How to raise a seed round. Six great reads for early stage startups.
Do you know your redemption rights from your representations? If you’re considering raising a round of funding - it’s crucial to get to grips with the landscape and the terminology. We’ve collected some of our favourite articles on fundraising. Consider it a little crash-course on raising a round - with some great hints and tips for veterans too.
A beautifully simple introduction to raising capital.
Start here. A simple, powerful, formulaic approach from Alexander Taub. A Very Simplified + Formulaic Way To Raise Your Seed Round.
The brutal realities of fundraising.
A classic from Paul Graham of Y Combinator. Read this for practical, sometimes brutal advice on what to do, how to approach funding and what to expect from investors. Well worth a read. Link here >> How to Raise Money <<.
Do you really know how a VC works?
Taylor Davidson lays it out in Fundraising for Entrepreneurs. Treat your investors like you treat your customers —and find investor-startup fit. Understand your market, then talk in their terms. You’re likely to get far better results and get there faster too. Link here >> Fundraising for Entrepreneurs <<.
Know your options.
Some great advice from Steve Schlafman of RRE Ventures, on Raising Seed Capital. Expansive. Detailed. Honest and frank. Don’t take any notice that it was written in 2015, every slide in this deck is gold. Read this to get a handle on the process. Investor expectations. The landscape. And the odds of making it. Link here >> Raising Seed Capital <<.
Term sheets (and why they matter more than you think).
Hyde Park Angels put this excellent glossary together on how to read a term sheet. Get to grips with the basics before moving onto negotiation tactics. We guarantee it’ll be worth your while. Link here >> How to Read a Term Sheet <<.
Learn from others mistakes.
Do you even know what you’re doing wrong in your funding round? Here’s an excellent article from @Sam Altman from Y Combinator on Fundraising Mistakes Founders Make. Let’s be honest. To make it, you need tenacity by the bucket load. But it’s so easy for persistence and drive to turn into something that negatively affects your chances. Read this article. Consider how to balance it out. Link here >> Fundraising Mistakes Founders Make <<.
A few final thoughts.
No doubt about it, raising a seed round is tough. These articles are only the start - but they're a good start. Learn from others. Don't get too bogged down in strategy. Simply make sure you've got a great product. The beginnings of a profitable business opportunity. A great pitch. Then get out there, build and leverage that network as hard as you can.
If you’re raising and you're feeling stuck, get in touch. Advice is free, and I’d love to hear your plans.
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Jared is a partner at Think Plan Thrive, a London based Strategy company. We help organisations seize opportunity. Execute and grow, fast. We’re specialists in commercial and marketing strategy, pitch and investment cases.
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