TRC 023: Manage your fundraise with our free Notion template

Read time: 5 mins

As a first time founder, the fundraising process can feel daunting.

There’s so much to think about, it can feel difficult to just get started.

To help, we have put together a Notion project management template that takes you through all the key tasks.

This is the breakdown (link to the Notion template at the end):

Fundraising objectives

As a founder, your goal in this stage is to establish clarity on your financial requirements.

This isn't just about how much money you need but also why you need it.

Consider the milestones you aim to achieve with this capital, the runway you're targeting, and the stage of fundraising you're entering.

This phase sets the foundation for your entire fundraising process.

Fundraising strategy

Answer the 7 key questions below needed to define your investment thesis:

What problem are you solving?

How are you solving it?

Why will this solution succeed?

How will the company make money?

Why is this the right time for this solution?

Why are you the right team to take advantage of this opportunity?

What is your financing strategy?

Pitch materials

The objective here is to communicate your startup's story, value proposition, and potential in a concise and compelling manner.

Your pitch deck, among other materials, will often be the first impression investors have of your company, so it's essential to make it impactful.

Focus on clarity, precision, and a strong narrative.

Legal Prep

Entering a fundraising round without having your legal house in order is storing up problems for down the line.

The primary goal in this project is to ensure all legal matters, from contracts to intellectual property rights, are in order.

This safeguards both you and your potential investors, ensuring a smooth fundraising process.

Identify potential investors

This is your research phase. You're aiming to create a targeted list of potential investors that align with your startup's stage, industry, and vision.

By focusing on the right investors, you increase your chances of securing a partnership that provides value beyond just capital.

Outreach and networking

Now, it's about building relationships.

Your objective is to initiate conversations with potential investors, either directly or through warm introductions.

Engage genuinely, be prepared to share your story, and always be open to feedback.

Investor meetings

This is the pitch phase.

Your primary goal during these meetings is to effectively communicate your value proposition, demonstrate traction, and establish trust.

Each meeting is an opportunity, so be prepared, be punctual, and always follow up afterwards.

Due Diligence

Investors will want to verify your claims and delve deeper into your business.

Your main objective here is to facilitate this process by being transparent, organized, and responsive.

This can significantly impact an investor's confidence in your startup - either for better or worse.

Negotiating the term sheet

Upon receiving a term sheet, your task is to thoroughly understand its terms and implications.

Don’t leave this tasks to purely to lawyers.

It is your job as founder to understand every aspect.

The objective is to ensure alignment between your expectations and the investor's proposal while safeguarding your startup's interests.

Negotiation is a natural part of the fundraising process.

Your goal during negotiations is to arrive at mutually beneficial terms.

This might involve making some concessions but always prioritize the long-term health and control of your startup.

Finalise legal documentation

With agreements in place, your focus now shifts to finalizing all legal documentation.

Your objective is to ensure every agreement, right, and responsibility is clearly documented, protecting all parties involved.

Closing

This phase formalizes your partnership with investors. Y

our primary goal is to seamlessly manage the transfer of funds to your startup and correctly issue shares to your new investors, updating all relevant records.

Ongoing communication

Post-fundraising, it's crucial to keep investors informed.

Your aim is to set clear, consistent communication channels and schedules, ensuring investors are kept abreast of developments, challenges, and successes.

You can get access to the full task list and fundraising project template here: https://bit.ly/466Fcwb

To get your own copy, just press ‘Duplicate’ in the top right hand side.

We hope you find it useful.

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