Fundraising Bootcamp: Raise Angel and Venture Capital faster from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn the art and science behind fundraising
Gain a set of tools to be able to dynamically present yourself and your business

Learn the terms, thought process and motivations behind common vc decisions

Learn the art and science behind fundraising
Gain a set of tools to be able to dynamically present yourself and your business
Learn the terms, thought process and motivations behind common vc decisions

Syllabus

Gearing Up

When starting out, knowing what you don't know is extremely valuable.

The difference between Angel and VC is as different as a sprint or a marathon.

Julia's background, from filmmaker to CEO, and the learning curve she faced.

Describing the difference between Angel and VC funding.

Finding your investor is often a pure numbers game, but "every pot finds it's lid."

The challenges facing women running businesses, scaling and how the future looks.

There is an art and science to fundraising.

"Who can I spend time with that will help me get to the next level?"

The Beginner's Mind.

Learning to speak VC.

Rally your team, get support, and implement an investor tracking system.

Know when to keep pushing yourself, whether it's being tired at a networking event or just feeling like you've heard too many 'no's.

On having the right deck, a good lawyer, different fundraising instruments and the value of coaches, mentors and advisors.

Explanation of a natural partner.

Have a good understanding of your team and of your own public image.

The value of being coachable and having a good working relationship with an investor.

How to come up with a clear plan to fundraise, including delegation and managing being out of the office more frequently.

Reasons why having a strong financial officer in place is key.

Introduction to Exercise 1: Getting Ready

Developing a story around your raise, especially a time-sensitive one can help to motivate a potential investor.

How important it is to know how to walk into a room and say your name.

Common physical responses to public speaking, and how to work with it.

Breakdown of communication by content, body language and tone invoice. Shift thinking on relationship leverage.

Importance of breathe, volume, speed and eye contact on the impression and the connection you make.

Aiming for perfection may have negative side effects. Challenge: record your own voice, to find a lot about your own voice.

The number one thing you should think about is what are your audience needs.

Use great visuals.

Great resource: Steal this Presentation!

Practice speaking it out loud, difference between rehearsing and memorization and tips on taking questions.

Brief recap of main points.

How a VC determines a valuation.

Types of investors look for specific factors unique to them.

Variety of methods to interact with potential investors.

The complicated hierarchy and dynamics that operate inside a common firm.

How effective is pre-marketing and what is best method to gain early investor interest and stay on their radar.

Three buckets of companies described and compared. The fundamentals of a good business usually don't vary too widely. Total addressable market explained in detail.

How to build a financial operating model that will explain how you will build your business within realisitic constraint toggles.

Top-Down vs Bottom-Up models explained to figure a company's addressable market. Explains the level of accuracy a VC is looking for.

Which job functions are more acceptable to outsource.

Julia details a lesson she learned while searching for someone to fill a VP of Finance position at her company.

Describes the three modes of outsourcing and what could possibly raise flags to an investor.

A lesson learned from an investor's perspective.

On developing mechanisms to get the first investor, which can generate the fear of missing out, and get other investors involved.

An in-depth explanation of a convertible note.

Understanding how location and proximity play a part in the VC landscape.

Introduction to Exercise 2: VC Landscape

Tips on negotiating including: learning important terms, understanding control, in-depth research of the investor, and being on the same page as your lawyer before going into negotiation.

Various terms to understand prior to negotiation.

On the importance of determining the valuation and the variables involved.

Reasons it is important to over-raise during the fundraising period.

The difference between being pre-revenue and revenue when approaching Angels and VCs.

Q&A

Recaps main points of the course.

Introduction to Exercise 3: Action Plan

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Features guest speaker Mark Peter Davis, founder of Interplay Ventures, who shares insights on the VC-entrepreneur relationship and unspoken etiquette, offering valuable perspectives from a veteran investor

Includes exercises personalized to the learner's business, such as identifying resources, researching the fundraising landscape, and creating an action plan to start raising funds immediately

Provides access to actual documents used during high-dollar investments, including a due diligence list, sample lawyer email, and a term sheet, offering practical resources for real-world application

Features public speaking tips from Bill Smartt, who has coached professionals at Spotify, Facebook, and other Fortune 500 companies, enhancing presentation skills for effective pitching

Structured around live presentations, which may not be as engaging or accessible for learners who prefer self-paced or asynchronous learning experiences

Recommends a reading list that includes 'The Fundraising Rules' by Mark Peter Davis, which may require additional purchase or access outside of the course materials

Reviews summary

Practical guide to fundraising for startups

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and actionable guide to raising Angel and Venture Capital. Many found the structure and content extremely relevant for entrepreneurs. Key highlights frequently mentioned include the expert instructors, particularly Julia Pimsleur's real-world experience and enthusiastic delivery. The sections featuring guest experts like Bill Smartt on pitching and Mark Peter Davis providing the VC perspective were widely praised as invaluable. While some noted the information requires effort to apply and is specific to the US market, the consensus is that the course provides essential tools and strategies to navigate the fundraising process effectively.

