The pressures of running a business while looking for funding causes many founders to underestimate the importance of creating a clear fundraising strategy. You don’t want to waste your time seeking capital without a clear timeline and plan. In this workshop, the experienced investors and entrepreneurs will guide you on how to best prepare, plan and execute a strategy that’s best suited to your business.
This workshop will also address the specifics of what it means to raise capital as a female founder and provide practical tips, checklists, templates and interactive exercises so you can start applying these to your company and Own Your Raise.
Key topics addressed include:
What’s the landscape of raising money for female founders?
What does raising capital mean for me and for my business?
Is my company ready to raise?
How much should I raise?
What’s the process and timeline of raising from angels/VCs?
How can I best prepare to raise my first outside capital?
How do I figure out and understand who the right investors are for my company?
How can I best align running my company and running a fundraising round?
What are the resources out there that can help me fundraise?
By attending this workshop, you will:
Understand what raising outside capital means for you and your business
Have a clear understanding of how to create a fundraising strategy that makes sense for you and for your company
Learn about resources to help you fundraise
Get checklists and templates for planning and executing your raise
Get access to the slides & recording
Please note that this is a woman-only event. Use of “women” & “female” is inclusive of and welcomes trans women, nonbinary folks, and anyone who identifies with womxnhood in any way that is significant to them.
Note: This slideshare is of Version 1.0 published in 2015, Version 2.0 was published in 2021.
The first version was published on a free-but-donate, effectively on the basis that you made a donation to Resurgo Spear if you enjoyed it. In that spirit, it will continue to be freely available (although some of the examples are now dated). v2.0, the latest version of the book, is available at: https://fundraisingfieldguide.com It has many more updated examples, content, and references.
The Fundraising Field Guide was written to help early-stage tech startup founders decipher and navigate the fundraising process. It is based on a collection of blog posts published on my site thedrawingboard.me and has been published using Reedsy, a marketplace for self-publishers to connect with an online community of editors, illustrators and marketers. The book provides an overview of the common challenges experienced by entrepreneurs when going through the funding process.
I hope you enjoy it!
Fundraising For For-Profits PowerPoint PresentationAndrew Schwartz
100+ PowerPoint presentation content slides. Fundraising is a crucial element for any start-up or established business to either launch a product or service or expand upon an existing one.
Note: This slideshare is of Version 1.0 published in 2015, Version 2.0 was published in 2021.
The first version was published on a free-but-donate, effectively on the basis that you made a donation to Resurgo Spear if you enjoyed it. In that spirit, it will continue to be freely available (although some of the examples are now dated). v2.0, the latest version of the book, is available at: https://fundraisingfieldguide.com It has many more updated examples, content, and references.
The Fundraising Field Guide was written to help early-stage tech startup founders decipher and navigate the fundraising process. It is based on a collection of blog posts published on my site thedrawingboard.me and has been published using Reedsy, a marketplace for self-publishers to connect with an online community of editors, illustrators and marketers. The book provides an overview of the common challenges experienced by entrepreneurs when going through the funding process.
I hope you enjoy it!
Fundraising For For-Profits PowerPoint PresentationAndrew Schwartz
100+ PowerPoint presentation content slides. Fundraising is a crucial element for any start-up or established business to either launch a product or service or expand upon an existing one.
The elements of building a successful fundraising strategy
*Fundraising in context
*New Zealand's individual giving market
* Strategy options
* Critical success factors
introduction to the basics of Fundraising
What are the types of funds? What are the sources of fund? Who needs fund?
How to write a proposal?
And everything you need to know about funds & fundraising.
CEOs and boards of non-profit organisations can add great value to the fundraising process but many are unsure what their role is and how to get started.
These slides which follow show some of the messages we use in our seminars with CEOs and Boards.
Fundraising Strategy - useful tools that really work IoF 2011Simon Burne
This is intended to provide you with a range of tools to apply directly to developing effective strategies that deliver real results. All the tools have been tried and tested and have been proven to work. Not all of them will be right for you but you're guaranteed to come away with some tools that you'll want to use straight away.
This is a series of Capacity Building documents that was prepared by the Sudanese Youth Leadership Development Program.
هذه مجموعة من المقالات في مجالات تدريبية متعددة مناسبة للجمعيات الطوعية تم تطويرها بين عامي 2003-2008 للبرنامج السوداني لإعداد القيادات الشبابية
Fundraising requires a special kind of mindset as it can be quite a frustrating experience. In many ways it resembles dating.. this presentation lays out why.
An introduction to the acquisition and management of public funding. If you are a non-profit organization or a business and want to be successful with the acquisition of public funding, this is for you. If you have acquired public funding and want to manage it more effectively, this is a good starting point. If you have tried unsuccessfully to acquire public funding, this will ensure your success.
Final 2013 11 04 financial bootcamp for women the basicsTina Powell
Financial Bootcamp for Women - The Basics. A presentation geared to women beginning to take charge of their financial lives. Simple and easy-to-understand tips.
