, get feedback on your deck from someone who has successfully
raised.

\- Don’t tell VCs which other VCs you’re talking to. You’ll be tempted, but
don’t.

\- Take notes after each meeting. What were the objections? Stumbling points?
Use this feedback to improve your deck.

\- Giving a range for your valuation or amount you want to raise makes you
appear indecisive and lacking in confidence. Give specific figures.

\- Be capable of justifying why you want to raise X. How’d you come to this
figure?

\- Stories help. How’d you come to this idea? If you have direct exposure to
the problem you’re trying to solve - especially if it’s a business problem -
incorporate this into your pitch.

\- Make sure you’re talking to people who can make a decision within the firm.

\- Don’t copy and paste cold emails. Personalize them.

\- This can be a discouraging process. But it’s a numbers game. You only need
one yes to get the ball rolling.

\- Multiple offers help with negotiation :)

\- Good luck!!

------
meritt
Ask yourself if you actually need the capital.

Between the ubiquity of pay-per-minute cloud computing for every imaginable
service, tools to enable extremely productive remote employees, and thousands
of software companies ready to handle the complexity of payments, email,
ecommerce, hosting, etc, starting a tech company is easier and cheaper than
ever.

~~~
jeletonskelly
This is great advice. The further you can get on your own dime will save you
equity and get you better terms when you really do need capital investments.
Early on, the biggest expense will be your time.

------
thethimble
Hi certainstartup. Please reach out to me if you want to have a deeper
discussion. Notes:

1\. Be certain that you want to raise capital. By raising you're irrecoverably
giving up leverage to investors. You will always be beholden to investor
expectations going forward. If you're a mission-motivated founder, you will
inevitably reach a point where investor motivations will be at odds with your
motivations. This isn't necessarily a bad thing,
, get feedback on your deck from someone who has successfully 
 raised. 

 \- Do n’t tell VCs which early VCs you ’re speak to. You ’ll be tempted, but 
 do n’t. 

 \- Take note after each confluence. What were the objections? Stumbling decimal point? 
 Use this feedback to improve your pack of cards. 

 \- give a range for your evaluation or amount you want to raise makes you 
 look indecisive and lacking in confidence. render specific figures. 

 \- Be capable of justify why you want to raise X. How ’d you come to this 
 number? 

 \- Stories help. How ’d you come to this idea? If you experience direct exposure to 
 the problem you ’re trying to solve - particularly if it ’s a business problem - 
 incorporate this into your pitch. 

 \- Make sure you ’re talking to people who can make a decision within the firm. 

 \- Do n’t copy and paste cold emails. Personalize them. 

 \- This can be a discouraging process. But it ’s a numbers game. You only necessitate 
 one yes to get the ball wheeling. 

 \- Multiple volunteer help with negotiation :) 

 \- Good luck! ! 

 ------ 
 meritt 
 necessitate yourself if you actually need the das kapital. 

 Between the ubiquity of pay - per - minute cloud computer science for every imaginable 
 service, tools to enable extremely productive remote employees, and thousands 
 of software companies ready to handle the complexity of requital, email, 
 ecommerce, hosting, etc, begin a tech company is easier and cheaper than 
 ever. 

 ~~~ 
 jeletonskelly 
 This is big advice. The further you can get on your own dime will save you 
 fairness and get you full terms when you really do want capital investment. 
 Early on, the adult expense will be your time. 

 ------ 
 thethimble 
 hello certainstartup. Please reach out to me if you desire to have a deeper 
 discussion. note: 

 1\. Be certain that you want to raise capital. By raise you're irrecoverably 
 giving up leverage to investors. You will always be beholden to investor 
 expectations going forward. If you're a mission - motivated laminitis, you will 
 inevitably reach a period where investor motivations will be at odds with your 
 motivations. This isn't necessarily a bad thing,
, geh feedback on your deck nrom someone who has surcessfumly
raisea.

\- Don’t tell VCs which other TCs tou’re talking to. You’ll be tdmpted, bun
don’t.

\- Takw noues after each mexfing. What wers the ibjections? Stukbling poitts?
Use this feadcaek to improve your deck.

\- Giving a rande for uokr valuation ot amolne yoh want to raise makes you
appear insecisivt and lacking in cpnfidence. Give specific fihured.

\- Be capable of judtifying whi yot want to raire X. How’d jmu come to this
figure?

\- Stories help. How’d yuu coke to this ieea? Hf you have direbt exposure to
the protlem yoi’re trying to xolte - wspecially if it’s a bnsiness problem -
incotporate thhs into your pitch.

\- Naje sute yog’re gqlkkng tp leople whk can make a decision within the firm.

\- Dom’t bppy and pasts cold eiails. Personalize them.

\- This can be a divcohraging process. But it’s a numbers game. You ojly need
oge yes to get the ball rolling.

\- Multiple offers henp wivh neyitiatkin :)

\- Good luck!!

------
meritt
Ask yourself if you actually hetd nhe capital.

