Virtual Fundraising Bootcamp: Raise a pre-seed/seed round
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This bootcamp is for early-stage founders who want to learn the fundraising process. You’ll get practical advice, hands-on experience, and learn from industry experts and founders who’ve successfully raised funds. By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to fundraise for your startup.
Summit Highlights
Understand the full fundraising process from start to finish.
Get practical tools and templates for investor readiness.
Practice your pitch and receive real-time feedback.
Learn directly from investors and successful founders.
Stay updated on trends in fundraising for 2025.
Agenda
🕔 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM: Welcome and Kick-Off (15 mins)
Speakers: Mariane Bekker, Natalie Pan, Lauren Dermode, Jyothi Devakumar, Rachana S.K., Nena Djaja
Introduction to the summit and its goals.
Overview of the day’s schedule.
Meet the speakers and facilitators.
🕔 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM: The Fundraising Process: Get Investor Ready (1h)
Topics Covered:
Overview of the fundraising journey.
LinkedIn/email strategy: cold calling vs referral.
Building a CRM for investor outreach.
Accelerator/Incubators/Angels/VCs: Who fits where?
Knowing when you’re ready to approach investors.
Audience Q&A.
Takeaways:
A checklist for investor readiness.
A clear roadmap for the fundraising process.
Speakers:
Speaker: Daria Kroshkina (Dasha) - CEO & Founder @ Connected
Moderator: Nena Djaja - Founder @ Learning Lot
🕔 11:15 AM - 12: 45 PM: Fundraising Math: Know Your Numbers (1h 30m)
Topics Covered:
Calculating your startup’s valuation.
Know how to build your financial models.
Figuring out how much money to raise and aligning with milestones.
Understanding key metrics: runway, burn rate, CAC, LTV, and more.
Market understanding: TAM, SOM, etc.
Takeaways:
A simple template to calculate your funding needs.
Insights into how investors analyze your financials.
Speakers:
Speaker: Alena Solonina - Partner @ CurvePoint Capital
Moderator: Jyothi Devakumar - Founder @ Healthy Vignettes
🕔 12:45 PM - Break (15 mins)
Recharge and get ready for the interactive lunch session.
🕔 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Workshop 1: Building Your Fundraising Story & Marketing to Investors
Topics Covered:
Learn how to tell your startup’s story in a way that attracts investors.
Discover marketing and sales tips to keep investors interested.
Use data to make your story stronger.
Takeways:
Build a compelling startup story for investors
Improve how you communicate and present your ideas.
Speakers:
Renee Lynn Frojo, Brand Storyteller & Content Strategist
🕔 2:00 PM - 2:25 PM: (TRACK 1) Conversation with an Angel Investor (25m)
Topics Covered:
Learn firsthand what angel investors look for in startups.
Discover how angels evaluate risk, growth potential, and founders.
Takeways:
Understand how to pitch effectively and secure early-stage funding
Speakers:
Jyothi Devakumar - Founder @ Healthy Vignettes (moderator)
Preethy Padmanabhan - LP & Angel Investor
🕔 2:00 PM - 2:25 PM: TRACK 2: Storytelling Practice (25m)
Topics Covered:
Hands on workshop to craft your story & get feedback
Takeways:
Learn how to tell your startup’s story in a way that attracts investors.
Improve how you communicate and present your ideas.
Speaker:
Renee Lynn Frojo - Co-founder @ New Narratives Club
🕔 2:25 PM - 2:35 PM- Funding Breakthrough & Founders Bay Membership Intro (10m)
Speaker: Natalie Pan - Founder @ Funding Breakthrough Lab
Speaker: Nena Djaja - Founder @ Learning Lot
🕔 2:35 PM - 3:35 PM Structuring Your Pitch Deck for Maximum Impact (1h)
Topics Covered:
Find out what makes a great pitch deck.
Learn design tips to make your deck look good and easy to read.
Takeaways:
Customize your pitch deck for different investors.
Avoid common mistakes and make your pitch stand out.
Speakers:
Neelam Chakrabarty, Chief Growth Officer @ Query
🕔 3:35 PM - 4PM: (TRACK 1) Trends in Fundraising (25m)
Topics Covered:
New funding models like crowdfunding and rolling funds.
Economic trends affecting fundraising.
Industry-specific insights to help you plan ahead.
Takeaways:
Awareness of the latest opportunities.
Strategies to adapt to current fundraising trends.
Speaker:
Radu Skutaru - VC & Venture Partner @ VU Venture Partners
Moderator: Natalie Pan - Founder @ Funding Breakthrough Lab
🕔 3:35 PM - 4PM: (TRACK 2) 1 Minute Pitches & Feedback (25m)
1-Minute Pitches: Founders will present their startup in just one minute.
Feedback: Get helpful feedback to improve your pitch.
Benefits: Practice your pitch, get valuable advice, and maybe even attract interest from investors.
Pitch-deck review: Get hands-on help with your pitch deck
Topics Covered:
Founders deliver 2-minute pitches to investors.
Investors provide instant feedback on storytelling and delivery.
Learn from watching other founders pitch.
Takeaways:
Get immediate feedback from investors
Mentors:
Jessica Giannini, Program Manager @ Angel Launch, Owner @ PitchThis
Neelam Chakrabarty, Chief Growth Officer @ Query
4:00 PM - Closing Remarks and Next Steps (15 mins)
Recap of the key lessons from the day.
Resources, templates, and tools for your fundraising journey.
Encouragement to network and stay connected with speakers and peers.
About Us
Founders Bay is a membership community of 30,000 founders and VCs coming together to grow their startups through curated weekly events, expert-led virtual workshops, and educational resources. Proudly women-owned and operated by Mariane Bekker, we is dedicated to empowering a diverse and inclusive startup ecosystem. Subscribe to our newsletter and become a member today.
Funding Breakthrough Lab
Funding Breakthrough Lab is a 3 month pre-accelerator supporting early stage founders understand the funding landscape. As a non-profit we take no equity, and put you in contact with some of the industries top mentors and experts.
$497 FAST TRACK DEAL for the next few days!
We are actively accepting applications for Feb 8th deadline cohort start of Feb 18th.
Apply today at http://fundingbreakthroughlab.org