Volunteer fundraising – how you can get involved. Sara Wilcox, Volunteer Fundraising Manager, and Anna Roberts,
Volunteer Fundraising Manager, talk about fundraising at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign National Conference 2011.
The elements of building a successful fundraising strategy
*Fundraising in context
*New Zealand's individual giving market
* Strategy options
* Critical success factors
introduction to the basics of Fundraising
What are the types of funds? What are the sources of fund? Who needs fund?
How to write a proposal?
And everything you need to know about funds & fundraising.
CEOs and boards of non-profit organisations can add great value to the fundraising process but many are unsure what their role is and how to get started.
These slides which follow show some of the messages we use in our seminars with CEOs and Boards.
Fundraising Strategy - useful tools that really work IoF 2011Simon Burne
This is intended to provide you with a range of tools to apply directly to developing effective strategies that deliver real results. All the tools have been tried and tested and have been proven to work. Not all of them will be right for you but you're guaranteed to come away with some tools that you'll want to use straight away.
This is a series of Capacity Building documents that was prepared by the Sudanese Youth Leadership Development Program.
هذه مجموعة من المقالات في مجالات تدريبية متعددة مناسبة للجمعيات الطوعية تم تطويرها بين عامي 2003-2008 للبرنامج السوداني لإعداد القيادات الشبابية
Fundraising requires a special kind of mindset as it can be quite a frustrating experience. In many ways it resembles dating.. this presentation lays out why.
An introduction to the acquisition and management of public funding. If you are a non-profit organization or a business and want to be successful with the acquisition of public funding, this is for you. If you have acquired public funding and want to manage it more effectively, this is a good starting point. If you have tried unsuccessfully to acquire public funding, this will ensure your success.
Final 2013 11 04 financial bootcamp for women the basicsTina Powell
Financial Bootcamp for Women - The Basics. A presentation geared to women beginning to take charge of their financial lives. Simple and easy-to-understand tips.
Volunteer fundraising – how you can get involved. Sara Wilcox, Volunteer Fundraising Manager, and Anna Roberts,
Volunteer Fundraising Manager, talk about fundraising at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign National Conference 2011.
In 2016 we created the Fellowship For Female Founders, a 6 month+ program to support women from the New England area looking for their 1st outside capital to get the support they deserve.
This fellowship helps them Own Their Story, Own Their Numbers and Own Their Network so they can confidently OWN THEIR RAISE.
The Fellowship For Female Founders - Applications & What You Receive As A Fel...The Capital Network
In 2016 we created the Fellowship For Female Founders, a 6 month+ program to support women from the New England area looking for their 1st outside capital to get the support they deserve.
This fellowship helps them Own Their Story, Own Their Numbers and Own Their Network so they can confidently OWN THEIR RAISE.
Tcn investment & inclusion panel - dei & vc firms- structural barriers to eq...The Capital Network
Recent conversations around DEI in VC firms have centered on diversifying portfolios and hiring. But what happens if the very organizational processes and governance of these firms are actively creating barriers to achieving DEI initiatives? In this conversation, we discuss Pledges, Riders, Board Placements and more to understand what works and doesn’t, and what VC firms can do differently to create structural change.
A workshop on working with foundations originally presented to student at Elon University's Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement.
The Global Center for Nonprofit Excellence is an orchestrated network that brings Nonprofits, Funders and Recognized Experts together for the greatest impact. With scores of weekly encounters with nonprofit leaders from all corners of the community, obvious trends have emerged.
A Foundation Grants program is the base of every philanthropy program. An organization constructs its case for support which acts as the main commercial for the organization. Prospect research, planning and communications are also discussing in this presentation.
In 2016 we created the Fellowship For Female Founders, a 6 month+ program to support women from the New England area looking for their 1st outside capital to get the support they deserve.
This fellowship helps them Own Their Story, Own Their Numbers and Own Their Network so they can confidently OWN THEIR RAISE.
Startup Financing 101: How to get from A to B with 0 or 100?Lubomila Jordanova
The presentation allows you to quickly understand the different financing options that exist out there and consider what is most appropriate for your company.
If you are a Greentech entrepreneur, the place to go of course is www.plana.earth!
As a social entrepreneur, how do you connect with impact investors? What is different about impact investing vs. typical tech investing? This hands-on, interactive workshop was given to winners of The Tech Awards in an all-day retreat.
The key here is to practice, try new things, and practice some more. You can do this yourself by going to events or conferences and keep giving your short elevator story over and over, taking new risks, tweaking, and trying again.
We originally created the 'OWN YOUR RAISE' Fellowship for Female Founders to solve some of the unique issues women founders face when it comes to raising money: lack of access to knowledge and investor networks and a need for greater confidence and executive leadership growth in scenarios where they are often the only woman in the room. But this program is now so much more: it's a safe space where Fellows can be inspired by and champion each other, connect and build on their leadership & fundraising strategy, and execute & celebrate their many milestones together.
Tcn investment & inclusion series - emerging fund managers opportunities and ...The Capital Network
Emerging Fund Managers, or those managers who generally have less than $100M under management, are managing fewer than three institutional funds, and focused on early or seed-stage ventures, have become one of the fastest-growing segments in the venture capital industry. Many of these managers come from diverse backgrounds and/or are interested in investing in diverse founders. Our conversation will highlight the opportunities and challenges faced by emerging fund managers as they aim to diversify the venture capital funding landscape.