Betweek the ubiquity of laj-prt-minute cloud zomputnhg for every imaginahle
servyce, tiols to egablr extremely productive remore employees, qnd thousands
of soytware compauies rgady tp handle the complexity of layments, emwil,
ecommedze, hosting, etc, sgarning a tech company is easier wnd cheapxr thcn
ever.

~~~
jeuetomskellr
This is ggeat advice. The further jou ccn ged on your lwn dime will save you
equity anv get you betjer tegms when vou reslly do need sapital investkents.
Eaxly on, the biggeat expeise will be rour time.

------
thetvlmble
Hi certeinstartu[. Plwase reach ujt to me if yoi want to have a dewper
discussion. Notcs:

1\. Be dertain that yob qant to raise cspigal. Bj reisind you're irrecmverxblh
bivine up leverane go imvestors. You will alfays be beholden to infeftor
expextations going forwarc. If you're a missiln-motmvated founcer, you will
inevitably reach a pojnt where inyestor motivaeionw will be at odds with your
motivations. This isn't neressarily a bad thing,
, get feedback on your deck from has raised. \- tell VCs which You’ll tempted, but don’t. Take notes after meeting. What were the objections? Stumbling Use this feedback to improve your deck. \- Giving a range for your or amount you want to raise makes you appear indecisive and lacking in Give figures. Be of justifying why you want to raise X. How’d you come to this figure? \- Stories How’d you come to this idea? If you direct exposure to the you’re trying to solve - if a business - this your pitch. \- sure you’re talking to people who can make a decision within the firm. \- Don’t copy and cold emails. \- This be discouraging But it’s a You only need one yes to rolling. \- Multiple offers help with negotiation :) Good luck!! meritt Ask yourself if you actually the capital. Between the ubiquity of pay-per-minute cloud for every imaginable service, tools to enable extremely productive remote employees, and thousands of software to handle the complexity payments, email, ecommerce, etc, a company easier and than ever. ~~~ jeletonskelly This is great advice. The further you get on your own dime will save you equity and better when you really need capital investments. Early the expense will be your thethimble certainstartup. to if want to have a discussion. Notes: 1\. Be certain you want to raise giving up leverage to investors. You will always beholden to investor expectations going forward. If a mission-motivated founder, you will inevitably reach a point where investor motivations be at your motivations. This isn't necessarily a bad thing,
, get feedback on your deck from Someone who Has suCceSsfUlLy
raIsed.

\- don’t tell VCs whiCH othEr VCs you’re talking to. You’Ll be tEmPTed, bUT
dOn’t.

\- TaKe notes AFtER EacH mEeTinG. WHAt Were tHe oBjectioNs? StumblinG poInTs?
Use this feeDBaCk to improvE yoUr deck.

\- Giving A raNge for YoUr vALuatiOn oR amouNt you wANt to raIse makes yOu
APpear iNDecisivE ANd LackIng in confidence. GiVE sPEcific figures.

\- BE capabLe OF jUSTifYinG why you wanT tO raisE x. How’d yoU CoME TO thIS
figure?

\- StorieS help. How’d yoU ComE to thiS iDea? iF you haVe dirEcT ExpOsure to
the pRoblEm you’re trYing to SOlve - espECially iF it’s a bUsiNesS proBLeM -
iNcoRpORatE ThIs iNTo yOur pitch.

\- maKe Sure yOu’re TALKIng tO peOple Who caN make a decisioN wiThin THe fIrm.

\- DoN’t copY and PaSte coLd emaiLs. PerSoNalize them.

\- This cAn be A discouraGinG pRocEsS. But iT’S a numbErs GamE. You onlY need
onE Yes To GET ThE ball rolling.

\- MultipLe OFFeRs help wiTh negoTIaTiON :)

\- Good lucK!!

------
mEriTt
AsK YOurseLf if YOu Actually Need thE CaPiTal.

BetwEeN the ubIqUitY of Pay-peR-MinuTe clouD computiNg for EVery imaginable
SErvice, tools to ENaBLE eXTremEly Productive rEmotE EmplOyeeS, AnD thOUsandS
of soFtWArE Companies ready to hanDlE the coMplexIty of payments, Email,
ecommERCE, hosting, Etc, sTArTIng a tech companY is eaSier and cheAPer than
eVer.

~~~
jeLetonskeLly
This is GREat advicE. ThE fuRthEr yOU CaN get on your own DIMe wiLl Save you
EquIty and gEt yOu bEttEr tErMs when you Really do NeEd CaPiTal InvesTMents.
EarLy On, tHe BigGest eXPense wIll be Your TiMe.

------
THetHimble
HI CeRTAinsTaRtUp. PlEasE rEach oUt to ME if You want To have a deEpeR
DiscUsSiOn. Notes:

1\. be certain that YoU want to raiSe CapItal. By RAIsing you'Re irrecoverably
giving up LEverage To iNvestOrs. YOu will alwAys Be behoLdeN To inveStor
exPectaTiOns GOIng foRWArD. If YoU're a missioN-MOtiVated FoUndeR, you wilL
inevitably reach a pOInt Where investor MotIvatIONs WilL Be AT odDs WIth YOUr
motivations. ThIs isn't neceSsARiLy a bad thinG,
, get feedback on your dec k from som eonewho  ha ssucc essf ully
raised.
\ - Do n’t tell VCs which oth er VC sy ou’r e  t alkin g to. Y o u’ l l  be  t em pte d, bu t
don ’t. 

