Menu
Menu
Introduction
It can seem daunting to raise capital for your startup, but with a clear understanding of the milestones Seed and Series A investors expect to see, you can set the right goals and successfully raise from top investors. If you’ve followed the steps in each of the five previous chapters, you’re likely in a good place to approach investors. However, there’s still the pitch and process to perfect.
This chapter uncovers what investors are specifically looking for, how to create excitement for your company with a strategic pitch, and how to run a bulletproof fundraising process to raise from the best VC’s. There is also a real-life case study on how portfolio company Vivun successfully raised their Seed round.
Chapter Authors
What You'll Get
00 guides
00 tools
This chapter will cover
Outline Seed Deck
Outline Series A Deck
Tools in this chapter
TOOL |
Template
Product designer job descriptions
Examples of compelling product designer job descriptions for roles at Superhuman, Figma, and more.
TOOL |
Template
Product designer job descriptions
Examples of compelling product designer job descriptions for roles at Superhuman, Figma, and more.
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Modern GTM Planner Calculator
This spreadsheet template will help you calculate the costs of marketing, sales, and demand gen to meet your revenue goals.
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Modern GTM Planner Calculator
This spreadsheet template will help you calculate the costs of marketing, sales, and demand gen to meet your revenue goals.
TOOL |
Guide
The Unusual Salesforce (SFDC) Package
Installation and usage documentation for the Unusual Ventures Salesforce package.
TOOL |
Guide
The Unusual Salesforce (SFDC) Package
Installation and usage documentation for the Unusual Ventures Salesforce package.
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Outreach Conversion Calculator
Track how well your outreach campaign is performing with this simple tool.
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Outreach Conversion Calculator
Track how well your outreach campaign is performing with this simple tool.
TOOL |
Deck
Define your Market Segments
Define your market segments and get your GTM motion going.
TOOL |
Deck
Define your Market Segments
Define your market segments and get your GTM motion going.
TOOL |
Guide
Modern GTM User/Buyer Journey Map
USERs in our framework have a specific hierarchy of needs and a behavior pattern that founders must understand. In this map, we walk you through a USER's self-service approach to finding and using new solutions to the point where they are ready to engage with Sales. We then continue the journey as Sales engages the USER and BUYER to build a business case and close a deal.
TOOL |
Guide
Modern GTM User/Buyer Journey Map
USERs in our framework have a specific hierarchy of needs and a behavior pattern that founders must understand. In this map, we walk you through a USER's self-service approach to finding and using new solutions to the point where they are ready to engage with Sales. We then continue the journey as Sales engages the USER and BUYER to build a business case and close a deal.
TOOL |
Checklist
Pre-Seed gut-check questions
Questions to ask yourself and your potential co-founder(s), and about your product/market before you start your company
TOOL |
Checklist
Pre-Seed gut-check questions
Questions to ask yourself and your potential co-founder(s), and about your product/market before you start your company
TOOL |
Guide
Sales interview questions
Set of interview questions to vet for a successful VP of Sales or CRO hire
TOOL |
Guide
Sales interview questions
Set of interview questions to vet for a successful VP of Sales or CRO hire
TOOL |
Guide
Candidate intent assessment
Use this set of questions to assess candidate intent at each stage of the interview process.
TOOL |
Guide
Candidate intent assessment
Use this set of questions to assess candidate intent at each stage of the interview process.
TOOL |
Worksheet
Customer storytelling worksheet
Articulate the "Three Whys" for your company's B2B product
TOOL |
Worksheet
Customer storytelling worksheet
Articulate the "Three Whys" for your company's B2B product
TOOL |
Guide
Cohort Analysis Primer
Learn more about cohort analysis for consumer subscription businesses
TOOL |
Guide
Cohort Analysis Primer
Learn more about cohort analysis for consumer subscription businesses
TOOL |
Guide
Consumer Subscription Evaluation Rubric
Evaluation Rubric for a Seed-Stage Consumer Subscription Company
TOOL |
Guide
Consumer Subscription Evaluation Rubric
Evaluation Rubric for a Seed-Stage Consumer Subscription Company
TOOL |
Template
Product Testing Plan Doc
Share this document with your customer during your Product Testing Planning call.
TOOL |
Template
Product Testing Plan Doc
Share this document with your customer during your Product Testing Planning call.
TOOL |
Calculator
Deal Scorecard
Use the deal scorecard to determine the likelihood of a deal closing.
TOOL |
Calculator
Deal Scorecard
Use the deal scorecard to determine the likelihood of a deal closing.
TOOL |
Guide
Discovery Questions
List of common discovery questions. Feel free to use as a guide and customize for your startup.
TOOL |
Guide
Discovery Questions
List of common discovery questions. Feel free to use as a guide and customize for your startup.