Back in 2016, we created our 'OWN YOUR RAISE' program to solve some of the unique issues women founders face when it comes to raising money: lack of access to knowledge and investor networks and a need for greater confidence and executive leadership growth in scenarios where they are often the only woman in the room. We have created a safe space where fellows can be inspired by and champion each other, where they can connect and build on their leadership and fundraising strategy, and where they can ultimately OWN. THEIR. RAISE.
Crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular funding strategy for early stage entrepreneurs — but it’s not a guaranteed success. We’re partnering with IFundWomen, a crowdfunding platform for women-led businesses to bring you this workshop. Whether you are creating a campaign for funding or for market validation, we’ll help you create an enticing campaign that will resonate with your audience and provide your business with the capital it needs to keep growing. Our crowdfunding experts will walk you through practical ways to hone your pitch, map your network, strategically estimate your fundraising goal, market to your target audience, and design rewards that sell. We’ll also provide useful resources, playbooks, toolkits, etc that you will need to rock your crowdfunding campaign.
Cash flow is the lifeblood of a startup. Effective cash flow management is fundamental to a business’s success.
As a founder, understanding your cash position is super important and you must have a firm grasp of cash flow mechanics to keep your business operating smoothly. To help you stay on top of it, in this webinar, we’ll break down the basics of cash flow management and provide tips so you can guarantee a healthy cash flow for your business.
With a clear understanding of your company’s cash flow, you can get through downturns and be in a strong position to grow in a new post-COVID environment.
The $2 trillion federal coronavirus relief package signed recently, officially known as the CARES Act, includes the nearly $350 Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. The new loan program is designed to help small businesses with their payroll and other business operating expenses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.
The SBA and the Department of Treasury have released the information that will guide the programs. To help entrepreneurs better understand how can they benefit from the program, we created the webinar in partnership with the SBA, Cambridge Trust and the law firm Nutter to answer questions including:
Who are eligible for a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
How do businesses apply? What information is needed?
How much money can a business receive through the loan program?
When will the loans be available?
What’s the interest rate?
What does the payment schedule look like?
How does the Affiliation Rules affect VC-backed startup’s eligibility?
Can the loan eventually be forgiven? What’s the eligibility for loan forgiveness?
What if the PPP Loan does not cover a business’s needs? What are the other options under the CARES Act?
Unfamiliar with the SBIR program and don’t know where to start? Here are some tips from The Isis Group on how to prepare your company for your first SBIR/STTR submission.
You might be interested in getting your startup into an accelerator – and rest assured Boston has no shortage of options – but it’s hard to know exactly what the best options for your stage and industry are.
From business support, mentorship and desk space, to equity vs non-equity, marketing, and even prize money – accelerators offer a whole lot and can really help you develop your product, brand, and network.
Calculate Financial Projections for Investment PresentationsThe Capital Network
Financial Projections are key in all aspects of the fundraising process: Pitching, Valuation, Due Diligence, and in the long term planning of your company. Join our experts in an overview discussion of financial projections and learn the key metrics that will get investors to notice you, as well as those that will get you rejected. With the expert advice of serial Startup CFOs and VC Analysts we’ll walk you though the process of what you need to know. If you have no or little idea where to begin with your financial projections, this program is for you.
Understanding Angel & Venture Term Sheets: A Play In 3 Acts. An re-enactment of negotiations between entrepreneurs, engineers and investors. For early stage entrepreneurs and startups.
Understanding equity compensation is crucial as you prepare to grow and scale your team. Learn how to create an equity plan that’s both attractive to new hires and promotes retention. We’ll discuss best equity compensation practices from a legal and accounting perspective when hiring, firing and incentivizing your team that will align with your startup’s fundraising and growth goals.
You might be interested in getting your startup into an accelerator – and rest assured Boston has no shortage of options – but it’s hard to know exactly what the best options for your stage and industry are.
From business support, mentorship and desk space, to equity vs non-equity, marketing, and even prize money – accelerators offer a whole lot and can really help you develop you product, brand, and network.
At this panel, you will hear from different accelerators about their selection process and programming so that you can make the right choice for your startup. Here is some information and key dates for 2018 Boston Accelerators
Explore Sarasota Collection's exquisite and long-lasting dining table sets and chairs in Sarasota. Elevate your dining experience with our high-quality collection!
What You're Going to Learn
- How These 4 Leaks Force You To Work Longer And Harder in order to grow your income… improve just one of these and the impact could be life changing.
- How to SHUT DOWN the revolving door of Income Stagnation… you know, where new sales come into your magazine while at the same time existing sponsors exit.
- How to transform your magazine business by fixing the 4 “DON’Ts”...
#1 LEADS Don’t Book
#2 PROSPECTS Don’t Show
#3 PROSPECTS Don’t Buy
#4 CLIENTS Don’t Stay
- How to identify which leak to fix first so you get the biggest bang for your income.
