Blog

When you run a startup, securing the right types of funding at the right moments can feel like a never-ending game of chess. You have to think twenty moves in advance, and if you make just one mistake, you might end up sabotaging the whole game. And plenty of founders do sabotage the game: It’s estimated that 80% of startups don’t make it past the first year, and 90% fail over the long run. And even those who do make it have their regrets: The average SaaS founder walks away with 20% equity in their company, with some hitting numbers as low as 1% or 5%—not much when you consider the overall emotional, financial, and spiritual investment founders make into their companies. So, what can a startup founder do to ensure they’re navigating raising funds strategically? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to raise funds for startups, including the different types of funding available, which growth stage is most appropriate for each, and what investors look for in a startup.

Number one, understand your business. It sounds obvious, but the majority of entrepreneurs who pitch me have obviously never thought through many of the major issues surrounding their companies. You should know EVERYTHING about your business, product, customers and competition. You should know every metric regarding customer acquisition, conversion and retention. You should have a crystal clear understanding of your business model and your financials. And all of this should be at the tips of your fingers so you can instantly answer any questions you are asked about it.

Modern investors love to first read a two-page summary of your business plan, formatted like a glossy marketing collateral sheet, with text well laid out in columns and sidebars, and a couple of relevant graphics. This one had better grab their attention, or they won’t look further.

Imagine that you are the founder of a Brazilian B2B SaaS startup that has landed a few enterprise clients and has some good traction. Your sights are now set on raising capital in Silicon Valley to scale your business and reach new markets. While your conversations with U.S. based investors are productive, you soon realize that they are unwilling to invest in your Brazilian startup as it is governed by laws they are not familiar with. The U.S. investors request that your company re-incorporate in the State of Delaware.

Enployable, Inc. is the world's first value-based AI job matching platform. After witnessing the challenges that my friends faced while looking for new jobs during the pandemic, I wanted to find a better approach to the job market. Traditionally, the hiring process focuses on whether a candidate's skills and experience match the job description, and the process of screening candidates can be labor-intensive. However, many employees exhibit low levels of engagement and satisfaction, resulting in high turnover rates (think of the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting).