Key Considerations for Founders from the SVB Collapse

March 13, 2023

It's been a very tumultuous week for the markets, and we have been monitoring the changes in the US banking system with great care. As many analysts have discussed: two things will matter in the coming days and weeks:

1. whether the actions of the authorities are successful in maintaining/restoring the confidence of depositors and investors in the US banking system.

2. whether there are any other institutions with similar vulnerabilities to SVB (or Signature Bank) lurking in the shadows either in the US or in other economies.

“...this is still a reminder of the dangers when we become too dependent on a single point of failure... the ecosystem shouldn’t be beholden to just one bank.” - Darren Eng, VC Adviser & ED of LA's venture association.

Rest assured, DealMaker is not exposed to any risk at this time; none of our operations or payment rails rely on SVB. With everything changing minute to minute, here few key takeaways we have learned in working closely with our Issuers/Founders and what strategies they'll be considering in the days to come:

Consider Your Runway ‍

Founders and CFOs need to be honest with themselves about short and long-term liquidity needs. It's no longer a concern about if you can make payroll (thankfully). But the hard questions remain: do you have enough in the bank to fund the growth you planned for the next quarter? If not, you should seriously consider what's best for your financing - debt or equity. We're here to help you lengthen your runway and can get a raise up and running in days.

Diversify Your Holdings

Relying on five people to consistently write checks may not be the best 'insurance' you need in a very tough market - like now. Consider not only where your runway money is stored but the community you are reliant on for that money. Talk to your CFO and consider diversifying the cash positions you have.

Communicate with your investors

‍Now is definitely not the time to go dark. Whether your position is good or bad; your investors need to know. In a communication vacuum, they may jump to negative conclusions and this may prevent a re-investment. It's likely better to over-communicate now, versus the opposite.

Add a Stable Asset Class

Lots of founders and VCs alike don't see Equity Crowdfunding as an attractive solution. But consider this: retail investors are often less price sensitive and won't compete for preference. Smart venture-backed companies have significant untapped potential to raise from the crowd. Your community of fans, followers, and customers is one of the most stable asset classes - think about shoring up your cash position to meet your needs for additional financing.

As we always do, we recommend you talk to counsel and your board about mapping your way forward. We have licensed broker-dealers ready to take a call, should you have any immediate questions.

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Monogram Case Study - DealMaker (Embed)

When VCs said no, Monogram turned to retail investors. That decision powered their rise from startup to publicly traded company—and even helped them raise an additional $13M privately after their Nasdaq debut.

The Challenge: Raising Capital on Their Terms

The Challenge: Raising on Their Terms

Monogram Technologies was founded with a bold vision: to revolutionize orthopedic surgery with a robotic joint replacement system using custom 3D-printed joints. The market for this technology is massive—approximately $19.6 billion, with over 1 million knee replacements per year. But it's a capital-intensive, regulation-heavy space—and traditional VCs weren't biting.

Instead of compromising, co-founders Dr. Doug Unis and Ben Sexson went all-in on a different path: retail capital. Why?

Control and ownership: Not only were they able to raise the capital they needed to grow the business—they did it on their own terms.
Long-term asset: They wanted to build an army of true believers who wanted to see the company succeed and would continue to reinvest over the years.
A value-add network: Raising from retail allowed Monogram to amass a waiting list of thousands of patients eager to participate in future trials.
Aligned incentives: Their mission to improve patient outcomes and build a better future for those struggling with joint pain resonated with retail investors.

The Power of Retail: Monogram's Capital Journey

Start Date	End Date	Type	Platform	Amount Raised	# Investors
3/13/19	3/31/20	A+	SeedInvest	$14,588,668	6,000
11/16/20	1/16/21	A+	StartEngine	$2,965,501	8,000
1/17/21	2/18/22	A+	StartEngine	$23,647,853	14,082
7/15/22	3/16/23	CF	DealMaker	$4,673,000	2,249
3/1/23	4/8/23	A+	Republic	$232,275	120
3/1/23	5/23/23	A+	DealMaker	$15,958,364	5,198
5/18/23	-	Nasdaq listing
7/24	10/24	Unit Offering	DealMaker	$12,990,103	2,745

Monogram Capital Raise Timeline

Monogram's first direct-to-investor raise was a $14.6M round in 2019. Since then, Monogram has raised retail capital six additional times, using Reg A+ as a springboard to a Nasdaq listing in 2023.

Each raise brought in new believers—and more importantly, kept bringing them back. That's the long-term power of retail capital. It's not just one campaign—it's a compounding asset that grows with the business.

$80M+

Raised across seven campaigns

~40,000

Investors championing Monogram's vision

20%

Of each raise came from previous investors

Marketing Excellence

DealMaker Reach provided strategic investor acquisition services, helping Monogram connect with the right audience through high-impact channels.

Premium Publications

Targeted campaigns in premium publications like Morning Brew captured qualified investors

High-Engagement Webinars

Engaging events that generated over $4.3 million in investments

Community Building

Strategic approaches that fostered a loyal shareholder base

Investment Momentum

Innovative approaches that amplified investment momentum

Monogram's Journey to Success

Monogram's journey has been defined by relentless innovation, strategic fundraising, and breakthrough advancements in robotic-assisted joint replacement. From early-stage research to a Nasdaq listing and beyond, Monogram's milestones reflect its evolution into a pioneering force in orthopedic surgery:

Filed its first patent application in 2017
Conducted clinical studies at UCLA and University of Nebraska
Expanded the team with key hires
Attracted a top-tier advisory board to guide clinical innovations
Signed their first distribution partnerships
Made headlines with cutting-edge live demonstrations
Secured 501(k) FDA clearance for the mBôs surgical system

Nasdaq Debut & Beyond

In May 2023, Monogram Orthopaedics successfully listed on the Nasdaq—a significant milestone offering liquidity and growth opportunities for the company.

For most companies, that would be the end of their story in the private markets. But for Monogram, it was just the beginning of a new chapter.

Public perception says you can't raise privately post-IPO. Monogram proved that wrong.

Defying conventional fundraising norms, Monogram raised an additional $13 million from private investors, powered by DealMaker. This move highlighted the power of a dedicated investor community and provided additional strategic growth capital. Meanwhile, strategic digital marketing for the private offering helped boost the public share price—a win-win for the company and its investors, both public and private.

This was retail capital at its best: strategic, repeatable, and aligned.

One vision. Zero compromises.

This wasn't a one-time raise. It was a multi-year capital strategy.

Retail capital helped Monogram:

Go from concept to commercialization without relying on VCs
Retain ownership and control in a high-burn industry
Build a base of loyal shareholders who invested not once, but over and over again
Uplist to the Nasdaq, and still keep raising post-IPO

This is what makes retail capital different. It doesn't expire—it compounds. And DealMaker is built to maximize that long-term value.

Ready to Raise Capital on Your Terms?

Whether you're pre-revenue or post-IPO, DealMaker gives you the infrastructure, support, and strategy to raise from the people who believe in you most.

Explore Raising Capital with DealMaker