Supplementary materials and exercises aid learning.

"The additional materials like the sample term sheet are very useful."

"The exercises help to apply the concepts to your own business."

"Having access to real documents is a significant bonus."

"The action plan template is a great tool to get started."

"The provided resources add significant value to the course."

Offers useful guidance on improving pitch delivery.

"Bill Smartt's pitching tips were fantastic and immediately applicable."

"I found the module on public speaking for pitching very valuable."

"The advice on improving my pitch presentation was excellent."

"The pitching section gives specific, helpful techniques."

"It really helped refine how I should present my business to investors."

Gives valuable insight into the investor's mindset.

"Mark Peter Davis's section was extremely helpful in understanding the VC perspective."

"Learning what VCs look for is crucial, and this course explains it well."

"The VC perspective provided clarifies investor motivations and expectations."

"I gained much needed insight into the mind of an investor."

"Understanding the VC side is key, and this course delivers on that."

Provides practical steps and insights for fundraising.

"It is a great course! It helps a lot with practical fundraising, especially the documents and tips on how to communicate with lawyers."

"I learned practical tips and strategies that I can apply to my business."

"This course offers valuable and actionable information for fundraising."

"The content is very practical and helps to demystify the fundraising process."

Instructors bring real-world experience and energy.

"The instructor was very knowledgeable and energetic."

"Julia is great and very knowledgeable."

"Julia's energy and vast experience are very inspiring. Mark provides incredible detail into the VC world."

"The instructors are real and know the business. They are very helpful."

"The expert instructors truly understand fundraising dynamics."

Content is primarily focused on the US market.

"While valuable, the course is very US-centric in its examples and legal aspects."

"Most of the information is geared towards fundraising in the United States."

"Learners outside the US may need to supplement this with local context."

"It would be beneficial if it covered international fundraising more."

"The course is heavily focused on the American venture landscape."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundraising Bootcamp: Raise Angel and Venture Capital faster with these activities:

Review Basic Accounting Principles

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Ensure a solid foundation for understanding financial discussions with investors by reviewing basic accounting principles.

Browse courses on Financial Accounting

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Review key accounting concepts online.
Practice creating basic financial statements.
Test your knowledge with practice questions.

Create a Pitch Deck Outline

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Solidify your understanding of the ideal pitch deck structure by creating a detailed outline tailored to your specific business.

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Review the course materials on pitch decks.
Identify the key sections for your business.
Draft a detailed outline with bullet points.
Refine the outline based on feedback.

Review 'The Fundraising Rules' by Mark Peter Davis

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Gain a deeper understanding of VC perspectives by reading and summarizing the key takeaways from Mark Peter Davis's book.

View The Fundraising Rules on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Fundraising Rules'.
Read the book, highlighting key concepts.
Summarize each chapter's main points.
Identify actionable advice for your startup.

Four other activities

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Practice Your Elevator Pitch

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Improve your ability to concisely and persuasively communicate your business idea by practicing your elevator pitch.

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Write a 60-second elevator pitch.
Record yourself delivering the pitch.
Analyze the recording for areas of improvement.
Practice the pitch until it feels natural.

Attend a Startup Networking Event

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Expand your network and learn from other entrepreneurs by attending a local startup networking event.

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Research local startup events.
Prepare a brief introduction of yourself.
Attend the event and network with attendees.
Follow up with interesting contacts.

Develop a Financial Model

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Reinforce your understanding of financial projections by building a basic financial model for your startup.

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Research financial modeling best practices.
Identify key revenue and expense drivers.
Build a spreadsheet with projected financials.
Analyze the model's outputs and assumptions.

Read 'Venture Deals' by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson

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Deepen your understanding of term sheets and VC negotiations by reading and summarizing the key concepts from 'Venture Deals'.

