Fundraising

Inputs

Minimum required

• Company snapshot: what you build, who it’s for, and why now
• Stage + traction (or pre-traction proof), plus 1–3 key metrics (even proxies)
• Team snapshot (founders, key strengths, gaps you’re hiring for)
• Runway + constraints (cash, time, geography, intro network, fundraising window)
• Fundraising intent: why raise, target amount (or range), and what milestone it buys

Missing-info strategy

• Ask 3–5 questions at a time from references/INTAKE.md.
• If specifics are missing, proceed with labeled assumptions and ranges (never invent exact numbers).
• Do not request sensitive credentials or confidential customer/employee data; use anonymized examples.

Outputs (deliverables)

Produce a Fundraising Pack (Markdown in chat; or as files if requested) in this order:

1. Raise Decision Memo (VC vs bootstrap/delay; trade-offs; “if we raise” vs “if we don’t” plan)
2. Round Design Brief (amount, timing, milestone, use of funds, target investor profile)
3. Pitch Narrative + Deck Outline (including a high-signal first slide + talk track)
4. Investor ICP + Target List + Pipeline Tracker (with weekly activity targets)
5. Outreach + Follow-up Scripts (warm intro ask, cold email, post-meeting follow-up)
6. Diligence Prep (data-room checklist + FAQ/objection responses)
7. Operating Cadence (weekly dashboard, “100 no’s” resilience plan, next-14-days action plan)
8. Risks / Open questions / Next steps (always)

Templates: references/TEMPLATES.md
Expanded guidance: references/WORKFLOW.md

Workflow (8 steps)

1) Intake + constraints snapshot

• Inputs: user context; references/INTAKE.md.
• Actions: Capture stage, runway, constraints, timing, and goal. Separate “must be true” vs “nice to have”. Identify what would make fundraising a mistake.
• Outputs: Context snapshot + assumptions/unknowns list.
• Checks: Timeline has dates; runway is stated (or explicitly unknown); constraints are explicit.

2) Decide whether to raise (and why)

• Inputs: goals, constraints, risk tolerance, business model.
• Actions: Write a Raise Decision Memo: why raise, why not, and the “venture treadmill” trade-off (growth expectations, dilution, speed). Propose alternatives (delay, revenue-first, angels, strategic, debt) where appropriate.
• Outputs: Raise Decision Memo with a clear recommendation + decision criteria.
• Checks: Recommendation is falsifiable (“we raise if X by date Y”); non-VC path is not hand-waved.

3) Design the round (make the plan fundable)

• Inputs: runway, burn (or plan), milestone, hiring needs, market timing.
• Actions: Define raise amount range, timing, and the milestone it buys. Specify investor profile (stage, check size, thesis, geography) and a simple “use of funds” narrative.
• Outputs: Round Design Brief.
• Checks: Amount ↔ milestone is coherent; plan fits constraints; assumptions are explicit.

4) Build the pitch narrative + first impression assets

• Inputs: product, ICP, wedge, traction/proof, insights from Steps 1–3.
• Actions: Draft a crisp one-liner, the “strongest point” for slide 1, and a deck outline that answers: problem, solution, why now, why you, why win, why invest.
• Outputs: Pitch Narrative + Deck Outline (+ talk track).
• Checks: First slide passes the 10-second test (what it is, for whom, why it matters); narrative has evidence, not vibes.

5) Build the investor pipeline (target list + math)

• Inputs: target investor profile; network; constraints.
• Actions: Create an ICP and a prioritized target list. Set pipeline math (how many intros/meetings/week) and define a tracking table.
• Outputs: Investor ICP + Target List + Pipeline Tracker.
• Checks: Targets match round design; outreach plan is schedulable; next 7 days have concrete outreach tasks.

6) Execute outreach + meetings (run the “100 no’s” process)

• Inputs: scripts; target list; calendar.
• Actions: Draft outreach messages, run outreach cadence, and standardize meeting flow + follow-ups. Track “nos” as data (rejection reasons) and iterate the pitch.
• Outputs: Outreach + Follow-up Scripts + meeting agenda + iteration log.
• Checks: Every meeting has a next step; follow-ups go out within 24 hours; learnings are captured weekly.

7) Prep diligence (reduce friction)

• Inputs: likely diligence asks; current docs.
• Actions: Create a lightweight data-room checklist and an FAQ/objection response sheet. Identify the 3–5 biggest diligence gaps and a plan to close them.
• Outputs: Diligence Prep checklist + FAQ.
• Checks: No claims without supporting artifacts; sensitive info is handled carefully.

8) Quality gate + finalize the pack

• Inputs: full draft pack.
• Actions: Run references/CHECKLISTS.md and score with references/RUBRIC.md. Tighten weak sections. Add Risks / Open questions / Next steps and a next-14-days action plan.
• Outputs: Final Fundraising Pack.
• Checks: Pack is decision-ready, narrative-coherent, and process-executable.

Quality gate (required)

• Use references/CHECKLISTS.md and references/RUBRIC.md.
• Always include: Risks, Open questions, Next steps.

Examples

Example 1 (pre-seed): “We’re 2 founders building a B2B workflow tool. We have 5 design partners and 2 pilots. We have 6 months runway and want to raise $1.5–2.0M. Use fundraising to produce the full Fundraising Pack including a deck outline and investor pipeline tracker.”
Expected: decision memo + round design + deck outline (strong first slide) + target list + outreach scripts.

Example 2 (seed with traction): “We’re at $60k MRR and growing 10% MoM. We’re debating whether to raise now or wait 6 months. Use fundraising to help us decide and create an outreach plan if we choose to raise.”
Expected: raise-vs-wait decision memo with criteria + round design options + pipeline plan.

Boundary example: “Draft a SAFE agreement and tell me what valuation I should take.”
Response: out of scope for legal/pricing advice; offer to produce the negotiation inputs (round design assumptions, comps proxy approach, questions for counsel) and a fundraising process plan.