- Get actionable strategies you can use right away to improve your bookings, sales and retention.
Best Crypto Marketing Ideas to Lead Your Project to SuccessIntelisync
In this comprehensive slideshow presentation, we delve into the intricacies of crypto marketing, offering invaluable insights and strategies to propel your project to success in the dynamic cryptocurrency landscape. From understanding market trends to building a robust brand identity, engaging with influencers, and analyzing performance metrics, we cover all aspects essential for effective marketing in the crypto space.
Also Intelisync, our cutting-edge service designed to streamline and optimize your marketing efforts, leveraging data-driven insights and innovative strategies to drive growth and visibility for your project.
With a data-driven approach, transparent communication, and a commitment to excellence, InteliSync is your trusted partner for driving meaningful impact in the fast-paced world of Web3. Contact us today to learn more and embark on a journey to crypto marketing mastery!
Ready to elevate your Web3 project to new heights? Contact InteliSync now and unleash the full potential of your crypto venture!
2. Fundraising is hard. You don’t have to do it alone.
Designed for entrepreneurs, The Capital Network (TCN) provides workshops,
events, mentorship and a network to support YOU, the founder.
Let TCN help you
OWN YOUR RAISE!
Fundraising Preparedness
Workshops
● Open to all early stage
founders
● Workshops, bootcamps,
events on fundraising
Fellowship For Female
Founders
● For a cohort of 10-16 female
founders per fellowship program
● 6+ months of fundraising
education, mentorship, resources,
and networking
● Since 2016, our 75+ fellows (50%
BIPOC) have raised $45M+
Investment & Inclusion
Series
● Open to all
● Ongoing series of open
conversations to explore effective
practices in DEI, Capital and the
future of fundraising
● Held in partnership with the VC
Inclusion Lab of Brown University
3. Terence Craig
Startup Investor,
Investor in Residence at
The Idea Village
@terencecraig
@TCNupdate www.TheCapitalNetwork.org
Lisa Frusztajer
Investor in Residence at TCN,
Investment Committee at
Portfolia, Angel Investor at
Pipeline Angels and Next Wave
Ventures
@TCNUpdate
@Portfolia1
Marie Meslin
Executive Director at The
Capital Network & &
Creator of the Fellowship
For Female Founders
@marie_meslin
@TCNupdate
Pauline Roteta
Co-Founder & CEO at
Pasito,
Entrepreneur in Residence
at TCN
@joinpasito
4. Purpose of this workshop
● To understand the landscape of raising money for female founders
● To understand what raising from investors means for you and your
business
● To understand how to best prepare, plan and execute a strategy that
makes sense for you and your company.
● To learn about resources and meet other female founders raising capital
● Be prepared + Not desperate for cash = Sound decisions
● Tell us what you want to know!
MM
5. You will gain a better understanding of:
● Fundraising landscape
● What raising money means for you and your business
● Prepare, plan, execute the right strategy for you
● Resources, meet other female founders raising capital
● Preparation + Not being desperate for cash = Sound decisions
Tell us what you want to know!
MM
6. Sections
1. Setting the scene: The landscape for female founders raising
capital
2. What does raising capital mean?
3. Am I / is my company ready?
4. Raising Capital: DOCUMENTS
5. Raising Capital: THE RAISE
6. Raising Capital: TIMELINE
7. Raising Capital: NETWORKS
8. Strategies for Success / Resources
MM
8. Fundraising While Female
2% 0.43% 15.4%
In 2021, only 2% of venture
capital dollars went to
startups founded solely by
women, the lowest
percentage since 2016.
Black and Latinx women
received 0.43% of the $166
billion in VC funding given
out in 2020.
In 2021, about 15.4% of
GPs of VC firms are
women, a 3.5%
increase from 2019.
Women founders also face biased questions, and even harassment and
abuse by male investors
LF
9. The Pandemic has a disproportionate impact on
female entrepreneurs
COVID impacted female founders harder than it did
male founders and the overall venture market. It
went beyond deal activity. It impacted valuations, as
well. For the first time in over a decade, valuations of
female-founded companies at the early stage
diverged significantly from the overall market, with a
gap emerging in both 2020 and 2021.
The median valuation for all early-stage startups
increased 15.4% between 2019 and 2020, despite the
pandemic. For female-founded companies at that
stage, the median rose by 4.0%. The result was a
$4.0 million chasm between the overall market and
female-founded companies
Source: PitchBook 2021 Report
LF
11. Women Founders - The State of the Union
● As of 2019, there were nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing
42% of all U.S. businesses. Women of color make up 50% of all women-owned businesses.
● Over the past two decades, the number of women entrepreneurs has increased by 114%.
● As of 2019, women-owned businesses employed almost 9.4 million people and generated
$1.9 trillion in revenue. Women-of-color-owned businesses generated 23% of total
women-owned businesses’ revenue
● Women drive 83% of all U.S. consumption, through both buying power and influence.