View Startup Boards: A Field Guide to Building and... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Venture Deals'.
Read the book, focusing on term sheet details.
Summarize key terms and their implications.
Identify potential negotiation points.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundraising Bootcamp: Raise Angel and Venture Capital faster will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Startup Founder

A startup founder launches and leads a new business venture, often requiring them to secure funding from investors. This course will give a startup founder insight into how to present a company to angel investors and venture capitalists. It also provides a chance to develop a persuasive pitch. The course provides entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge they need to improve their chances of securing funding, as well as how and at what point to approach Angels and VCs. The public speaking workshop will also be especially useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Startup Founder

Fundraising Consultant

A fundraising consultant advises organizations on how to effectively raise capital. This course helps someone gain the tools to present themselves and their business dynamically. The course also delves into the art and science behind fundraising. It will be especially useful with the exercises personalized to your business to identify resources and research the fundraising landscape. This course offers unique insights by diving into the perspectives of venture capitalists and providing practical exercises to refine fundraising strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fundraising Consultant

Chief Executive Officer

A chief executive officer is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of a company. This course helps the chief executive officer to better understand the fundraising process, which is a critical aspect of growing a company. This course also introduces the chief executive officer to the kind of deck, pitch, investor language, and financials that drastically increase chances of success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Business Angel

A business angel invests personal capital in early-stage companies. This course enables a business angel to better understand the fundraising landscape as well as common venture capital decisions. This course also offers insight into the financial and operation models that venture capitalists examine. It also delves into the terminology used by venture capitalists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Angel

Chief Financial Officer

The chief financial officer is responsible for managing a company's financial risks and financial planning. This course will help improve the chief financial officer's ability to assess potential investors. The course also provides the chief financial officer with an understanding of the fundraising landscape. This course is most applicable at smaller companies in which the chief financial officer is responsible for fundraising.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Financial Officer

Venture Capital Analyst

A venture capital analyst evaluates potential investment opportunities for venture capital firms. The course dives into the terms, thought processes, and motivations behind common venture capital decisions. Exposure to VC guest speakers and simulated exercises help build a strong understanding of the investor's perspective. The course explores how venture capitalists determine valuation and is suitable for those who want to operate effectively in the venture capital world. The sample term sheets will be especially useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capital Analyst

Business Development Manager

A business development manager focuses on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities for a company. This course provides the tools to understand the fundraising landscape. It will also enable you to engage with potential investors effectively. The course is very useful for understanding investor motivations and the dynamics of venture capital deals. The Action Plan will be especially useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Management Consultant

A management consultant advises organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency. This course enables a consultant to better advise startups and companies seeking funding. The course's focus on crafting a compelling pitch and understanding investor expectations helps build a consultant's expertise in fundraising strategy. The course is also suited for those who wish to provide fundraising advisory services.

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Investment Banker

An investment banker advises companies on raising capital through the issuance of stocks and bonds. While this course focuses on venture capital, it also provides valuable insights into the fundraising process and investor relations. Understanding the perspectives of both angels and venture capitalists, as covered in the course, helps an investment banker advise their clients effectively. This course may be useful for those looking to develop their overall understanding of the funding landscape.

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Private Equity Associate

A private equity associate supports investment activities in private equity firms. This course enables a private equity associate to better understand the venture capital l landscape. It also teaches the terms, thought process, and motivations behind common venture capital decisions. This course may provide some general background on venture capital for a private equity professional.

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Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages a company's reputation and communications with the public. This course helps them understand the language and expectations of venture capitalists. The course strengthens a public relations specialist's ability to position their clients for successful fundraising efforts. The public relations specialist can use this course to better serve clients who are attempting to raise capital.

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Marketing Manager

A marketing manager oversees the promotion of a company's products or services. This course supports the marketing manager through instruction on how to present themselves and their business. It also teaches the terms, thought process, and motivations behind common venture capital decisions. This course may be helpful for those who want to raise capital for a startup.

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Financial Advisor

A financial advisor provides guidance to individuals or companies on managing their finances and investments. The 'Fundraising Bootcamp' may assist a financial advisor in understanding the perspectives and motivations of venture capitalists and angel investors. The course may also be helpful to those wanting to better serve clients who are entrepreneurs seeking funding.

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Product Manager

A product manager guides the development and launch of new products. This course enables a product manager who is raising capital to use the correct language to speak with investors. It also teaches the terms, thought process, and motivations behind common venture capital decisions. This course focuses on helping those who want to raise capital for a startup.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Real Estate Developer

A real estate developer manages projects from conception to completion. This course may assist a real estate developer who decides to launch a startup. The course teaches the terms, thought process, and motivations behind common venture capital decisions. This course focuses on helping those who want to raise capital for a startup.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Developer

Fundraising Bootcamp

Raise Angel and Venture Capital faster

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical guide to fundraising for startups

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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