Milestone Development for Fundraising
Last updated: 03/30/2023
This content is intended for past participants of First Row’s workshops and is on an invite-only basis. If you’d like to share this content, please reach out to Yoko or Minda.
About
In this workshop, we walk through elements of the fundraising strategy for founders, in particular as they relate to the development of milestones. We discuss how to describe it as a “spring-loaded” opportunity, and how to navigate the “zig-zag” between company and fundraising milestones. This is an excellent session for founders, but investors are welcome to join us to dig a bit deeper into areas you might consider when talking to founders as they build their capital strategy.
Watch the 6-minute highlight reel of the workshop presentation:
Key Takeaways
Make sure you have a firm understanding of the “investable widget” you are building. Be able to describe it in terms that are relevant to potential investors.
Fundraising milestones are about either changing the value of your business or reducing key risks to the business model. Understand how these are different from company-building milestones and how you will balance between the two.
Time-bound your milestones and validate the assumptions that go into achieving your milestones.
Align stakeholder expectations, both internal and external, and report and revisit your milestones on a regular cadence.
Presentation Slides
More Depth
View a full recording of the recent session here, but please do not distribute. Email us for ways to share this content with individuals and groups.
Sample “comic strip model” in a Google Sheets.
Questions?
Contact us at hello@firstrowpartners.vc