Do's and Don'ts of Fundraising for early stage founders.
Do's
- You should have a clear plan for atleast next 12 months that can be seen on excel sheet, which clearly shows, what this fund raise is going to achieve for you.
- Start the process 4-6 months before you actually need the funds
- Get an understanding of funds portfolio/thesis/decision making process by reaching their portfolio companies prior to pitching.
Don'ts
- Try not to mention about valuations untill explicitly asked. Do not become rigid on a number, try to negotiate and substantiate your number.
- Don't keep high hopes from 1 single investor, keep talking to multiple people at the time. But at same time be transparent about the options to them, whenever you start doing serious conversations on terms and stuff
- Do not mess your cap table with number of people, keep it as clean as possible, it makes your life much much more easy when raising next rounds!
Do's
- You should have a clear plan for atleast next 12 months that can be seen on excel sheet, which clearly shows, what this fund raise is going to achieve for you.
- Start the process 4-6 months before you actually need the funds
- Get an understanding of funds portfolio/thesis/decision making process by reaching their portfolio companies prior to pitching.
Don'ts
- Try not to mention about valuations untill explicitly asked. Do not become rigid on a number, try to negotiate and substantiate your number.
- Don't keep high hopes from 1 single investor, keep talking to multiple people at the time. But at same time be transparent about the options to them, whenever you start doing serious conversations on terms and stuff
- Do not mess your cap table with number of people, keep it as clean as possible, it makes your life much much more easy when raising next rounds!
eChai Partner Brands
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
Climate Tech
CoLiving
Web and Mobile Development
Investment Banking
FMCG Food and Retail
Customer Engagement Platform
Marketing Tools
Developer Tools
Healthcare
D2C Brands
Event Marketing
Blockchain Development
Creative and Marketing Agencies
Coworking Spaces
HR Tech and Agencies
Marketing Automation
Legal
IT Hardware
Cloud Telephony
Climate Tech
Web and Mobile Development
Investment Banking
FMCG Food and Retail
Customer Engagement Platform
Marketing Tools
Developer Tools
Healthcare
D2C Brands
Event Marketing
Blockchain Development
Creative and Marketing Agencies
Coworking Spaces
HR Tech and Agencies
Marketing Automation
Legal
About eChai Ventures
eChai Ventures is a global startup network connecting entrepreneurs through local meetups in 20+ cities worldwide, enabling cross-border collaborations via startup panels, demo days, cricket, and pickleball leagues.
Make the most of eChai Ventures network:
- Complete Your eChai Profile It's key for others to discover you.
- Join eChai's Startup Meetups: Register for relevant eChai events happening across cities. Each event will have specific instructions on how to join.
- Discover Startup Folks: Explore and connect with other participants.
- Stay Updated: Follow the eChai feed for the latest updates from our community.
- Explore eChai Partner Brands: Check out our partner brands and how they can support you.
- Showcase Your Startup: Get opportunities to present your startup.
- Get Involved: Engage more and get a chance to volunteer or host meetups.
- Attend Global Events: Participate in events across different cities and countries.
- Find Collaborators: Discover co-founders, collaborators, talent, and business opportunities.
- Build Friendships: Make meaningful connections with fellow startup enthusiasts.
Join the meetups that interest you and start making the most of the community.
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out at [email protected].