How to Fundraise for Your Startup

How to Raise Generally, Outreach, Process

If you need to raise money, this is what I focus on. You can find questions that VCs will ask, how to pitch, how to reach out to investors, and to run a deal process. There is a tonne to learn, and you’ll get smarter here.

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Articles

Detailed blogs on specific topics for you to dig into and understand the thinking behind a topic so you know the what but also the why.

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How to lose credibility when pitching VCs

VCs and some angel investors get pitched a lot. So much so that it is more their job to say no than yes. After being...

Assume the answer is no, and focus on improving your pitch

Tl;dr: You’re going to hear no continually from investors. If you expect to hear a no you can focus on how to improve rather than...

Don't copy what famous founders do when they fundraise. You're not famous yet

Tl;dr: Fundraising is hard. Just do what everyone else does and don’t do anything that is new and shiny. It will not help you. Famous...

You need to build traction whilst you fundraise

Tl;dr: You need to build traction whilst you fundraise to capture investor attention. They expect it as they have choice regarding who to invest in....

Should your startup fundraise from investors?

Tl;dr: This is an intro to question of whether you as a founder should consider raising money from investors. It is for new founders. You...

Is fundraising easy? No. Fundraising is brutal

Tl;dr: Fundraising is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. I explain all the reasons so you know what you are...

What is fundraising for startups?

Tl;dr: This is a very simple introduction to fundraising for those that know absolutely nothing about what fundraising is! You’re the founder of a startup....

9 learnings from Peter Thiel

Tl;dr: 9 Peter Thiel learnings Joe Lonsdale shared from his experience working with him. There is nothing here that will change your life, but it...

7 Things Reid Hoffman Wish He Knew Before Pitching LinkedIn to VCs

Tl;dr: 7 quick tips Reid Hoffman at LinkedIn shares on his learnings from pitching his series-B pitch deck to venture capital investors back in 2004....

Why you need a financial model to fundraise

Tl;dr: Why you need to have a financial model when you are fundraising for your startup. Investors want one and they have the cash you...

Q&A

Get answers to your business questions.

I answer directly, rather than going into depth. If you have a question to add, reach out!

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What is the most unreasonable funding request you have ever received as an angel investor?

I was doing a talk at a startup event in Kuala Lumpur. This weird engineering type approached me after. “Hi Sir, Alex. I want to...

What do investors understand that many startup founders don't?

Market size wins: If the market isn’t huge now or at the point of inflexion, whatever you do doesn’t matter Team matters: Most people are...

If a company raises funding today and gets acquired tomorrow, who keeps all the cash they raised?

Normal startup valuation math is the pre-money valuation, plus the investment which equals the post-money valuation. So the company is worth the post-money in VC...

How much should I share with my employees about our fundraising process/progress?

When you work in a startup, you aren’t a moron. You know that you aren’t profitable so live off the proverbial investor teet. If the...

Is it a good idea to use gimmicks in a business pitch? Why or why not?

No. Don’t do anything cringy. Investors want to invest in a real business that logically makes sense. I teach my clients to allude to the...

Would you invest in a founder with a 20-year track record who recently committed a felony not related to ethics or fraud?

There’s a sucker in the room. Are you sure you know who it is? I’m morally flexible on things others might now be comfortable with....

What is the difference between a venture investor and a non-venture investor?

Tl;dr: Venture investors bet on potential. Other investors bet on what exists Venture investors There is a lot of hope and rainbows. It’s about potential....

What are rounds when raising for a startup?

Tl;dr: When you raise capital is it a round. Startups many rounds of capital until they exit or shut down. Rounds have meanings. You want...

Any specific advice for female founders with regards to fund raising?

It would seem that many view the world as being different for male and female founders. I was asked if there was specific advice I...

What is the best time of year to fundraise for your startup

Are there good and bad times of the year to raise for your startup? Yes and no. One data set says it doesn’t really make...

Tools

Free tools to help you learn a topic, analyse something, or make something happen.