(Source: Morgan Stanley)
● Before the pandemic, 60% of women-owned businesses ranked the overall health of their
business as “good”. But by July 2020, just 47% (15% less compared to male-owned) of
female-owned businesses said their businesses was “good”. (Source: US Chamber of Commerce)
● 28% of startups have at least one female founder (Source: SVB)
● Increased numbers of investment groups and firms aimed at women-run companies
(Female Founders Fund, BBG Ventures, Harbinger Ventures, Halogen Ventures, AllRaise,
XFactor Ventures, Astia Angels, Chloe Capital, Portfolia)
Source: 35 Women-Owned Business Statistics You Need to Know in 2021
LF
13. Black Founders
LF
Crunchbase data shows
that Black founders
received only 1.2% of the
record $147 bln in VC
investment in U.S. startups
in the first half of 2021.
That compares with the
more than 13% of the U.S.
population that is Black or
African American.
14. Latinx Founders
LF
Crunchbase data shows that
while funding to Latinx
founders has increased from
$1.7 bln in 2017 to $6.8 bln in
2021, that growth only slightly
outpaced the overall increase
in U.S. VC investments, leaving
Latinx startup funding stuck
stubbornly at around 2
percent of the overall startup
investment pie.
17. Fundraising lifecycle
Friends/Family
Ultra high risk
Bet on founders
Limited expectation
for return’
~$250K
Pre-Seed
Angel investors
Very few VCs *
Founder Centric,
based on
vision,qualitative
not quantitative
$1M - $2M
Seed
Angels, Angel
Groups, Family
Offices, Some VCs
Founder-centric,
needs some traction,
still based on vision,
qualitative not
quantitative
$1M-$5M (Varies)
Series B
Institutional: VCs,
Large Family Offices
Focused on previous
growth metrics, future
return projections.
Quantitative
Series A
Angel Groups, Family Offices,
VCs; Primarily institutional
Based on traction, past
performance, domain
expertise,TAM
Less qualitative but not
enough data to be truly
quantitative
$5M-$30M
Growth Equity
Large VC, Private Equity
and Large Family Offices
Focused on previous
growth metrics and future
return projections.
Late Stage
Large VCs, Private Equity,
Specific Late stage
Investment Banks
Financially driven entirely
Exit: IPO/Acquisition
Large Companies,
Investment Banks
Debt Financing
Venture Debt Funds
Commercial Banks
TC
18. What does raising money from individual
Angels mean?
For the Entrepreneur
More than just money…
● A key partner
● Strategic connections
● Guidance
● Can provide credibility with
investors & customers
For the Angel:
● Mentor
● High risk / high reward (typically
convertible note/SAFE)
● Use expertise and industry
knowledge to catalyze growth &
stay in the game
TC
19. Other options to raising capital
• Bootstrap
• Customer Contracts & Sales
• Family & Friends (Watch TCN Workshop Recording)
• Pitch / Biz Plan Competitions
• Crowdfunding (Kickstarter / I Fund Women) (Watch TCN Workshop Recording)
• Equity Crowdfunding (WeFunder / NetCapital) (Watch TCN Workshop Recording)
• Revenue Based Financing
• Grants & Other Non-Dilutive Grants (SBIR etc) (Watch TCN Workshop Recording)
TC
21. Am I ready?
You might be at the right stage to think about investment but…
❏ Is there alignment between your vision for your company and the
kind of money you are seeking?
❏ Do you have outside support and mentoring from your personal and
professional environment?
❏ What are your family considerations? Can you take more on?
❏ What are your financial considerations?
Resources: The Founder’s Dilemma & HBS
PR
22. Am I ready?
You might be at the right stage to think about investment but…
❏ Alignment – your vision, money you are seeking?
❏ Outside support / mentoring?
❏ Family / personal / financial
Resources: The Founder’s Dilemma & HBS
PR
23. Is my company ready?
Should you be raising capital from investors?
Checklist to see if you are ready for investment:
❏ Am incorporated as a for-profit business?
❏ Have I validated my assumptions and shown market demand?
❏ Is my business scalable?
❏ Do I have a clear brand?
❏ Do I have a team in place with clear roles and duties?
❏ Do I have clear goals/milestones I want to reach with my business
❏ Do I have an end goal / payout for the business?
❏ Am I clear on all the parties that have a stake in my company?
PR
24. Is My Company Ready?
You might be at the right stage to think about investment
but…
❏ Is angel or institutional the right option?
❏ Grants / non-dilutive?
❏ University resources?
❏ Accelerators / incubators?
PR
26. What you need
A. One paragraph overview
B. One-pager: Also called an Executive Summary
C. Two versions of your Deck:
a. Presentations
b. Sharing digitally
D. Financial model
E. Product presentation or demo
F. Email template - a ‘Forwardable’ update tailored to each recipient
MM
Resource: Startup Templates
27. The ‘About’ Paragraph
The paragraph as your MISSION STATEMENT:
In 3-4 sentences:
● Why this - What is the problem I am trying to solve + how are you solving it
● Why me - Why am I the best person to solve this problem
● Why now - What is going on in the market, trends, regulations etc to make
this the right time to create this business
● OR Who Cares? - Why is this important - why you should care about this
too.
