Anush Prem’s Post

VCs often share a concern with me about fundraising services, and it’s a valid one. They’re wary of services that take founders out of the spotlight. Why? Because at the early stages, a founder’s ability to sell their vision is key. If a service replaces that connection, VCs question the founder’s ability to execute independently, not just now, but in future rounds too. This makes sense. Fundraising isn’t just about securing capital, it’s about building relationships, trust, and confidence in your leadership. So, what sets apart a fundraising service that truly empowers founders from one that preys on their need for funding? ⚠️ Here are four red flags to watch out for: 1/ Replacing the founder in VC meetings: VCs invest in you. They want to see your passion, connect with your vision, and understand your ability to lead. They will give you as much thought as you give them, and if someone else holds the meeting for you, that thought is equal to zero. If a service promises to attend meetings on your behalf, it likely misunderstands VC dynamics. ✔️ A valuable service prepares you to succeed: from identifying the right investors and knowing how to reach out, to refining your pitch, but it will never replace YOU. 2/ Promising to close the round without your involvement: You are the heartbeat of your business, the one driving growth, talking to customers, and selling the vision. ✔️ A professional service can streamline the process, provide tools, and reduce the overall burden, but the ultimate factor in fundraising success is you. 3/ Creating materials without your input: Fundraising materials aren’t just admin tasks, they’re the story of your business. If a service promises a pitch deck or financial model without thorough conversations and understanding of your business dynamics, the results will likely fall flat. ✔️ A professional service will seek deep understanding of your business and your vision, and will ensure that you also understand every number and every phrase that is used. 4/ Making you feel you can’t do it without them: If your idea has traction and you can sell your vision, you can probably secure funding on your own eventually. ✔️ A good service doesn’t claim to be the reason you succeed; it streamlines, organizes, and supports the journey, so you can focus as much time as possible on your business and your results are maximized. At the end of the day, any service that takes you, the founder, out of the spotlight or guarantees outcomes without your involvement is missing the mark. A true partner amplifies your impact, helping you shine, save time, and maximize results, not replacing you. What do you think? Have you come across these red flags in fundraising services? _______________________________________________________________________ At Stratelion, we help founders streamline fundraising and finance operations so they can spend more time focused on their business. 👉Want to chat? https://lnkd.in/ed-SWfqe

Founders frequently ask me about fundraising 💰 - how to prepare, what to look for in an investor, and how to create a lasting partnership. Since founding HelloAdvisr, I’ve had the privilege of working and supporting many investors whom I greatly admire. They are passionate about innovation, enormously curious and brilliant, and make a positive impact on their entrepreneurial ecosystems. Through my time with these investors, I’ve learned that fundraising goes far beyond securing capital. Here are 3 fits I share with founders to help them navigate this process effectively: 🔊 Communication fit: The ability to communicate clearly and efficiently with your investor is non-negotiable. You don’t have to be best friends, but you should be able to understand each other’s communication styles. If you can’t picture spending 15 hours together at an airport without frustration, that’s a red flag 🚩 . The investor-founder relationship often spans years, so having open, honest, and constructive conversations is key to overcoming challenges together. It’s not about frequency; it’s about quality and mutual understanding in communication. 🎯 Goal fit: When getting investment, you’re bringing on a long-term partner, so you need to ensure that your definition of north is the same. Beyond the check, you need a shared vision for how the company will be built, how it will be led, and what a good exit looks like. Investors have a duty to their limited partners (LPs) and their firm, so their goals may not always fully align with yours unless you’ve discussed them early on. Misalignment on goals can lead to friction down the line, especially during critical moments like fundraising rounds, strategic pivots, or exit opportunities. Make sure your priorities align to avoid costly conflicts. 🤝 Value-add fit: While most investors are “founder-friendly”, not all investors offer the same level of engagement, and it’s important to know what kind of involvement you need. Some investors are deeply involved and act as a near extension of your team, while others are more passive, only stepping in when you ask for help. There are also investors who focus on aggregating resources, and those who primarily serve as connectors to their broader network of expertise. What is important is your level of self-awareness on how you identify and tackle problems and opportunities. Do you need someone who can actively guide you or make critical introductions? Or would you prefer an investor who stays out of the day-to-day and lets you run the business? Either way, be clear on what kind of value you need. For those of you who have amazing investors, what would you add to this list? What characteristics set the best investors apart in your experience? #fundraising #startups #venturecapital #investors #founders #entrepreneurship #VC

