Forento blog

Axel Bard Bringéus: Helping Founders Master Fundraising with Forento

Ex-Spotify, VC Partner, and Startup Founder Turned Course Creator Fundraising is one of the biggest hurdles for early-stage founders—but it doesn’t have to be. Axel Bard Bringéus has spent nearly two decades in the tech industry, working at the highest levels of venture capital and startup growth. After leading global expansion at Spotify, becoming a Partner at EQT Ventures, and co-founding the startup 'informed', he’s seen the fundraising process from every angle—as an investor, advisor, and founder. Now, he’s turning his expertise into a digital training academy, helping first-time fundraisers secure the best possible investment rounds. The Knowledge Gap in Fundraising Axel’s motivation for teaching is simple: Too many talented founders fail at fundraising, not because they lack potential but because they lack experience. The fundraising landscape is unforgiving—mistakes are costly, and there’s little room for trial and error. Drawing from years of firsthand experience, Axel created his course to give founders the tools, insights, and confidence to navigate the process like seasoned pros. Before deciding to launch a digital academy, Axel shared his knowledge through one-on-one calls, LinkedIn messages, and email exchanges. But this approach wasn’t scalable. He needed a way to reach more founders efficiently while maintaining the hands-on, real-world practicality that makes his insights so valuable. Want to learn from someone who’s been on every side of the fundraising table? Connect with Axel on LinkedIn or explore SeedRoundSuccess.com to see what he's built with Forento. Why Forento? Axel had already been using another course platform, but when he discovered Forento, the choice was clear. "One of Forento's founders got in touch, and when I tried the platform, it turned out to be much simpler and better than the platform I was using." For Axel, the standout benefits were speed, ease of use, and a transparent pricing model. The website builder gave him the flexibility he needed, while the course creation tools allowed him to work more efficiently without sacrificing quality. Unlike bloated alternatives, Forento provided exactly what he needed—nothing more, nothing less. "Forento has fairer pricing, looks better, is easier and faster to use but without lacking any of the killer features that the big platforms have." What’s Next? After building his fundraising academy on the platform, Axel saw firsthand how Forento empowers experts to share their knowledge without the typical headaches of course creation. But for him, being a customer wasn’t enough. He was so impressed with the product, the team, and the vision behind Forento that he decided to take it a step further—by becoming an investor in our latest funding round. Forento’s mission is to make it effortless for experts to turn their knowledge into thriving businesses. Axel saw the potential in that, not just as a user but as someone who’s spent years identifying and backing high-growth startups. His investment is a testament to what we’re building: a platform that doesn’t just work for creators but one that seasoned entrepreneurs and investors see as the future of online education. It’s Your Turn Through his own journey, Axel has learned a crucial lesson that many first-time course creators overlook: marketing matters just as much as content. His advice to new educators? “Spend just as much, or even more, time on your marketing and distribution plan as on your course building. Your course doesn’t need to be perfect when you launch it—collect feedback and improve as you go.” For Axel, lead magnets have been game-changers. By offering free mini-courses in exchange for contact details, he’s built a strong pipeline of engaged learners who see the value in his content before committing to the full program. If you have expertise to share, now is the time to turn it into an online course. Whether you're an entrepreneur, coach, or industry expert, Forento makes it easy to create and sell your knowledge without the headaches of complex platforms or hidden fees. Axel’s top tips for new course creators: Focus on marketing from day one – Don’t wait until your course is perfect to start attracting students. Use lead magnets – Free mini-courses are a great way to introduce people to your content. Iterate as you go – Launch your course, gather feedback, and continuously improve. Ready to launch your own academy? Sign up for Forento today and start building your online course business!