Fundraising checklist

This post is a part of the Fundraising Kit: 8 guides, 20+ templates, and 30+ tools. Based on 100+ founder interviews. Upvoted by 1,200+ founders.

Prerequisite

  • Get enough traction for the round you're planning to raise
  • Make sure you can dedicate yourself exclusively to fundraising for 2-6 months

Network

  • Meet 20-30 founders from your industry
  • Get to know 5-10 founders really well, so they can advocate for you

Fundraising goals

  • Set the target amount and valuation
  • Incorporate
  • Open a bank account
  • Prepare your SAFE

Pitch

  • Build a deck
  • Prepare product demo
  • Get feedback from 5-10 investors/founders/advisors

Investor funnel

  • Prepare a CRM
  • Find 250-300+ investors investing in your industry at your stage
  • Find introduction paths to the investors
  • Find emails of investors you have no connections with

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Outreach

  • Prepare message templates
  • Blurb
  • Cold email
  • Warm intro ask + forwardable email
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Follow-ups
  • Prioritize investors

Congrats, you're good to go. Now just repeat these steps for all investors in your funnel. Easy, right? 😅

  1. Get a warm intro or send a cold email.
  2. Schedule the meeting.
  3. Pitch the investor.
  4. Get the money.

Get comfortable with hearing No. Most investors will pass, it's okay. After all, fundraising is a numbers game.

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Angels and VC funds that invest in your industry, stage, and geography. Trusted by 3,000+ startups.

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