My 3 Raising Capital Secrets

Some founders raise millions within weeks.

Others struggle for months.

Unfortunately, most of the strugglers think raising capital is about brute forcing it: cold calls, LinkedIn messages, pure hustle...

Wrong.

Here’s the truth:

They’ll only back you quickly if they see you don’t need them.

Founders trip up for a few reasons:

• Mistiming: They pitch only when they think their business is ready - instead of pre-pitching
• No strategy: They spray and pray instead of prioritizing the order of investor approaches
• Weak stories: They focus on features, rather than the bigger vision & market story
• Dumb valuation expectations: Unrealistic numbers scare off investors fast

Sound familiar?

Odds are, you’re guilty of one or more of these.

But there’s good news: you can fix this.

Here's how, step by step:

Step 1: Know Exactly What Kind of Investor You’re Targeting

Investors aren’t one-size-fits-all.

Anybody can write a check, but when you’re hyper-specific on who you approach - and tell them WHY you’re talking to them - you’ll get a lot better response.

• Strategics: Can they provide more than money, like partnerships or market access?
• Bankers: Approach them when you have your story down and confidence to back it up.
• Angel investors: Ideal for smaller, quick injections of capital.

Blanket outreach is dead.

Focus on investors aligned with your vision and stage, and make a list of at least 100 investors you’d want to pitch.

Research what they’ve funded and tailor your pitch accordingly.

Step 2: Run Down Alt-Financing First

Here’s the hard truth: Equity is expensive. Don’t give it away prematurely.

Instead, you need to run down your debt & alternative funding options first. [here’s a list]

Because even if it’s 100% not right for your company’s current stage, here’s what you get:

When an investor asks,

So, how much have you raised so far?

Your answer isn’t, “Umm, zero.”

Because that conversation sucks.

At absolute minimum, you’ll have a rough idea of how much might be available, if you really needed it.

And that allows you to snowball your commitments.

Once you’ve run down the cheap money, then you go after potential equity investors.

They’ll be much more willing to hear what you have to say.

Step 3: Hit the Punchiest Version of “Why Now”

Nobody wants to hear about your product’s features. They genuinely do not care.

They want to know:

Why is now the right time?

The best pitches:

• Show how market forces have created the Perfect Storm…
• …which has created a killer market opportunity…
• …and that’s left a whitespace market gap…
• …and then hit with with why you & your team are uniquely positioned to win.

If you can’t point to a crystal-clear message that makes high growth in your market an absolute necessity…

…then you haven’t done your job. Go back and refine it.

Stop Begging.

Fundraising isn’t about begging for money; it’s about selling belief.

Belief in:

1. Your company’s ability to grow
2. Your ability to raise
3. Your market’s future that’ll help carry you

Plan who you’re targeting and approach them early, leverage alternative financing prospects, and craft a story investors can’t ignore.

You’ve got this.