The only book on fundraising that you will ever need to read as a first-time founder. Hustle Fund created one of the best fundraising books I have ever read my short summary below (and the whole book as PDF): 👉 Determine If You Should Raise Money - Not every business needs to raise money. Evaluate if your startup truly requires external funding or if bootstrapping is a better option 👉 Understand Fundraising Stages - Familiarize yourself with the stages of fundraising (pre-seed, seed, Series A, etc.) to know what investors expect at each stage 👉 Create a Compelling Pitch Deck - Focus on making your pitch deck short and impactful, highlighting the team, problem, solution, market, and traction 👉 Build Relationships with Investors - Start building authentic relationships with investors early on. Networking is key, and it can be done through friends, family, colleagues, and online platforms like LinkedIn and AngelList 👉 Send Cold Emails - If you don't have warm introductions, send well-crafted cold emails to investors. Keep them short and to the point, including a clear call to action 👉 Ask for Warm Intros - Investors are more likely to meet with you if you come recommended. Ask for introductions from your network or build a relationship with portfolio company CEOs of the investors you're targeting 👉 Be Persistent - Follow up consistently with investors. If you don’t get a response, send another message until you get a clear YES or NO 👉 Prepare for Meetings - Have your first VC meeting online. Be prepared to discuss your team, the problem you're solving, your solution, market size, customer acquisition, traction, and fundraising plans 👉 Create an Investor CRM - Organize your investor contacts, track interactions, and manage follow-ups using a CRM tool or Google Spreadsheet 👉 Send Investor Newsletters - Keep investors updated with regular newsletters. This builds trust with current investors and can attract potential investors 👉 Follow Up After Meetings - Follow up immediately after a meeting to reiterate what was discussed and send over any promised documents 👉 Conduct Due Diligence on Investors - Before committing to an investor, conduct reference calls and background checks to ensure they are the right fit for your company. 👉 Prepare for due diligence - Ensure all necessary documents are prepared and organized in a data room 👉 Share Fundraising Plans with Your Team - Keep your team informed about how the new funds will impact the company's runway and strategy. Transparency builds trust and alignment. 👉 Stay Lean and Resourceful - Even after raising funds, continue to be disciplined and resourceful. Fundraising successfully in the future is not guaranteed, so maintain your bootstrapper mentality ~~~~~ ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost it so your network can learn from it, too. Follow All Chance to learn from more innovative insights

Dear (Co-)Founder who is or is about to go fundraising. Imagine having a dedicated expert by your side, guiding you through every step of the process, ensuring your pitch is not just good, but perfect. Envision effortlessly identifying and connecting with the right investors, armed with a meticulously crafted sales script that leaves them impressed and eager to invest. Picture yourself confidently navigating the challenging conversations that lie ahead, all with a seasoned mentor supporting you every step of the way. This is precisely what I offer. With my assistance, fundraising becomes a seamless and structured endeavor. Let me share with you the key elements of our innovative approach: 1. Perfect Pitch Crafting: Crafting an impeccable pitch is the cornerstone of any successful fundraising campaign. I specialize in shaping your ideas and vision into a compelling narrative that resonates with potential investors, leaving a lasting impression. 2. Targeted Investor Mapping: Identifying the right investors is crucial. I will help you pinpoint the investors who align with your vision and goals, ensuring your efforts are focused on those most likely to invest in your venture. 3. Expertly Prepared Sales Script: A well-crafted sales script is your ticket to capturing investor interest. I will provide you with a comprehensive script tailored to your venture, enabling you to articulate your value proposition convincingly. 4. Personalized CEO Engagement: As the CEO, your direct engagement with investors is invaluable. I will guide you on how to establish meaningful connections, navigate challenging discussions, and ultimately secure commitments. 5. Strategic Investor Outreach: We will work together to identify and approach a minimum of 10 high-potential investors. This strategic outreach will not only generate interest but also create a competitive environment, allowing you to choose the right financial partners for your venture. But here's the best part: You don't have to worry about the intricate details; I've got that covered. My fee structure is designed to align our interests with your success. You pay an initial €2,400 upfront, followed by €1,200 per month during the operational phase. When the money lands on your company bank account, I receive 3% of the funds raised, deducted the fees I already received. But why do I have to pay you money and not just only a success fee? When there is money on the table, you are obligated to become a success, and you will do, what is needed. Be raw! Embark on this transformative fundraising journey with me by your side. Together, we will not only overcome the challenges but also celebrate the victories as your dream project receives the backing it truly deserves. Don't miss this opportunity to turn your fundraising dreams into raw reality. Up to you!

