Watch: Joe Tillman Left Law Behind To Help Companies Raise Capital, Urging Authenticity Over Hype
In a world where vast amounts of information are available at the click of a button, Joe Tillman, managing director and head of private capital markets at The Raine Group, emphasizes continuous learning — especially for leaders looking to raise capital and achieve long-term success.
Tillman came from humble beginnings in Paris, CA, and went on to graduate from California State University in 2008 amid the financial crisis, as well as pursue a law degree at New York University. He joined MaC Venture Capital’s first chief operating officer, Jennifer Randle, at AFROTECH™ 2024, where he highlighted the power of targeted investment and strategic decision-making.
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After law school, Tillman spent four years at Gibson Dunn advising private equity and venture firms on M&A, finance, and fund formation before joining Raine as in-house counsel. While intellectually stimulating, he shared that he quickly realized practicing law wasn’t fulfilling, prompting his transition to the business side.
“And so that was eight years ago,” Tillman shared. “It was the best decision I ever made in my whole life. I am very, very excited to find myself in a space where I get to advise a lot of companies and investors on navigating very interesting times and dynamic financial markets.”
In his current role, Tillman works closely with founders and management teams to understand their businesses, think strategically and collaboratively about navigating the critical moments in their lifecycle, and connect them with the right partners.
“I’m a connector of sorts,” he added. “I get to find people in various places in the ecosystem that I think will make the best fit together for me. It gives me a great bit of joy to be able to serve that role for people.”
As someone passionate about building relationships — whether on the investment side and with founders and management teams — Tillman said increased competition is one of the top challenges companies face when raising capital.
“And so it is important that you lead with your authentic self, because ultimately, when you guys are going through the ups and downs of a business together, it’s going to be times where people are going to really figure out who they’re sitting across the table with,” he said.
Given today’s dynamic geopolitical and economic climate, Tillman encouraged staying on the lookout for emerging business opportunities and focusing on what can be controlled, prioritizing strong execution. He emphasized that leaders should prioritize survival — all while carefully balancing risk, reward, and the realistic use of new capital.
“If you truly believe that you’re able to take this capital and because your unit economics are right, or because you have the ability to attack an inorganic growth opportunity in an efficient and effective way… then by all means go get that capital,” Tillman said. “Go run hard and push your foot on the gas pedal. But it really, really is incumbent on folks to take that look in the mirror in the first instance and be thoughtful about whether they can actually achieve that.”
Notably, Tillman cautioned founders against straying from their core business models to fit market hype, warning that “unnatural acts” — like forcing a subscription model or adding buzzwords like “AI” to the company name — can backfire and “paint you into a corner that you’re not really set up to be in.”
As for the final message he wanted to leave with the audience, Tillman stressed the importance of maintaining a higher perspective — keeping first things first, even in business. He encouraged attendees to take stock of the opportunities in front of them and consider how to pay them forward to others.
“I think it is important for everyone to just recognize how incredibly fortunate we are to be living in this time, in this moment, and recognize the tools that we have available to us,” Tillman said. “And don’t be afraid to push yourself beyond your limits … [or] into an uncomfortable position. Learn new tools, learn new technologies, connect with people, learn how you can also be a valuable thought partner to folks in your ecosystem.”
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