Key Takeaways
- Start your fundraising journey with 3 helpful guides from Silicon Valley Bank and Hello Alice.
- Learn how to set your company’s pre-seed or seed funding goals.
- Present your startup in a way that captures investors’ attention.
Coming up with fundraising ideas for your startup can be an intimidating feat as a first-time founder. Somehow, you’ll have to convince investors that your ideas — and your business acumen — are worth the substantial capital it takes to get to market.
The cycle of pitching can seem endless, especially if all you hear is “no.” Just getting the first deal could take years, especially if you don’t already have the robust network and resources that other founders might have. You’ll then have to decide if the proposed investment deal, whether through angel investors, venture capital or another avenue, would best serve your interests.
Yet, by honing their tactics, many founders finally push past rejection to fundraising and propel their businesses forward. Now, you can use expert fundraising strategies to understand the lessons they had to learn the hard way.
Raise capital for your startup in 3 steps
To help you save time and guesswork when fundraising, Silicon Valley Bank’s Access to Innovation team partnered with Hello Alice to create three online guides:
- Determine How Much to Raise
- Design Your Pitch Deck
- Negotiate and Close the Deal
We also joined Hello Alice for an “ask me anything” (AMA) series, which features real questions from founders across the innovation landscape. Entrepreneurs and small business owners heard from women who are fully immersed in the startup ecosystem, including from both founder and investor perspectives. Together, these resources break down fundraising into practical steps with tips on how to showcase your startup.
Founders asked us anything — here are a few favorites
Check out these short video clips to get a quick glimpse into the world of fundraising. Links to the full webinars are also offered below.
When should I ask investors to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA)?
New founders should protect their innovations, but investors might not react positively if you bring an NDA to the pitch. We joined Louise Fritjofsson, founder of Martie, to offer insight into more topics in Hello Alice’s Negotiate and Close the Deal AMA webinar.
How should I change my pitch deck for each investor type?
Know your audience. That’s a key part of any persuasive presentation. Jennifer Richard, principal at Bonfire Ventures, shares what else you can do to improve your pitch in Hello Alice’s Design Your Pitch Deck AMA webinar.
What is burn rate?
Pitch and negotiate with confidence
You’ll likely face uncertainty at many points in your fundraising journey, but the first round can be especially hard. Your early funding can sculpt the rest of your business. That’s why we begin supporting founders at the youngest stages of their companies. From finding the right investor to sending them an introductory email, it’s a good idea to gather trusted intel as you prepare for your next pitch.