Seed Money cover art

Seed Money

Seed Money

By: Jayla Siciliano
Listen for free

About this listen

 Seed Money is where everyday people learn how to raise capital and get the funding you need to FINALLY get your startup to the next level! If you’re struggling to get people to believe in your vision (and you don’t need a billion-dollar deal in Silicon Valley), Seed Money will unlock the answers you’ve been looking for! Hosted by Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank Entrepreneur, MBA, real estate investor, and experienced founder/investor in markets from consumer products to short-term rentals. In this podcast, you’ll get the mindset, methods, and motivation to raise early-stage seed funding from investors. You’ll also hear the inspiring stories of everyday people who’ve walked the same path and overcome the same challenges you’re facing. So you can see the next steps, make good decisions and get the funding you need to launch or grow! -- Join our FREE Facebook group to get a variety of templates, ask questions and network with other early-stage entrepreneurs raising seed money www.facebook.com/groups/seedmoney/2024 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • A Founder’s Guide to IP Protection: How to Use Patents, Trademarks, Copyright and More w/ Raymond DiPerna

    A Founder’s Guide to IP Protection: How to Use Patents, Trademarks, Copyright and More w/ Raymond DiPerna
    May 20 2025
    Patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights: if you’re building a startup, these aren’t “nice to haves,” they’re mission-critical. Locking down your intellectual property protects your ideas, your company, your product. And it makes your startup more attractive to investors. Whether it’s your brand name, your technology, or your trade secrets, different types of IP protection help you avoid costly legal pitfalls, prevent copycats, and preserve your company’s value as you scale. Too many founders wait until they’ve gained traction to think about IP. But that can be a costly mistake. Without the right protection in place early, you could lose rights, get hit with a cease and desist, or scare off potential investors during due diligence. In this episode, we break down the essential types of IP, what they are, why they matter, and how to make smart, early decisions to protect what you're building. I'm joined by Ray DiPerna, a veteran IP attorney with over 25 years of experience helping startups and high-growth companies protect and monetize their intellectual property. Ray shares why founders should think about their IP as early in the process as possible, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Topics Covered: What counts as IP and what investors expect to see protected The real cost (and strategy) behind patents and “patent pending” Trademark pitfalls that can derail your startup’s brand How to handle IP created by employees and contractors How to monetize your IP through licensing or enforcement How to protect trade secrets, source code, branding, and more What to know about copyright for websites, images, and creative assets How to prioritize legal spend when funds are limited Today my guest is Ray DiPerna, who is an IP attorney admitted in California and New York. The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice regarding a specific situation, it’s always best to consult with a qualified attorney who can evaluate your specific facts and circumstances as each case is different. Ray works with clients in a variety of industries. If you’re interested in learning more about IP law or his work, you can find more information at the below contact information. This communication may be considered attorney advertising under the rules of certain jurisdictions. Guest Bio Raymond DiPerna is the founder of DiPerna Law. After over two decades of representing high profile clients in their intellectual property matters at prestigious law firms, including his role as a long-time partner at a prominent IP boutique, Ray founded and transitioned his practice to the DiPerna Law Firm, P.C. This enables Ray to take on a wider variety of projects and advise his clients more cost effectively. Coming from Biglaw at Sheppard Mullin, Ray works closely with specialized counsel in other law firms to provide his clients with high quality legal services in the areas of IP, data privacy, and corporate law. More specifically, Ray advises corporate clients, startups, and individuals with regard to product development, protection, and enforcement in the software, computer, mechanical, and electrical technologies. These technologies include the fast-growing and increasingly prominent areas of AI and machine learning. Ray’s practice includes advising clients with respect to all areas of IP, including patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright, as well as data privacy. Ray’s practice also includes drafting and negotiating license, ownership, and technology transfer agreements, as well as collaboration agreements and NDAs. ​Ray has 25 years of experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications, including utility and design patents, both domestically and internationally. Visit https://www.dipernalaw.com/ for more information, and connect with Raymond on LinkedIn. E-mail: info@dipernalaw.com Phone: 858-987-4228 About Your Host Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she’s on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality! Connect: Website: https://seedmoneypodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylasiciliano/ Subscribe and watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@seedmoneypodcast/ Please rate, follow, and review the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seed-money/id1740815877 and https://open.spotify.com/show/0VkQECosb1spTFsUhu6uFY?si=5417351fb73a4ea1/! Hearing your comments and questions helps me come up with the best topics for the show! The information in this podcast is educational and general in nature and does not take into consideration the listener's personal circumstances...
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • What Investors Really Look For w/ Mike Sherbakov

    What Investors Really Look For w/ Mike Sherbakov
    May 13 2025

    Many founders have a killer product, a passionate team, and traction, but they don’t realize that investors are really betting on THEM.