TOOL |
Worksheet
Hypothesis & Personas Exercise
Come up with your own hypotheses and personas
TOOL |
Worksheet
Hypothesis & Personas Exercise
Come up with your own hypotheses and personas
TOOL |
Guide
Employee guide template
Use Ride Report's employee guide as a starting template for creating your company's own guide.
TOOL |
Guide
Employee guide template
Use Ride Report's employee guide as a starting template for creating your company's own guide.
TOOL |
Guide
ICP and Personas Exercise
Questions to define your ICP and User and Buyer Personas
TOOL |
Guide
ICP and Personas Exercise
Questions to define your ICP and User and Buyer Personas
TOOL |
Checklist
Company/candidate checklist
A comparative checklist for companies vs. candidates
TOOL |
Checklist
Company/candidate checklist
A comparative checklist for companies vs. candidates
TOOL |
Guide
Customer Interview Guide
Guide for interviewing customers
TOOL |
Guide
Customer Interview Guide
Guide for interviewing customers
TOOL |
Worksheet
Brand Story Exercise
Messaging checklist and exercise to build your own brand story
TOOL |
Worksheet
Brand Story Exercise
Messaging checklist and exercise to build your own brand story
TOOL |
Worksheet
Get to Aha! DNA Test
Test to discover your brand's DNA
TOOL |
Worksheet
Get to Aha! DNA Test
Test to discover your brand's DNA
TOOL |
Template
Offer Letter Template
Offer letter template for early employees
TOOL |
Template
Offer Letter Template
Offer letter template for early employees
TOOL |
Worksheet
"Why Buy Now" Framework
Framework for discovering your "Why Buy Now"
TOOL |
Worksheet
"Why Buy Now" Framework
Framework for discovering your "Why Buy Now"
TOOL |
Three Why's Framework
Framework for discovering "Why Buy Now"
TOOL |
Three Why's Framework
Framework for discovering "Why Buy Now"
TOOL |
Guide
Customer Research Guide
Guide to Conducting Customer Research
TOOL |
Guide
Customer Research Guide
Guide to Conducting Customer Research
TOOL |
Guide
Product Requirements Template
Product Requirements Template
TOOL |
Guide
Product Requirements Template
Product Requirements Template
TOOL |
Template
Amazon Press Release Template
Amazon Press Release Template
TOOL |
Template
Amazon Press Release Template
Amazon Press Release Template
TOOL |
Deck
Project Review Template
Project Review Template
TOOL |
Deck
Project Review Template
Project Review Template
TOOL |
Deck
Kickoff Meeting Template
Kickoff Meeting Template
TOOL |
Deck
Kickoff Meeting Template
Kickoff Meeting Template
TOOL |
Guide
Consumer Social Evaluation Rubric
An evaluation guide for pitching your consumer social app
TOOL |
Guide
Consumer Social Evaluation Rubric
An evaluation guide for pitching your consumer social app
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Seed Deck
Outline investor deck for a Seed Round
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Seed Deck
Outline investor deck for a Seed Round
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Series A Deck
Outline investor deck for a Series A Round
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Series A Deck
Outline investor deck for a Series A Round
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Series A board meeting deck template
Outline Series A Board meeting presentation
TOOL |
Deck
Outline Series A board meeting deck template
Outline Series A Board meeting presentation
TOOL |
Template
Executive memo template
Simple template for aligning executive staff
TOOL |
Template
Executive memo template
Simple template for aligning executive staff
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Founder prioritization heatmap template
GPP Heatmap to sort and tackle competing priorities
TOOL |
Spreadsheet
Founder prioritization heatmap template
GPP Heatmap to sort and tackle competing priorities
TOOL |
Filter
Deal Qualification Filter
Filter to qualify sales leads and discover real opportunity
TOOL |
Filter
Deal Qualification Filter
Filter to qualify sales leads and discover real opportunity
TOOL |
Calculator
Math of Sales Calculator
Calcuate needed outreach to reach revenue goals
TOOL |
Calculator
Math of Sales Calculator
Calcuate needed outreach to reach revenue goals
TOOL |
Deck
Outline customer deck
Outline deck for your first customer meeting
TOOL |
Deck
Outline customer deck
Outline deck for your first customer meeting
TOOL |
Worksheet
Product Roadmap 4 lists worksheet
Exercise for defining your four lists
TOOL |
Worksheet
Product Roadmap 4 lists worksheet
Exercise for defining your four lists
TOOL |
Worksheet
Focus exercise for SaaS startups
Exercise for finding your focus
TOOL |
Worksheet
Focus exercise for SaaS startups
Exercise for finding your focus
You’ve worked hard to get to this point. Understand how VC’s think about opportunities and why reaching certain milestones directly impacts company valuation.
