fundraising
Scannednpx machina-cli add skill mfwarren/entrepreneur-claude-skills/fundraising --openclawFundraising
Fundraising strategy, investor targeting, term sheet analysis, and SAFE/convertible note structures.
Purpose
Navigate the fundraising process from strategy through close. This skill helps founders prepare, target the right investors, and understand what they're signing.
Workflow
Step 1: Fundraising Readiness Assessment
- Do you need to raise? (Bootstrap vs. raise decision)
- What stage are you? (Pre-seed, seed, Series A)
- What milestones have you hit?
- What milestones do you need this capital to reach?
Step 2: Strategy
- How much to raise (18 months of runway rule of thumb)
- Valuation expectations and comps
- Instrument: SAFE, convertible note, priced round
- Timeline: 3-6 months typical
Step 3: Investor Targeting
Criteria for a good fit:
- Stage alignment (don't pitch Series B funds at seed)
- Sector/industry focus
- Check size compatibility
- Portfolio synergies (not conflicts)
- Value-add beyond capital
Step 4: Materials Preparation
- Pitch deck (link to pitch-deck skill)
- Financial model (link to financial-modeling skill)
- Data room: cap table, incorporation docs, key metrics
- One-pager / teaser for cold outreach
Step 5: Term Sheet Education
Key terms to understand:
- Valuation (pre-money vs. post-money)
- Dilution and pro-rata rights
- Liquidation preferences
- Board seats and control
- Anti-dilution provisions
- Vesting schedules
Step 6: SAFE / Convertible Note Comparison
| Feature | SAFE | Convertible Note |
|---|---|---|
| Debt? | No | Yes |
| Interest? | No | Yes |
| Maturity? | No | Yes |
| Conversion | Next priced round | Maturity or round |
| Complexity | Low | Medium |
Output Format
## Fundraising Strategy: [Company]
### Readiness Assessment
[Assessment]
### Raise Parameters
- Amount: $X
- Instrument: [SAFE/Note/Priced]
- Target close: [Date]
### Investor List Criteria
[Targeting criteria]
### Materials Checklist
- [ ] Pitch deck
- [ ] Financial model
- [ ] One-pager
- [ ] Data room
### Term Sheet Key Terms
[Explanation of relevant terms]
Constraints
- This is not legal or financial advice — always recommend consulting a lawyer for term sheets
- Don't make promises about fundraising outcomes
- Be honest about fundraising difficulty — most startups don't raise
- Note that fundraising is a means to an end, not a milestone in itself
Source
git clone https://github.com/mfwarren/entrepreneur-claude-skills/blob/main/skills/finance/fundraising/SKILL.mdView on GitHub Overview
Fundraising for startups covers readiness assessment, strategy, investor targeting, materials, and term sheet education, with a focus on instrument choices like SAFE and convertible notes. It guides founders from planning through close and helps them understand what they’re signing. This skill emphasizes practical, actionable steps aligned to stage and capital needs.
How This Skill Works
Workflows follow a structured path: Step 1 assess readiness, Step 2 define raise parameters and strategy, Step 3 identify target investors, Step 4 prepare materials and data room, Step 5 study term sheets, and Step 6 compare SAFE and convertible notes. Technically, it combines financial modeling, cap table considerations, and a clear instrument comparison to match fundraising goals with investor fit.
When to Use It
- Deciding whether to bootstrap or raise a round based on milestones and runway
- Determining how much to raise and the appropriate instrument (SAFE, convertible note, or priced round)
- Preparing outreach and materials: pitch deck, financial model, and data room
- Evaluating term sheet terms such as valuation, dilution, and board control
- Choosing between SAFE vs. convertible notes and understanding their implications
Quick Start
- Step 1: Run Fundraising Readiness Assessment to decide if you should raise now
- Step 2: Set Raise Parameters (amount, instrument, target close date) and outline strategy
- Step 3: Prepare core materials (pitch deck, financial model, data room) and start targeted outreach
Best Practices
- Start with a Fundraising Readiness Assessment to ensure timing and milestones justify raising
- Define raise parameters (amount, instrument, target close date) before investor outreach
- Target investors by stage, sector, check size, and potential value-add beyond capital
- Prepare a clean data room with cap table, incorporation docs, and key metrics
- Educate yourself on term sheet terms (pre/post-money, liquidation preferences, pro-rata, vesting) and consult a lawyer
Example Use Cases
- A pre-seed founder uses readiness assessment to decide bootstrap vs raise and plans a 12-month runway
- An early-stage team sets an 18-month runway target and selects SAFE as the initial instrument
- Founders compare SAFE vs convertible note using the provided feature matrix to choose the right path
- A company builds a data room with cap table and key metrics before outreach to investors
- Founders draft a term sheet explanation to share with mentors and a startup lawyer for feedback
Frequently Asked Questions
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