Process: build and ride momentum
Fundraise like a surfer: plan to take on investors in sets.First Round Review
Fundraising is a sales process with a deadline. The founders who raise well run it like one: a target list, a tight schedule, and momentum they create on purpose.
The 80/20
- Systematize: track every investor, measure replies, iterate the pitch.
- Batch your outreach. Meetings close together create momentum.
- Target and personalize. Spray-and-pray wastes your best shot.
- Warm intros beat cold email, almost always.
- Fundraising is sales: stay top of mind without becoming annoying.
- Find momentum and ride it. Speed creates more speed.
Guides
- How to raise a seed round · Y Combinator
YC's step-by-step guide to raising a seed round. Start here.
- The fundraising wisdom that helped our founders raise $18B · First Round Review
How to batch investors, time the raise and handle the meetings.
- SaaS fundraising playbook · IVP
A growth investor's view of what SaaS companies need to show at each round.
- How to raise your next funding round · Creandum
A European VC's practical guide to preparing and running a round.
- Warm intros · OpenVC
How to get introduced to investors when you don't know anyone yet.
Get your deck reviewed the same way.
Comments on every slide, the words to change highlighted, and the 3 fixes that matter.