So, You Want To Become A TFC Funder?
We thought you’d never ask.
Every Founder in our room is vetted. Every conversation is intentional. And, every Funder in our network earned their seat the same way (by being exactly the kind of operator, investor, or industry leader that the best founders in insurance and wealth tech actually want across the table from them).
We’re building the room that changes what’s possible for this industry, and the people already in it are a pretty good reason to want in. Take a look below at a few of the operators, investors, and industry leaders who’ve joined the TFC network:
“The honest/candid feedback we received from the Funders in the room was one of the most valuable takeaways from the whole experience. I would have paid for this type of feedback coming from senior executives who have been there and done that.”
Brian Poppe
SVP of Life Insurance Solutions,
Mutual of Omaha
Diana Greenberg
Partner,
Simplicity Group
Peter Russo
President,
Allied Elite Financial
Reid Buerger
CEO,
Coventry
Mike Tripses
Partner/Owner,
Creative One Marketing
Brittany Clements
Managing Director,
American Family Ventures
Jim Bowman
President,
Advisors Excel
Laura Dinan Haber
VP Innovation,
Nassau Financial Group
How TFC Funders Engage
There’s no single way to show up in the TFC room. Every Funder brings something different, and every Founder needs something different. Here’s how engagement typically takes shape.
PATHWAY 01
Mentorship & Insights
For Funders who want to stay close to innovation without deploying capital
Decades of operating, distributing, and building inside insurance and wealth management. The ability to look at a company’s go-to-market strategy, distribution approach, or product roadmap and immediately spot what’s working, what isn’t, and what the founder hasn’t thought of yet.
This isn’t advisory in the formal sense, it’s the kind of honest, experienced feedback that changes how a founder thinks about their business — often in a single conversation. For Funders who want to stay close to innovation without deploying capital, this is where the relationship starts. For many, it’s also where it stays, and that’s more than enough.
PATHWAY 02
Direct Investment
For Funders who are ready to put capital behind a founder they believe in
TFC creates the conditions for that conviction to form naturally.
Our events aren’t pitch competitions. There are no slide decks on a timer and no forced Q&A. What there is instead is time to have a real conversation, ask the questions that actually matter, and get a feel for the founder behind the company. By the time a TFC event ends, the Funders who are serious about a company have already had the kind of interaction that would take months to engineer through a traditional deal flow process.
Direct investment through TFC has produced $11.3 million deployed across 17 funded companies. The deals that close here close because the relationship was already real before the term sheet was written.
PATHWAY 03
GROUP INVESTMENT THROUGH SPVs
For Funders who want to invest alongside people whose judgment they trust
Not every opportunity calls for a solo bet. For Funders who want to participate in a deal alongside other experienced operators and investors, TFC facilitates group investment through Special Purpose Vehicles.
SPVs allow multiple Funders to co-invest in a single company under a shared structure, pooling capital, reducing individual exposure, and bringing a coalition of strategic partners to the table rather than a single check. For founders, it means more than money. It means a syndicate of operators who are financially aligned with their success and motivated to open doors.
For Funders, it’s an opportunity to participate in deals they believe in at a scale that works for them, alongside people whose judgment they trust. TFC structures these conversations carefully and only facilitates SPVs where the fit, the founder, and the terms make sense for everyone in the room.
David Racich
CEO | Hedge Fund Founder | AI Expert | Business Strategist | Investor | Engineer
Investing as a TFC Funder
TFC Events Attended
Businesses Started
Businesses Invested in
A visionary leader
Elevating what’s possible by prioritizing momentum
David’s dynamic expertise spans multiple industries and disciplines. As a Chief Executive Officer, hedge fund co-founder, business strategist, tech platform investor, real estate investor, and engineer, he has built a legacy on the principles of innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Through each endeavor, Racich’s mission is clear: never accept mediocrity when there’s room for improvement, and never settle for the status quo when there’s a bold new frontier to explore.
Builds smarter strategies
Solves complex problems
Creates sustainable growth
Forges new paths
A willingness to learn, adapt, and inspire others
For David, greatness is not defined by a single title, achievement, or sector. It is embodied in his perpetual willingness to learn, adapt, and inspire others to embrace change. His story is one of boundless curiosity, unwavering standards, and the power of a dedicated team united under a shared vision – a testament to what can be achieved when innovation, leadership, and collaboration converge.
We asked David a few questions about investing, and this is what he had to say:
What specific qualities or attributes do you typically look for in a founder and their venture?
When sizing up founders, I always start with resilience and grit. If your first response to a setback is anything other than troubleshooting, we’re probably not a good fit. Clarity of vision matters too —founders should know exactly what problem they solve and why now, not look like they wandered into the wrong meeting. Uncommon drive is non-negotiable; give me someone who makes “work ethic” sound lazy. Coachability without fragility is crucial because no one has patience for ego-driven defensiveness when feedback hits. Domain expertise or a genuine unfair advantage is a must — if your main differentiator can’t survive a tough room, we have issues.
Culture matters greatly, too. If you can’t attract and retain top talent, let’s wrap this up early. For the venture itself, solve a real pain point; vitamins are cute, but painkillers make money. Massive markets are essential, but please bring a clear entry strategy, because “world domination” is not a business plan. Momentum counts; show traction, partnerships, or customers that speak louder than your pitch deck. Your distribution strategy had better be clear and executable (bonus points if it’s easier to follow than IKEA instructions). And bring something tech-forward or operationally disruptive. If replacing fax machines is your big innovation, we seriously need to talk.
What factors influence your decision to commit fully to an investment or event?
I look for strong founder resilience, clear vision, genuine market need, early momentum, strategic distribution, and real tech-driven innovation…no fluff.
Do you have a personal or professional "mantra"?
It is not the amount of money you make; it is what you keep that truly matters.