Workshop: Funding Your Nonprofit
Explore the nonprofit funding landscape through a practical conversation with Dr. Souf Aboulhouda, co-founder of Nucleate and a leader who has worked closely with more than 100 biotech startups navigating early fundraising. Drawing on his experience, Souf will share what founders should understand about fundraising, where teams often get stuck, and how to think more clearly about funding strategy from the start.
This 90-minute workshop will help participants understand both traditional and nontraditional funding paths—including venture capital, angel investment, grants, pitch competitions, and institutional partnerships. The session will also examine what funders look for in early-stage non-profits, how founders can position their work effectively, and what it takes to build strong funding relationships over time.
During this workshop, participants will:
Hear the story behind Nucleate and what Souf has observed across more than 100 biotech teams navigating fundraising for the first time.
Understand what donors look for in early-stage non-profit ventures, and how to position your venture accordingly.
Get practical advice on building investor relationships, telling a compelling story, and choosing the right funding instrument at the right time.
Participants who attend will:
Learn from someone who has watched the full spectrum of early biotech fundraising up close.
Walk away with a clearer sense of which funding options fit different business models, stages, and goals.
Connect with fellow founders and members of the Yale and Nucleate communities.
About Dr. Souf Aboulhouda
Soufiane (Souf) Aboulhouda is a synthetic biologist by training from Harvard Medical School. During his PhD, he founded Nucleate, a non-profit biotech organization that represents the largest global community of bio-innovators and offers numerous free entrepreneurship programs for academic trainees.