GUEST: BEACON – MY EXERIENCE: Stay In Touch with Capital
“We secured funding from contacts made during our fourth Beacon email demonstrating that capital interest comes with time and with contacts we never would have targeted through traditional outreach. They weren’t the expected investor, but they had a connection to the Lyme problem, saw the potential in our Lyme disease solution, and became valued partners.”
Mason Kauffman, CEO, US Biologic
US Biologic is an innovative biotech company that has developed an effective oral vaccine delivery system which simplifies vaccinations for both animals and people.
We have commercialized LymeShield™, a first-of-its kind Lyme disease vaccine system for wildlife mice (a major carrier of the disease that infects feeding ticks). The state of Connecticut, the CDC, and multiple other globally respected universities and research centers validated the technology in multiple public programs. The product is now licensed and available via landscape, lawn, and pest management services, and we’re building pivotal and impactful programs with the state of Delaware and will soon partner with other states and Federal entities like the Department of Defense.
We had traction, a very large market (over 500,000 U.S. Lyme cases annually), and promising expansion potential. But like many growth-stage companies, we faced a challenging funding cycle.
What Happened Can Happen to Any Business
Here are our challenges that every founder should watch out for:
| Challenges | Why It Mattered |
| Capital Market Shift | Capital became more conservative and wanted more traction despite strong progress. |
| Funding Process Drag | A term sheet was signed, but extra diligence costs and contract structuring weren’t fully anticipated and added to expenses. |
| Regulatory Delays | USDA approval extended beyond projections and therefore extended our runway and capital needs. |
| Team Bandwidth Constraints | Limited team capacity slowed operations, revenue development, and fundraising. |
| A New Market | Bringing a new product to the market took time and capital. Even enthusiastic customers moved slowly on final purchasing decisions. |
| Slow Public Contracting | Government and institutional deals took longer than anticipated to finalize. |
The Lesson: Keep expanding your funding pipeline.
Capital is not “done” until you have a term sheet or contracts in hand, but delays are inevitable, and it usually takes more time and funds to stabilize cash flow. Continue to build your pipeline of funders and funding momentum to avoid cash crunches.
Why Beacon Makes a Difference
We used Deer Isle’s Beacon to raise initial funds, and we believe that it is an effective and efficient solution for capital sourcing. The process could have been prohibitively expensive and time-consuming but instead Deer Isle’s Beacon created a process that was efficient, targeted, and scalable. Because it solves the problem of effectively reaching capital sources on a white-label and turnkey solution, it can be used for investor relations as well as for capital raising.
Here’s what Beacon delivers:
- Warm Pipeline – Stay top-of-mind with investors over time
- Reach Beyond the Obvious – Our investor came via the fourth send, someone we’d never have identified alone
- Faster to Capital – No need to start cold when delays hit
- Easy Re-engagement – Quickly update past contacts with new milestones
Final Thought: Capital Is a System, Not a Moment
Capital needs shift. Timelines slip. The right investor may miss your first email or not be ready on your timeline.
Beacon keeps your company on the radar so that when you do need capital — whether expected or not — you’re already in motion.
Reach out if you’d like to learn more about US Biologic.
Mason Kauffman (901) 755-6868 or mason.kauffman@usbiologic.com.