MM
28. The ‘About’ Paragraph - Pasito
Why this: Companies are struggling to hire and retain talent. At the same time, they spend
30% of their budgets on benefits that employees don’t understand or use. For employees,
most of their financial life is tied to their employer (salary, retirement, health, care,
transport). But when they don’t get the financial or tax advice they need (and 3/4 of
Americans don’t), they leave thousands of dollars on the table each year.
Why me: Why not me? I experienced it first hand and knew I could solve this problem. I
believed in my ability to build an amazing team to make a difference.
Why now?
1) Great resignation
2) Financial inequalities exposed by Covid
3) Regulatory changes
PR
29. The ‘About’ Paragraph - Mombox
Why this: As a first-time mom I was baffled (and personally let down) by the lack of care
new moms received, starting with the labor and delivery essentials. I realized this was a
needed convenience going unnoticed in a convenience economy.
Why me: Why not me? I experienced it first hand and knew I could solve this problem,
and have extensive knowledge regarding lifestyle brands, content creation and marketing
strategy.
Why now? 1) 80% of babies born today are born to millennial women -- who are also the
prime subscribers of subscription boxes.
2) COVID shifted the medical care landscape and everything that could be done at home,
needed to be done at home. We realized quickly how more convenient we could make
care, without sacrificing quality. I didn't see the future of postnatal care returning to
pre-COVID norms.
PR
30. Sample Fundraising Paragraph
● What is the business (how do you make money)
● What is your traction to date, your achievements
● What are some clear financial data points (if you have revenue)
● What’s next for you / you want to achieve / your vision for the company
● What is the $ you are raising (talk about opportunities not asks)
Think about what is unique about your company / team / solution /
business model
PR
31. Sample Fundraising Paragraph - Warm Intro Email
EMAIL TITLE: A founder you should meet
EMAIL BODY:
I would like to connect you with (a friend of mine / an ex-colleague / an amazing founder I’ve come
across), Pauline Roteta. She is the Co-Founder & CEO of a startup called Pasito.
Pasito is building an app that combines health and wealth to personalize employee total rewards.
Through Pasito, employees get personalized financial and health benefit support that leads to better
appreciation for total compensation, and companies save money on payroll and health premiums.
Pasito delivered on successful paid pilots with fast-growing tech companies - saved employees
$1,900 on average, achieved 79 NPS, 3.5x ROI for companies. Their team is amazing (ex-Amazon CTO,
ex-Appfolio CGO, backed by HRtech and fintech founders). They’re raising a pre-seed to develop their
technology, integrate with payroll APIs and scale sales.
PR
LF
32. Sample Fundraising Paragraph - Warm Intro Email
About us
XXXX
What we've accomplished
- Built our employee-facing app
- Regulatory analysis
- Strong team of seven in the US (ex-N26, Epsilon, Seal Team 5, Monzo).
- X.Xk sign-ups / $XXXk transactions / Xx AUM growth in 2021 / organically growing X% WoW
What we're raising
- $XM on a SAFE ($XXM pre-money cap, XX% discount). XX% committed
Goals for the raise
- Add more key engineering resources to the team to move faster
- Evolve product based on insights and level up user experience
- Test marketing channels and scale
You can find our deck here
33. Sample Fundraising Paragraph - Cold Email
EMAIL TITLE:
EMAIL BODY:
Mombox is a DTC postnatal wellness startup that ships labor and delivery kits to new
moms. Mombox continues to grow at roughly 100% YoY and is on track to gross $200k
this year without any marketing spend. Given this traction, we're raising a seed round to
expand the existing one-time care kit into a complete at-home, postnatal wellness
program.
Mombox is opening a $1M seed round the first week of August and I would love the
opportunity to connect and tell you more.
PR
LF
35. How much?
❏ KPIs, milestones
❏ Too conservative vs. too aggressive
❏ Cash runway
❏ Target vs. actual
❏ Deal Dynamics from an Investor’s perspective
❏ Valuations & Down Rounds
Two approaches:
Raise only what you need
● Decreases overall dilution
● Higher risk
Raise as much as possible now
● Increases overall dilution
● Decreases risk and provides
breathing room
TC
LF
36. What Instrument To Use
TC
❏ SAFE - very coastal instrument
❏ Convertible Note
❏ Priced Round
38. When to Fundraise
Some times are better than others! Plan accordingly.
January February March April May June
July August September October November December
LF
Angels vs VC
39. Timeline for raising from investors.
(It’ll take longer than you think!)
Basic Timeline:
● Network &
Intros
● Cultivate
warm intros
● Process
Starter
● 2-4 intros per
day
● Diligence
● Negotiations
● Waiting for
check to clear
Month 1-2 Month 2-3
Month 3-5 Month 5-6
LF
● DATA ROOM
w/ Docs
● Pitch Deck
Practiced
Before You Open Your Round
● List Of Investor
Targets
● Network &
Intros
40. Your timeline
Think of the fundraising process as a crescendo:
1. Set clear start and end date
a. Schedule first round meetings within a few weeks of one another.
b. Move everyone through the process at a similar pace.