These are in Excel, PowerPoint, or heck, a Doc.

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Intro and demo videos from famous startups

Beepi Beepi was a p2p used car marketplace where customers can buy or sell cars online. They raised $149m before totally flaming out. I heard...

Collection of the best tech startup pitch video

A collection of the best startup pitch video to use as a reference for your fundraise. So you got your deck together, intros to the...

Videos

Videos you can watch to learn without reading.

Increasingly, I will make playlists on topics so you can go down a rabbit hole on a topic

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HQQA055 What’s your price point, and what’s your pricing methodology, and why did you settle on both of these?

What’s your price point, and what’s your pricing methodology, and why did you settle on both of these? – Take them through your thought process....

HQQA054 How quickly are revenues growing? What is fueling that? What are the bottlenecks?

How quickly are revenues growing? What is fueling that? What are the bottlenecks? – Sustainability is very important Here’s what they mean… Investors are getting...

HQQA053 What’s your business model?

What’s your business model? – Be prepared for this, never stall. Here’s what they mean… We just brought up the point of the business model...

HQQA052 How do you make money?

How do you make money? – There has to be a money plan Here’s what they mean… Startups exist to be acquired by corporate companies...

HQQA051 How many customers do you need to break even?

How many customers do you need to break even? – Customers translate into profit Here’s what they mean… We have covered break even before. The...

HQQA050 What do you do if your top line expectations do not match expectations?

What do you do if your top line expectations do not match expectations? – Remember to have a backup plan. Here’s what they mean… This...

HQQA049 What are the key drivers of growth?

What are the key drivers of growth? – Growth always needs to be spurred by something Here’s what they mean… This is akin to the...

HQQA048 What are the key assumptions in your model?

What are the key assumptions in your model? – Your assumptions reflects your potential Here’s what they mean… If you didn’t see the previous question,...

HQQA047 Do you have a model?

Do you have a model? – Not the runway kind Here’s what they mean… Model is short for a financial model. Do you have a...

HQQA046 What ESOP is left?

What ESOP is left? – You’ve seen this before Here’s what they mean… This is a rose by any other name to two questions we...

Podcasts

Podcasts you can listen to whilst cooking in the nude (be careful with boiling oil!).

I’ll try to make audio versions of my blogs in case you are dyslexic like me and prefer to listen.

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AA 030: Importance of founder confidence when pitching

Welcome to the 28th podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “Importance of founder confidence when pitching.” In this podcast, we deal with...

AA 028: How founders should dress when pitching a VC your startup

Welcome to the 28th podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “How founders should dress when pitching a VC your startup.” In this...

AA 026: Who are your startup competitors?

Welcome to the 26th podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “Who are your startup competitors?” In this podcast, we deal with how...

AA 023: How can I get competitor information?

Welcome to the 23rd podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “How can I get competitor information?” In this podcast, we get into...

AA 022: Should I talk to my startup competitors?

Welcome to the 22nd podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “Should I talk to my startup competitors?” In this podcast, we deal...

AA 021: How do I get introductions to investors?

Welcome to the 21st podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “How do I get introductions to investors?” In this podcast, we answer...

AA 020: How important is the team in getting funded?

Welcome to the 20th podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is “How important is the team in getting funded?” In this podcast, we...

AA 019: Will investors sign my NDA?

They perform an aesthetic function as well. Want to learn more about https://newzealandrx.co.nz/buy-kamagra-new-zealand.html diabetes and antibiotics? Welcome to the 19th podcast of the Ask Alex show!...

AA 018: What is your opinion on intellectual property for VC valuation?

TL;DR: Learn the importance of intellectual property for VC when you are fundraising. Welcome to the fifteenth podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question...

AA 014: Where can I get pitch deck feedback for my startup?

Welcome to the fourteenth podcast of the Ask Alex show! Today the question is on “Where can I get pitch deck feedback?” In this podcast, we...

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How to Fundraise for Your Startup