Sharing some tactical fundraising advice for early-stage founders. I hope it's helpful: 1. Storytelling is an underrated skill but an absolute must: You MUST convey a good story because sales is very fundamental to everything around building a startup - whether it’s selling to customers, recruiting talent, motivating your team, or raising capital. If storytelling isn’t your strong suit, invest in an executive communication coach and practice relentlessly. Great communicators like Churchill and Jobs weren’t born that way—they honed their skills through preparation and repetition.  For example, Churchill would spend several days preparing and practicing his wartime addresses to ensure every element was perfect. You need to do the same as well. 2. Focus on the business problem, not the tech: Many founders (especially very technical ones) make the mistake of overemphasizing the tech/product instead of the business problem it solves. Always lead with the customer’s pain points and the ROI your solution delivers, then work backwards from there. An investor pitch should not be all that different from a customer pitch. 3. Show, don’t just tell: If you have a polished product already, include a demo during your pitch. Tangible proof of what you’ve built resonates more than theoretical discussions. 4. Order your meetings strategically: When approaching investors, pitch to your lower-priority targets first. This gives you the chance to get some practice in and refine your pitch before you meet your top choices. 5. Do your homework on investors: It always impresses me when a founder’s done their research. Treat an investor meeting like a job interview. Would you go into an interview with Google without knowing its main business was in search? Why treat VC firms differently? 6. Consider a newsletter: Speed is a startup’s biggest advantage. Demonstrate this by creating a newsletter to keep investors updated on your progress—be it product milestones or go-to-market execution. Remember, just because an investor doesn’t say “yes” right away doesn’t mean they’ve completely written you off. They just haven’t gotten the conviction yet. Use a newsletter to help build that conviction. 7. Be specific on your raise, flexible on valuation:  All things equal, you should have a specific number (or at least a very tight range) for raise amount. Showing a big range may signal you don’t have a good business plan. If deciding between two raise amounts, choose the smaller one—it’s always better to oversubscribe than to lower your target due to insufficient interest. On the valuation side, unless you are 100% confident you can hit a specific number, keep it open-ended and let the lead investor set it. Overcommitting on valuation risks alienating interested parties or boxing you into a corner. This is PART I, will have PART II coming (LinkedIn limits characters). BTW, this is just my opinion and may not reflect what other investors think.

#fundraising #options Please look at these steps when you try to gain capital.

I’ll never raise money. At least not for dovetail biopartners. We are technically a service provider (HATE this term) so rely on clients, not investors. But most people we work with are in traditional biotech who aren’t chasing clients; they’re chasing investors. Each takes a ton of time and energy. I’ve focused on building a client base where every win brings immediate value. With investors, you’re pitching a vision, betting on future potential. Despite the differences, I've found that capturing either requires similar fundamentals: 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲: First impressions matter. Pitch your unique value clearly and effectively to get to that next conversation. I’ve refined my pitch countless times to see what resonates, and even when you don’t win them over, ask for feedback. It stings, but it’s worth it for the insights you’ll gain. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭: Industry presence goes beyond connections; it’s about credibility. Show up in the right places—LinkedIn, X, selective events—and be strategic. The social media grind is not easy and often not immediately rewarding, but I have heard countless times from others who have built a presence that it is 100% worth it. Consistency is key. Build a visible presence where it matters most. 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: A broad network is great, but impactful relationships need focus. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲; 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲; 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝. Skip collecting business cards you’ll never use. Instead, focus on connections that align with your goals, prioritize follow-ups, and build relationships that add real value. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: In biotech, capital is often necessary just to stay afloat. But whether securing funds or clients, focus on scaling what works, not merely surviving. Build efficient processes, outsource where it adds value, and let your team focus on impactful work. With clients, show value quickly to keep them coming back. Smart scaling means sustainable growth without unnecessary bloat. I’m still learning, but as I've gotten better at these fundamentals, I’m starting to see things move in a positive direction. In the end, 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧. For all the startup founders out there: spend your time on clear, specific goals. Time is easy to waste but impossible to get back. No one wants to be endlessly chasing investors or cold-calling clients. Focus on what matters, and make every effort count—so your business becomes the well-oiled machine you don’t have to constantly worry about! 🧐 For you more seasoned pros, what did I miss? What did you do in your early days that brought you the most success?

Kelvin Mu’s advice on fundraising is invaluable and aligns with our mission at Launch U. Storytelling, as he highlights, is a superpower—we consistently coach founders to craft narratives that inspire belief in their vision. Focusing on solving customer problems rather than overemphasizing tech resonates deeply, as does the importance of showcasing tangible progress through demos or prototypes. We also emphasize investor research and regular communication to build trust and momentum. At Launch U, we equip startups with the tools and strategies needed to secure funding and thrive. What resonates most with you from Kelvin’s advice? Let’s connect! #LaunchU #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship

Are you gearing up to take your startup to the next level with a fundraising round? A powerful pitch deck is your gateway to securing essential resources to expand your operations and team. Focus on highlighting your startup’s potential for growth and your team's experience. Consider how a professional employer organization (PEO) can boost your company’s appeal. By managing HR tasks, ensuring compliance, and offering competitive benefits, a PEO helps streamline your operations so you can focus on growth. #Investors #Pitching #Growth #Fundraising https://lnkd.in/ggeqQKZs