20 July, 2026

Patrick Collins, Dam Secure

In this episode, Phaedon Stough sits down with Patrick Collins, founder of Dam Secure and a serial entrepreneur who has built six companies and recently closed an oversubscribed US$4 million pre-seed round.

Drawing on his experience raising capital across Australia and the US, Patrick shares the practical fundraising strategies that helped secure a US lead investor before product or revenue. From building investor trust to creating genuine negotiating leverage, this conversation is a practical guide for founders preparing to raise their first institutional round.

They cover:

• The four credibility signals investors look for before product-market fit
• Why investors are backing founders more than ideas at the pre-seed stage
• How to build trust before you ever walk into a pitch meeting
• The difference between creating investor FOMO and creating genuine negotiating leverage
• Why having a credible alternative matters more than trying to manufacture urgency

They also explore:

• Why reputation often matters more than your pitch deck at pre-seed
• The role of community standing, distribution and alumni networks in fundraising
• How to identify investors who are genuinely aligned with your business
• The importance of honesty throughout the fundraising process and why fake FOMO quickly destroys credibility
• The trade-offs between Australian and US venture capital markets
• How global ambition should influence your company structure from day one
• Why the best investors continue adding value long after the funding round closes

Patrick shares a practical framework for founders preparing to raise pre-seed capital, offering honest advice on building credibility, creating leverage, choosing investors and navigating one of the most challenging stages of building a startup.

Quick Fire Round

💰 Biggest fundraising lesson – Investors back founders before they back ideas

🤝 Most important advantage – Build credibility before you start raising

🚀 Biggest fundraising strategy – Create genuine alternatives, not fake FOMO

🌏 Global advice – Structure your company to match the market you want to win

A practical, founder-focused conversation on raising pre-seed capital, building investor confidence, and giving your startup the strongest possible foundation for long-term growth.