The Early-Stage Fundraising Playbook Unpacked

Opening: Creating a sense of urgency can prompt investors to make faster decisions during fundraising.

"...you have to put them on their heels and you can only do that by packing things and you can only pack things if you really go all in."

Takeaway:

• Schedule meetings closely to create momentum.
• Communicate upcoming milestones or deadlines.
• Demonstrate that the opportunity may not be available later.

Opening: Identifying and reaching out to the right angel investors is key for early-stage fundraising.

"...go in and type the words angel investor into the search bar on LinkedIn...and then go in and look at their profiles and again qualify them."

Takeaway:

• Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to build a list of potential angels.
• Qualify investors based on their interests and past investments.
• Personalize outreach to increase engagement chances.

Opening: Managing uncertain investors efficiently can save time and focus efforts on more promising leads.

"...keep those middle category folks...on your investor update distribution list."

Takeaway:

• Don't spend excessive time trying to convince hesitant investors.
• Add them to your updates to keep them informed of progress.
• Focus your energy on finding and engaging true believers.

Opening: Practicing with less critical investors helps refine your pitch before approaching top targets.

"...go and get some practice pitches in with your third tier, maybe even second tier, and work your way to number one..."

Takeaway:

• Use early pitches to improve your presentation and handle objections.
• Avoid wasting prime opportunities on unrefined pitches.
• Build confidence and polish your delivery before important meetings.

Opening: Warm introductions from credible sources can significantly increase your chances with investors.

"...your best interests, someone that's made them money, maybe second best is someone they've done deals with in the past..."

Takeaway:

• Seek intros from individuals who have strong relationships with investors.
• Prioritize connections who have previously made money for investors.
• Leverage mutual contacts to get your foot in the door.

Opening: Regular investor updates can help maintain investor interest and demonstrate consistent progress.

"...some of the founders that have done really well on our show are really religious and methodical about sending a monthly update about the business."

Takeaway:

• Update investors monthly with key metrics and milestones.
• Demonstrate transparency and build trust with investors.
• Use updates to highlight traction and upcoming goals.

Opening: Nurturing investor relationships between rounds can set the stage for successful future fundraising.

"...just kind of gently dripping and nurturing...in between rounds."

Takeaway:

• Keep potential investors updated with regular company progress.
• Send concise monthly updates to stay top of mind.
• Build rapport before actively seeking funding.

Opening: Viewing fundraising as a discovery process can help founders find the right investors who believe in their vision.

"...it's actually maybe less of a convincing exercise than a discovery exercise, as you put it."

Takeaway:

• Focus on finding investors who resonate with your mission.
• Don't waste time trying to convince uninterested investors.
• Emphasize alignment over persuasion in fundraising.

Opening: Cold emailing can be an effective way to reach potential investors if done strategically.

"Others were very, very focused on like, um, kind of building a big outbound cold email machine and just pumping through lots of names."

Takeaway:

• Build a targeted list of investors and reach out proactively.
• Personalize your cold emails to increase response rates.
• Persistence in outreach can open doors to funding opportunities.

Opening: Maximizing momentum is crucial in fundraising as it can accelerate the closing of your round.

"I find momentum is, it's really half the battle, like it maybe even more so, and... momentum is what will get you around in, in a week, around in 2 weeks."

Takeaway:

• Pack your meetings tightly to create a sense of urgency among investors.
• Signal momentum by showcasing interest from other investors.
• Leverage momentum to encourage quicker decision-making from VCs.