Template

Fundraising kickoff template

Before raising money: agree how much, why now, the story, which investors to approach in what order, who does what, and how the business keeps running while the founders raise.

90 minutesFor Founders, the finance lead, and sometimes a lead investor or adviserAgenda room
Change the agenda first

The agenda, with a time for each part

  1. How much and why now15 min
    • How much do we need, for how long, and to reach what?
  2. The story20 min
    • Why will this company be big, and why is now the moment?
  3. The numbers investors will ask for15 min
    • Which numbers prove the story, and are they ready?
  4. Who we approach, in what order20 min
    • Which investors fit, and who can introduce us?
  5. The data room10 min
    • Which documents need to be ready before the first meeting?
  6. Who runs the business meanwhile10 min
    • Who covers the founders' work for the next three months?

How the notes read afterwards

A made-up example, so you can see the shape. In a real call each line carries the words that were said and who said them.

How much. $4m for 24 months, to reach $5m in yearly revenue.

Story. Clinics are switching from paper; we are the fastest to set up.

Order. Ten firms; warm introductions to six through current investors.

Data room. Accounts, contracts, cap table and customer list by the 1st.

Meanwhile. Chief operating officer runs weekly meetings.

Running it well

Ways to change it

Small roundForty-five minutes: amount, story, twenty names, data room.
Bridge roundFocus on existing investors and the milestone the bridge reaches.

When to skip it. If you do not yet know what the money will achieve — work that out first.

Questions

How do you start a fundraising process?

Decide how much you need and what it will achieve, sharpen the story, prepare the numbers and documents, list target investors with introductions, and plan who runs the business meanwhile.

What is a data room?

A secure online folder with the documents investors need to check a company — accounts, contracts, the cap table, legal documents and key metrics.

How long does a fundraising round take?

Often two to four months from first meetings to money in the bank, sometimes longer.

What happens in the room

Everybody joins from the link, with no account. The agenda sits beside the call and each item fills in with what was said about it, under the name of the person who said it.

More templates

Due diligence callAn investor or buyer works through a company's details — numbers, customers, technology, legal — to check that what they were told is true, and the company answers clearly and in order.Shareholder meeting (private company)A meeting of a private company's shareholders to vote on matters only they can decide — such as new share issues, changes to the company's rules, or a sale — following the notice and voting rules in the company's documents.Grant review meetingA funder's panel reviews grant applications against its published criteria, discusses the borderline ones, declares any conflicts, and decides who gets funded and how much.Donor meetingA conversation with a supporter or possible major donor: thank them, show what their support made possible, listen to what they care about, and — when it fits — ask for the next gift.Board meetingHighlights, the numbers, the asks, and the votes — in that order.Investor update callFor the people who put money in: the numbers, what went wrong, and what you need from them.Nonprofit board meetingFor a charity or association board: approve the minutes, the money, the reports and the votes — in order, and on the record.Annual general meeting (AGM)The yearly meeting of members: the year's report, the accounts, the elections and the votes the rules require.

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