S3 Ventures’ Post

The three best pieces of advice I've received about fundraising are: 1. You only need a few (having a Termsheet on hand changes everything) 2. Increase based on numbers or increase based on stories, but do not increase based on both (Your storytelling will work well in the early stage, be aware of your numbers and have perfect clarity in information management) 3. The best way to obtain investment is to not need investment (timing is something that really defines the cards of a round)

Do not despair if your business isn’t “VC sexy!” Here’s the question I ask when someone is thinking about capital: Who has money that cares about this problem??? (If the answer is “no one,” it might be time to find a new idea! 😂) Here’s a big list to get you started: * Current customers * Celebrities * Grants * Angel investors * Individuals * Foundations * Corporations * Strategic investors * Accelerators * Niche VCs * Future customers More details about all of these in the full blog post below! ––- Tag a founder or a startup that needs to know these exist! What other strategies have you used for fundraising? What’s the best story you’ve heard about someone’s first check? Any other non-traditional sources of funding to share?

"How do you know if you should be fundraising right now?" Prateek and I are discussing this right now on a call. And when we mean 'how do you know', we don't mean 'to take the business to the next level'. The 9 steps we broke it down to are: 1. Understanding your motivation - why you want to do it? 2. Setting clear goals - what is the result of fundraising, how much will take you how far? 3. Researching the process - how prepared are you for it, do you know the investors you need and what they look for? 4. Evaluating your resources - are you best positioned from a team, product and market perspective to attract investors? 5. Being aware of challenges - can you see what might hit you, such as investor questions, equity challenges or getting your house in order? 6. Seeking advice - get an idea and sentiment from others before going out there yourself. Have you spoken to other founders or investors before you pitch yourself? 7. Setting timelines - how long will this take and how might it affect your startup? 8. Considering benefits - what are the positive outcomes should you get there? 9. Assessing feasibility - is what you're asking for realistic and practical? And that's not just attached to the amount you're raising. Now tell me. Do you still want to pursue fundraising?

Fundraising Insights from the Trenches Starting a company is like embarking on a journey through uncharted waters. The path to securing funding can often feel like navigating a stormy sea. 🌊 Over the years, I found myself amid many such storms. What transformed the journey wasn't just perseverance—it was adopting a strategic approach to fundraising. I realized that successful fundraising hinges on two core elements: Frame and Focus. Frame: It's about maintaining control during funding, accessing decision-makers, and delivering your material effectively. It's also about knowing that you are gifting an opportunity to investors to join your startup. Some may not see it, and that's okay. Focus: This involves clarity of vision, unyielding energy, leading with traction, and steering clear of common pitfalls. Essentially, it’s the spotlight that highlights your strengths. By mastering these elements, we not only secured funding but also built lasting relationships with investors who believed in our mission. Have you encountered similar challenges in your fundraising journey? Share your experiences or ask questions below. Let's create a dialogue that helps us all navigate these waters more effectively. 💬👇

From Pitfalls to Potential: Turn These 6 Fundraising Mistakes into Startup Success

For #Founders, discipline is more important than vision. Have big goals, but be diligent about short-term tasks and disciplined about building experiments that will help you chart the best course 📈 This article offers outstanding advice for founders to improve their communication, projects, and fundraising.  Check it out➡️ https://lnkd.in/gumHXBaJ #startupdevelopment

From Pitfalls to Potential: Turn These 6 Fundraising Mistakes into Startup Success

Ready to turn your vision into a funded reality? Here’s how to craft a proposal investors can’t ignore. A fundraising proposal is more than just a document. It’s the bridge between your vision and the funding you need to make it happen. Start with understanding your audience—investors. Speak directly to them. Show that you’ve done your research, and that your proposal aligns with what they’re looking for. Focus on the problem your business solves. Be clear and concise. Investors need to see that your startup addresses a real need. Next, outline your solution. Explain why your product or service stands out, but keep it simple and supported by data. Finally, be specific with your ask. Make it clear how much funding you need and how you will use it. Investors want to know where their money is going and how it will help you grow. Keep your proposal focused, factual, and tailored to the investors you’re approaching. It’s about building trust and showing them the potential in your business. #Fundraising #StartupGrowth #InvestorOutreach #PitchDeck

Harsh truth for founders When fundraising for your start-up: - You can have the best idea - You can have the best team - You can have the best opportunity But if you don’t have: → A structured network that can get 100+ warm connections → A system in place to tell an investable narrative → A playbook for how you complete a fundraise You’ll never get funding for your start-up. Why? Because you are missing out on the 2 key ingredients of fundraising. 1. Perception of your opportunity 2. Trust that you are a great bet It’s as simple as that. The hardest part about fundraising. Especially as a first time founder. Is just not knowing what the hell you actually need to be working on. What are the steps you need to take to be successful? How do you build your network, narrative or processes? Without a checklist on making sure you do the necessary work. You’ll always miss out on the important stuff. And instead: → Focus all your time on your pitch deck → Waste your time messaging investors on linkedin → Panicking when you can’t even get more than 5 meetings So how do you do this? Having a checklist of WHAT do you need to in your fundraise. And HOW you are going to do that. That’s the real trick. That’s how founders have raised $200m+ with my systems. Because they are doing the necessary work. And you can too. So you can: ↳ Speak to 60+ investors through warm connections ↳ Tell a clear and concise investable narrative ↳ Bring investor through a structured process This is how you win. This is how you get $$$. — PS: Like 👍 & Comment "Checklist" If you want the fundraising checklist to do exactly that. So you have all the steps you need to do to make sure you are having a successful fundraise. Like the founders who’ve raised $200m+ with it. I'll DM you the link 🔗

Every year, the period between September and end of November is the most active for deal closure (everyone is back from holidays, fund managers allocate funds to potential investments before the holiday season). What can you, as a founder, do to prepare for this episode, I call it 5-Steps Passive Fundraising. 1. Find a few strong supporters. Those who have raised before or have the network in this industry. 2. Create a compelling and strong story (2 minutes strong pitch, no deck). Have your supporters give you feedback on this elevator pitch. Your market SIZE must be large, your Problem Solution Fit, Product Market Fit, and Business Model Fit must be progressively validated and updated. Your ASK must be reasonable to attract venture interest. 3. Create a list of potential investors. Understand the investors' investment theses, find those who are still actively investing. Follow their updates. 4. Find a warm intro where possible 5. Get them on the call, share what you do, tell them you will be fundraising. Keep sending brief and concise updates. Founders, have fun, stay fervent in your entrepreneurial journey.