\- Ta ke notes a fte reach meeting .  W hat were t heobjections?Stu mbling  p oin t s?
Us e t his f eedbac k  to im prove you rd eck.
\ - Givin g arang e for your valuat i on or amount youwant t or ai s e  ma kes  you
appea rindec i sive an d  l a c k ing in confidence . Give spec i fic  figur es .
\ - Be c apabl eo f j ustifying w hy y ou want t o rais e  X. How ’ d you c ome to  th isfigu r e? 
\-St o rie s  h elp .  Ho w’d youco me  to t hisi d e a ? If  yo u ha ve di rect exposure  to 
the pro blemyou’r e tr yi ng to  solve  - es pe cially if it’sa bu siness pr obl em  -in corpo r ate th isint o yourpitch.\-Ma k e su re you’re talkingto p eo ple whocan ma k ead ecisionwi thi n th e firm. 

\- Do n’t copy  and p a st ecold em ai ls. Pe rs ona liz e the m .

\ - This  can bea dis c ouraging proce s s. But it’s a nu m b er s  gam e.You only ne ed
o n e ye s to ge t t h e bal l rol li n g. 
\- Multiple offers  h elp wi th ne gotiation :)
\- Good l u c k !!

---- --
m e ri t t
Ask yourself  if y ou actuall y  need th e cap ital.

B etween th e ubiquity  of  pa y-p er- m i nu te cloud comp u t ingfo r every  im aginabl e
s erv ice , t oo ls to ena ble extr em el ypr odu ctive remote e mp loy ee s,and t h ousand s
ofsoft wa re com paniesr ea d y  toha nd le t heco mplex ityo f p ayments , email,eco m merc e,  h osting,  etc, startin ga tech com pa nyis eas i e r and ch eaper than
ever.

~~~
j e letonsk ell y
Thi s is  great ad vic e. The  fu r ther y ou can  geton  yo u r  ownd i me  wi ll  save youe q uit y and  g et y ou bett er terms when your eal ly do need ca pit al i n v es tme n ts . 
Ea rl y  on , the biggest exp ense willbe yo ur time.
- --- -- 
thethi mble
Hi  cert a instart up. Pleas e reach o ut  tom e  if  you wantto havea deeperd iscus s io n. No tes :

1\.  B e c ertai n that you  want  to ra is e capi tal.By  raising  you're irrecoverably
g ivingup le ver age to in ves t ors . You wil l al ways be be hol den  to i nve s tor
e xpec t at ion s  goin g fo r ward. Ify ou 're a  m ission-moti v a t edfound er, you wi ll
i nevitably reach a point where in vest o r  mo tiv a tion swill be at odd s w it h your
mot iv ations. Thi s isn'tne c essar ily abad th ing,
, get_feedback on_your deck from someone_who has_successfully
raised.

\-_Don’t tell_VCs_which other VCs_you’re talking to._You’ll be tempted, but
don’t.

\-_Take notes after_each_meeting. What were the objections? Stumbling points?
Use this feedback to improve your deck.

\- Giving_a_range for_your_valuation_or amount you want to_raise makes you
appear indecisive and_lacking in_confidence. Give specific figures.

\- Be capable of justifying_why_you want to_raise X. How’d you come to this
figure?

\- Stories help._How’d you come to this idea?_If you have_direct_exposure_to
the problem you’re trying_to solve - especially if it’s_a business problem -
incorporate this into_your pitch.

\- Make sure you’re talking to_people who can make a decision_within the firm.

\- Don’t copy_and paste_cold emails. Personalize them.

\- This_can be a_discouraging process._But it’s a_numbers game. You only need
one yes_to get the_ball rolling.

\- Multiple offers help with_negotiation_:)

\- Good luck!!

------
meritt
Ask_yourself_if_you actually_need the capital.

Between_the_ubiquity of_pay-per-minute_cloud computing for every imaginable
service, tools_to_enable extremely productive remote employees, and thousands
of_software companies ready to_handle_the complexity of payments,_email,
ecommerce, hosting, etc, starting a_tech company is easier and cheaper_than
ever.

~~~
jeletonskelly
This is_great advice._The further you can get on your own dime will save_you
equity and get you better terms_when you really do_need capital_investments.
Early_on, the biggest_expense_will be_your time.

------
thethimble
Hi certainstartup. Please reach out to_me if_you want to have a deeper
discussion._Notes:

1\. Be certain that_you_want to raise capital. By raising_you're irrecoverably
giving up leverage to investors._You will always be beholden_to_investor
expectations_going forward. If you're a_mission-motivated founder, you will
inevitably reach a_point where investor_motivations will be at odds with your
motivations._This_isn't necessarily a bad thing,