Unless one of your founders has a financial background, this likely applies to your company until you have reached a certain maturity. We understand that managing finances without a dedicated CFO can be challenging for early-stage companies. 

As a part-time CFO, we offer flexible and on-demand support tailored to your needs. We can help you gain control over your financials, provide accurate figures to impress investors, and create an easy-to-use financial model. Additionally, we offer an outside-in view for important decisions, challenging assumptions and refining your thinking. Schedule a 30-min intro call to learn more about our services and how we can assist your company in effectively managing your finances and impressing investors.

To address your current liquidity needs, it would be best to explore alternative solutions rather than incorporating them into a regular fundraising round. For investors the purpose of a regular round is to secure capital for growing your business, not to repay existing financial obligations. We can work closely with you to find creative solutions, such as bridge loans, optimizing working capital, pursuing grants, or seeking other forms of non-dilutive financing. By addressing your short-term needs separately, you can enter a new fundraising round with a clear focus on pursuing your ambitious growth plans. Let's collaborate to identify the most suitable approach for your specific situation and set your business up for success.

Certainly. Determining the value of a company, especially in the early-stage or rapidly growing phase, involves several approaches, each with its own considerations. While valuation analyses may not always have a definitive scientific outcome, we can determine how the market would currently value your company.

Our expertise lies in explaining how investors typically assess the value of companies in different stages, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to engage in valuation discussions with potential investors. Contact us to discuss your specific needs.

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, several factors can help guide your decision-making process. These factors will vary depending on the stage of your business. As a rule of thumb, raise while you still have a sufficient runway to allow for flexibility during the negotiations. Runway equals negotiation leverage. Also don’t raise for the sake of raising. Do it because you have clear goals for the funds, and you can explain how it is going to significantly accelerate your growth trajectory. 

At the highest level, you should realise VCs are a business. You need to be able to explain to investors how they will make money out of your company. Consider your own preparedness if you can do this. Have you developed a compelling business plan and investor pitch? Are your financials in order, and do you have a strong answer as to how you are intending to spend the funds? Have you identified the right investors to approach, and have you considered your potential blind spots and challenges?

This is where we come in. We can help you fine-tune these elements and significantly increase your chance of success.

Absolutely. Developing a comprehensive fund raising strategy is essential for success. Before launching a funding process, it is important to take one step back and define your ambitions and goals. How long will the current round take you, and when do you aim to become profitable? Do you foresee multiple funding rounds, or are you considering your exit? All of these considerations help define a comprehensive financing strategy.

We can work with you to create a tailored roadmap that encompasses all stages of the fundraising process. This includes setting realistic milestones, determining the optimal funding amount, and identifying the most effective fundraising channels for your business.

The decision to hire an advisor for fund raising depends on several factors. While many venture capitalists prefer CEOs to take on the full work load of raising capital and view it as a core responsibility, there are situations where hiring an advisor can be beneficial. Aspects to consider are your confidence in preparing all the necessary materials and financial analyses, whether you have a good understanding of venture capital legal documentation, and whether you can dedicate a significant amount of time without compromising your company's growth.

It's also important to consider the opportunity cost of executing a process yourself and potential benefits of having an advisor. Most founders cannot excel in all aspects of the fund raising process while simultaneously focusing on growing their business. Hiring an advisor can help alleviate the workload and allow you to concentrate on strategic business development. As an added benefit, focusing on growing your business and communicating commercial successes and interesting (potential) partnerships during a fund raising process will give you leverage during the negotiations. If you're looking to streamline your fundraising efforts and maximize your growth potential, we can offer the expertise and assistance you need.

Absolutely. Feel free to schedule an intro call and we can discuss the various options that you have. It's important not to rush into a decision and consider alternatives beyond the parties that have approached you. We can help you define your funding strategy and how you can best achieve your goals. If the analysis indicates that launching a broader process would be beneficial, we can manage that for you, expanding your pool of potential investors. 

Alternatively, if you prefer to pursue a one-on-one process with the interested party, we will ensure that you are well-prepared and positioned to negotiate the most favourable terms. Our goal is to support you throughout the process and help you make informed decisions that drive the success of your fundraising efforts.

Yes. We are well-versed with the nuances that come with both venture deals and traditional M&A processes. Both know their own typical terms, and require different approaches. We can support with most standard term sheets and if required and/or desired, can link you to specialised venture and M&A legal advisors within our network.