Helena Fogarty’s Post

I’ve been in the fundraising game for a while, and the bad advice out there is staggering. But one tip takes the cake: ‘Always start your pitch by telling investors how much they’re going to make.’ Sounds bold, right? But it’s a trainwreck in action. A great way to shut down the room. Investors need to believe in you before the dollar signs. What’s the worst fundraising advice you’ve ever heard? Let’s hear your cringe-worthy stories.

Deadlines matter in fundraising. But they only matter when they have real consequences. As a founder you can’t set arbitrary deadlines for investors if you have no catalyst for your round. What I mean here is if you don’t have a lead investor or are actually oversubscribed your deadline really won’t matter. Momentum is required to create deal heat and ultimately action from investors. With momentum, deadlines become relevant and then can catalyze commitments. So, don’t try to drive unnecessary FOMO when it is obviously unwarranted. Use your FOMO cards sparingly to drive your round to close.

Joe Schorge, Founder & Managing Partner at Isomer Capital, has sat on both sides of the fundraising table. He says, “LPs want sharp, relevant news that's of interest to them. Let them know when you’ve closed a deal, when you’ve hired someone. All of that is welcome news, whereas the same news weekly—just raising something to the top of someone’s inbox—is when it gets repetitive.” But we get it—every investor is different, and it’s hard to know how to communicate with them … especially when things aren’t going as planned. See the link below for best practices on fundraising and investor relations 👇

Fundraising success isn’t luck—it’s strategy. Q4 is the ideal moment to refine your fundraising plan. With Q1 as prime fundraising season, this is your chance to align your outreach with investor priorities and secure attention when it matters most. The 80/20 of it: 80% of successful capital raises come from just 20% of connections. The real power lies in targeting the right investors—those with a proven track record in your industry or tech area—and delivering messaging that speaks directly to their priorities. But here’s the catch: timing is only half the equation. Your pitch needs to rise to the occasion. Is your messaging hitting the right notes for investors as they prepare to make early 2024 moves? Smart fundraising isn’t just about reaching out—it’s about standing out. #FundraisingTips #InvestorRelations #StartupFunding #Capital

How I've helped founders raise over $220m. All by doing the necessary work: I've been in this industry for 10+ years now. I've sat on every side of the table. And the biggest thing I've seen founders mess up on with fundraising is simple. You aren't doing the necessary work to successfully fundraise. This isn't about your pitch deck. This isn't about your data room. There is SO much more to fundraising than that. So you have to make sure you are doing the work that ACTUALLY moves the needle. I've created a checklist resource just for you to make sure you know what you need to do. -- To get it: - Like this post - Comment with "checklist" - Connect with me And I can dm you the resource!

The only pitch-deck coaching you will ever need!

The 3 pillars of successful fundraising: Clear vision, Strong network, Pitch perfection. Define your vision, build a strong network, and perfect your pitch to attract investors.

First-Time Founders | Understanding Your Fundraising Journey we discuss why first-time founders should avoid comparing their fundraising experiences to those of veteran founders. We highlight the importance of credibility and track record in attracting investors.

Need capital by Q1 2025? Start prepping your data room now. Identify gaps, fix what’s missing, and have a solid plan ready. Don’t give VCs the chance to poke holes in your startup—be prepared and stay ahead.

💸We are pretty sure, that you have already gone through a least a couple of fundraising workshops and talked to a dozen of fundraising experts so far, but more information would never heart anyone. Get your decks and fundraising strategies ready, as this Thursday, Apr 4, Dasha Kichuk, CBDO idealers and the CEO effa would start a 2-workshop series on fundraising. On Thursday we will get our hands on: - Global landscape of VC industry: main players, how do they operate and formed; - How to pick your perfect investor shortlist; ⁃ Building fundraising strategies; ⁃ Do’s and Dont’s of fundraising strategy and investor outreach. We’ll get into a deep dive of your fundraising goals and make sure you’ll be one step closer to your dreamed-about check 🙂 When: 04/04/24 at 4:00 p.m Language: English Register using the link right now: https://lnkd.in/e4SnhTe8