Jan 07 2025 27 mins
Rahul Vohra, founder and CEO of Superhuman, shares the fascinating journey of raising the company's initial capital through an unconventional approach. Rather than pursuing traditional venture capital, he strategically approached angels who had earned 3-22x returns from his previous startup Rapportive. This strategic decision, combined with a methodical three-step fundraising process, allowed him to maintain control while proving progress.
The story takes an interesting turn with a late-night steak dinner at Andreessen Horowitz that unexpectedly led to naming the company Superhuman. The conversation also reveals how a sophisticated family office preempted their Series A with just 10 users, recognizing the massive potential in the email market - where 1 billion professionals spend 3 hours daily, creating a trillion-hour annual opportunity. Perhaps most compelling is Vohra's unique approach to achieving product-market fit through personal onboarding sessions with wine and whiskey, demonstrating the power of high-touch customer development in building a product people love.
01:24 Raoul Vora's Journey Before Superhuman
01:58 The Early Days of Superhuman
02:45 Raising the Initial Capital
04:04 Challenges and Strategies in Fundraising
05:55 The A16Z Story
09:23 Series A and Beyond
15:04 The Waitlist Strategy
19:02 Series C and Market Reflections
24:05 Raoul Vohra as an Investor