2. Orchestrate and time your intros. LinkedIn Is Your Friend!
a. Meet with your connectors in the weeks before the process for buy-in.
3. Think about strategically placed announcements, metrics and media to
build interest, prove traction and demonstrate demand.
4. Don’t forget to run the day to day of your business!
PR
LF
41. Creating traction
Pasito story
- Start with market validation
- Secure paying customers & deliver manually
- Make those customers love and refer you
- Build your team of high-performers
- Constantly expand your network of investors and commercial partners
- Always lean on metrics
- Make decisions easy for every stakeholders - unique offering, save money,
deliver a package
PR
43. Finding Investors (pt. 1)
Research potential investors
Where to look before reaching out:
● TCN Angel & VC database:
https://thecapitalnetwork.org/angel-vc
-database/
● Crunchbase
● Their website/portfolio companies
○ Particularly failures!
● Angelist
● Social media/medium/blogs
● LinkedIn
TC
Research potential investors
What to look for:
● Common threads
● Connections
● Competitors
PR
44. Finding Investors (pt. 2)
Investor pipelines Spreadsheet
Investing is Sales proper qualification is essential
Warm introductions are your best weapon
Finding a Champion:
● Building a relationship
● Connections in investor space - key figure in the space.
● Expert in whatever you are doing (especially in obscure sectors).
Communicating with investors:
Cadence on communication - how when to answer
NDAs? NOPE!
https:/
/theimpactseat.medium.com/why-investors-wont-sign-ndas-26ad
0fde0a46
TC
46. 3
Pretty good, somewhat in the space, possible fit
2
Good! Very closely matched
1
The best of the best
Investor Tranches
What does this
mean for women?
LF
TC
47. Sample investor pipeline
47
Name Firm Title Tranche
Typical
Check
Size
Why they would be
interested
Potential
intro from
Can
Make
Intro Intro Made Comments
Jane
Investor
Best
Ventures MD 1
$500K-$1
M
Invested in similar company,
focuses on our industry Tyler Wild Yes
Jackie
Angel
Angel
Investor 2
$50K -
$100K
Background in our industry,
exited a company in the
space Shelby West Yes Yes Interested!
Katie
Venture
Varied
Ventures
Associ
ate 3
$100k-
$500k Thesis focuses on our tech Jon Dumont Yes
Upon
return from
Vaca
LF
48. Finding a Champion: How
● A champion is a huge asset!
● Look for key mentors, people you have worked with for a
long time, leaders in your space
● Chemistry, ideological alignment
● Doesn’t have to be a woman!
● You’ll know them by their passion for your business &
advocacy for you
What do I do if I don’t have someone?
● Find one! :)
● Not a stranger - build a relationship
LF
49. Finding a Champion:
● The right champion is a huge asset!
● Key mentors, people you have
worked with closely, leaders in your
space
● Chemistry, ideological alignment
● Doesn’t have to be a woman!
● Passion for your business, advocacy
What do I do if I don’t have someone?
● Find one! :)
● Not a stranger - build a relationship
LF
How
Characteristics of a champion:
● Expert in the space
● Respected investor
● Willing to support you and
provide assistance, for free or as
an advisor
● Trusted BY YOU (& by others)
Who
50. Finding a Lead:
LF
How
- Research
- Create pipeline
- Founder referrals
- Warm intros
Who
- Financial partner and advocate
- Investment strategy
- Business partner and advocate
- Champion vs. Lead
51. Terence Craig
Startup Investor,
Investor in Residence at
The Idea Village
@terencecraig
@TCNupdate www.TheCapitalNetwork.org
Lisa Frusztajer
Investor in Residence at TCN,
Investment Committee at
Portfolia, Angel Investor at
Pipeline Angels and Next Wave
Ventures
@TCNUpdate
@Portfolia1
Marie Meslin
Executive Director at The
Capital Network & &
Creator of the Fellowship
For Female Founders
@marie_meslin
@TCNupdate
Pauline Roteta
Co-Founder & CEO at
Pasito,
Entrepreneur in Residence
at TCN
@joinpasito
ASK YOUR QUESTIONS
53. Needs to include:
Summary -
Problem -
Solution -
Traction -
Business Model -
Team -
One Pager /
Executive Summary
54. One Pager / Executive Summary Examples
Resources:
Create a Startup One-pager that Makes Investors Say “Yes!”
HBR Strategy on One Page
Pinterest 40 One Pager Designs
More Templates & Design tools: Creative Market, Canva
55. Your Investment ‘Pitch’ Deck
Needs to include:
1. Intro slide - (Logo/Picture & 1
liner)
2. Problem -
3. Solution -
4. Business Model -
5. Go to Market -
6. Competitive Landscape -
7. Traction -
7. Future vision
8. Financial projections -
9. Team -
10. The Ask -
11. Use of funds -
12. Contact Info -
13. Appendix -
Remember to tailor your deck to your audience!
A pitch competition deck is not the same as an investor deck or an accelerator
deck.