    The truth is, your projections don’t need to be perfect, your deck doesn’t need to be perfect. But you need to do the things that most people won’t do to stand out. You need to show that you are strategic, thoughtful, and aligned with your growth narrative.

    In this episode, we dive into what actually matters to investors and how early-stage companies can use financial storytelling to build trust and get funded.

    I’m joined by Mike Sherbakov, former Marine, serial entrepreneur, and General Partner at The Veteran Fund, an early-stage venture firm investing in founders from the military community.

    We talk about how founders should approach pitching investors at the seed stage, how different industries require different metrics, and why, at the end of the day, investors are betting on the founder, not just the numbers.

    Topics Covered:

    • Why veterans make great founders

    • How The Veteran Fund evaluates early-stage opportunities

    • How to project your financials without a finance background

    • Why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone (and how to know it’s for you)

    • Top tools and resources for startup benchmarks

    Guest Bio

    Mike Sherbakov is the CEO of Greatness Ventures, supporting impact-driven leaders and brands. He has led the business accelerator to thousands of investor members and hundreds of companies in their impact portfolio. Their venture philanthropy arm has built homes in underdeveloped communities since 2014 and continues to lead impact trips open for the community to join. He serves as General Partner at The Veteran Fund, a pre-seed venture capital fund in Silicon Valley, and Director of San Diego’s Founder Institute, the largest early-stage startup accelerator in the world. Mike has previously founded three startups (HMS Fitness, Karuna Towels, Greatness Media), helped grow two companies from 0 to $ 20 M+ valuations (Wildfire and NurishMe), and consulted with large companies including Fitbit, lululemon athletica, Equinox, and Qualcomm. He served on active duty as a United States Marine, graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University, has traveled to 58 countries and counting, and believes that our greatness is not what we have but what we give. To learn more, visit https://veteran.fund/.

    About Your Host

    Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she’s on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality!

    Connect:

    Website: https://seedmoneypodcast.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylasiciliano/

    Subscribe and watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@seedmoneypodcast/

    Please rate, follow, and review the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seed-money/id1740815877 and https://open.spotify.com/show/0VkQECosb1spTFsUhu6uFY?si=5417351fb73a4ea1/! Hearing your comments and questions helps me come up with the best topics for the show!

    The information in this podcast is educational and general in nature and does not take into consideration the listener's personal circumstances. Therefore, it is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized financial, legal, or tax advice.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Why Handshake Deals in Business Go Bad with Devan Gonzalez

    Why Handshake Deals in Business Go Bad with Devan Gonzalez
    May 6 2025

    Why do handshake deals in business go bad?

    I get it, it starts with good intentions, you're grinding to raise money, and when a friend or family member shows interest, it feels like a lifeline.

    So you say yes. Sometimes that verbal commitment feels rock solid. And then a surprise cash injection seems too good to question.

    But this is exactly why handshake deals in business go bad: no clear expectations on either side are written down.

    It happens, founders move forward based on trust, without clear terms, contracts, or accountability.

    And when things go sideways (which they often do), you're left with confusion, tension, and potentially a serious mess.

    In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur, CEO of Strive 11 International, and host of The Mindset Cafe Podcast, Devan Gonzalez.

    He’s sharing his personal experience with handshake deals, explaining why handshake deals in business go bad, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you’re already in one.

    Topics Covered:

    • How to use recap conversations to protect yourself

    • How to formalize a handshake deal

    • Why podcasting is a powerful networking tool for founders

    • Mindset secrets of highly successful people



    Guest Bio

    Devan Gonzalez is an entrepreneur, the CEO of Strive 11 International, and the host of The Mindset Cafe Podcast. Strive 11’s mission is to help improve fitness enthusiasts' lives beyond their personal health and fitness. The Mindset Cafe Podcast is your go-to source for growth mindset development and overall personal development, and transformational content! Visit https://www.devangonzalez.com/ for more information.

    About Your Host

    Jayla Siciliano, Shark Tank entrepreneur turned real estate investor, excels in building brands, teams, and products. CEO of a bi-coastal luxury short-term rental company, she also hosts the Seed Money Podcast where she’s on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality!

    Connect:

    Website: https://seedmoneypodcast.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylasiciliano/

    Subscribe and watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@seedmoneypodcast/

    Please rate, follow and review the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seed-money/id1740815877 and https://open.spotify.com/show/0VkQECosb1spTFsUhu6uFY?si=5417351fb73a4ea1/! Hearing your comments and questions helps me come up with the best topics for the show!

    The information in this podcast is educational and general in nature and does not take into consideration the listener's personal circumstances. Therefore, it is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized financial, legal, or tax advice.
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins

What listeners say about Seed Money

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.