How we raised $100 million for my Silicon Valley startup in a down market

(Credit: courtesy of Alkira)

If you’re an entrepreneur for a late-stage company, you know that securing funding is a challenge that requires a lot of hard work, commitment, and a relentless mindset. Doing so in a down market with high interest rates adds another layer of complexity. Recently, our company Alkira was fortunate to close a $100 million Series C funding round. While we're incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received, the journey wasn’t easy.

I’ve been through the fundraising process several times, as both Alkira CEO and founder, as well as CEO and founder of networking startup Viptela, which Cisco acquired in 2017. But this latest experience taught me unique and valuable lessons that other leaders can benefit from in this market. Here are some key takeaways I want to share.