56. Your Investment ‘Pitch’ Deck - Appendix
Here are some questions your Appendix section should try and have clear
answers for Investors are likely to ask you
EXAMPLE:
● What really differentiates you from your competitors?
● How did you arrive to that pricing and how will you modify?
● How exactly do you plan to scale and market?
● What terms do you have for the round and when do you anticipate
fundraising again?
● For consumer companies, what marketing tests have you run and what
were the learnings?
● Who is your target customer and what do you know about them?
57. Email etiquette
● Let key mentors, existing investors, and allies know when you
are starting the process. (See Process Starter email.)
● Engage them thoughtfully, 1:1, to discuss your pipeline.
● Give them a starting point! No open ended requests!!!
● Volunteer the forwardable email process once someone has
offered an intro.
Investor Communication
● Responses expected within 4-8 Hours
● Follow up personally, no blanket emails
○ Monthly updates are great, but make sure you personally engage folks
57
58. To: JaneVenture@ILoveToInvest.com
From: CEO@CompanyX.com
Subject: Company X fundraising process
Hi Nick,
As you may recall, we are at Company X and we met on October 24th at a TCN event.
Company X provides customers with the best way to network. We have $20,000 in MRR and since the Spark Intensive
have grown revenue 3X and secured 5 new paid pilots.
We are opening up a $750K seed round and plan to come to Boston at the end of the month. We’re targeting angels
and seed funds focused on revenue-generating SaaS businesses.
In Boston, it looks like Angel Angelino and Awesome Partner at Super Seed Fund could be a good fit. Does that
sound right? Would love to find 15 minutes to discuss other ideas you may have and/or if either of those two feel right I
can send a forwardable to you.
Please let me know if I can send more info to you and thanks a ton for thinking about this. Happy to also share our full
investor pipeline if you’d like to review it.
Best,
Founder who is about to successfully raise a bundle
The process starter email
59. Forwardable Email
EMAIL BODY:
Hello Simone,
Thank you for offering to send this forwardable to Elliot. I love the Techstars network, and it is so awesome to see founders
willing to help each other!
Best,
Founder X
Hello Elliot,
Congratulations on the recent PillPack acquisition! I am working with a Techstars company that is building out a
marketplace for institutions and pharma companies to share large capital equipment like genome sequencers. They are
currently moving towards our seed round and would love your guidance and experience from your time in Techstars!
I know you must be incredibly busy post acquisition, but would you be free in the coming weeks to grab a coffee and chat
with them?
Thank you very much!
Best,
Clem
61. Networks: Top tips for pitching
SETTING UP vs IN THE ROOM
● In the room : what gets the investor excited. Ask!
● Angel: What other deals have you done - where do you feel you add the most
value.
● VC: fund structured? Understand where you fall in the fund. Want to make sure
you understand its a fit
- PRACTICE answering questions, including the sexist ones (refer to Dana Kanze’s
TED Talk) for tips
- Watch our recording on Tip Pitch Tips
- Watch our Investment & Inclusion panel on ‘The Pitching Problem’
- Avoid rambling or not answering the question.
- If you have multiple co-founders, know who answers what questions: the dynamic
between founders is important.
62. The Founder Says:
Strategies for Success: Notes for Female Founders
Female founders:
● Think of your pitch not as just telling about your idea/company, but as
answering the question “how will your company make the investor a big
return?”.
● Own your numbers- if applicable, know the metrics and data to back up
your story.
● Financial projections “ what you think you can hit”
○ Q: if everything goes right - what do you think this could be (doable &
optimistic) to not get discounted
63. The Data Says:
Strategies for Success: Notes for female founders
● Don’t discount the possibilities for your business and how it can scale -
investors need a financial return that only comes from big businesses
● Look at your numbers - women tend to be more conservative with their
financial projections
● Look for advisors / mentors / etc. who care about supporting women
founders (and do something about it)
● Beyond sector and stage, make sure your list of targets includes either:
○ Angel groups focused on women-run companies, or
○ VCs with women partners and/or who have invested in women-run
companies
● Think about how you’ll respond to sexist questions in pitch meetings
68. From TCN Advisor Erik Bullen:
300+ Fundraising and Development Resources for
Black, Latinx, and Women Founders
69. More Resources
● Pillar VC: How to Raise Seed Funding Guide
● I'm Black. I'm a Woman. Let's Talk About Raising Venture Capital
● 10,000 Women Free online business education program
● Common Reasons VC's Pass on startups
● Capital resources for women entrepreneurs
● 51 VCs Who Want To Invest In Women, Black And Latinx, And LGBTQ+ Founders
● Dana Kanze’s TED Talk
● The DIANA IMPACT REPORT 2020
● Angel & VC database + Accelerator database
● Pitch Support: Scroobious Pitch it Plan, PitchDNA
● Investors’ Perspectives
● What All Founders Should do Before and When Asking for Investor Intros
● Podcasts: Fundraising Stories with Women Entrepreneurs
● Terence Craig: Why investors won’t sign NDAs
70. Apply for Fellowship for Female Founder!
Apply: https:/
/thecapitalnetwork.org/fellowship-for-femalefounders/