This document provides guidance on fundraising for startups. It discusses preparing for a fundraising campaign by developing a pitch deck, legal documents, financial projections, and building an investor pipeline. The fundraising process takes 3-6 months on average and involves socializing the opportunity with potential investors without asking for money initially. Once interest is generated, the formal fundraising campaign begins with approaching top investors simultaneously to close a round. Key deal terms to negotiate include valuation, equity stakes, liquidation preferences, and board seats. Choosing investors carefully based on their characteristics and ability to help the startup succeed is also advised.
23. Socialize
• Prioritize sequence
• Find strongest connections to 30+ targets
• Tactics: lead gen, cold calling, warm intros
• Network over 2-3 months
24. Don’t ask for money!
Improves hit rate Creates data points Doesn’t start the clock
“Who else should I talk to?”
“I’m not ready to raise”
“Who would be helpful?”
26. Go for it! Create FOMO
• Approach your top candidates at the same time
• Decide whether to tell investors about each other
• Land anchor investor as the first domino
• Use triggering events to get or improve term sheets
“I’m closing a round”
28. • Board seat or 2
• Option pool
• Liquidation preference
• Control over sale, new options
• Debt that becomes preferred equity
when you raise it
• No valuation, but the “cap” is a
ceiling
• Interest accrues, rate <10%
• Conversion discount
Equity
29. • Not done until money is in
the bank
Key terms
❑ Board composition
❑ Option pool
❑ Voting rights
❑ Founder vesting
❑ Change of control
❑ Redemption rights
❑ Information rights
❑ Anti-dilution
31. Valuation & Dilution
37%
See ownyourventure.com
See dlopuch.github.io/venture-dealr
Raise $1M on $5M pre
34%
Raise $1.5M on $5M pre
33%
Raise $1M on $3M pre
Dilution: what’s your end stake?
Valuation ($M)
Seed A B
$15
$6
$1
$30
$12
$5
32. How long does it take?
• Longer than you expect
• 3-6 months
• Speed limited by access to investors
• Your ability to find them
• Calendar availability (surprisingly hard)
How soon to start, how long it takes,
general timeline you can expect, how to
reduce time between the initial outreach
and closing a deal?
33. Choose your investors carefully
What characteristics to look for in a
venture partner?
44. Typical Parts
Overview Problem Solution
Market
Opportunity
Go-to-Market Traction
Revenue &
Business Model
Team
Competitive
Landscape
Financial
Projections
Ask & Use of
Proceeds
Conclusion