Questions founders ask about raising

Straight answers from the investor side of the table, for pre-seed to Series A founders raising in the US and Canada.

Raising pre-seed and seed →

How do you raise a pre-seed round?A pre-seed round, typically $250K to $2M, funds the milestone that gets the next investors to take the meeting. Most raises fail on process, not ideas: get clear on that milestone, size and structure the round from it, build a targeted investor list, then run the raise as a disciplined process with a lead in mind.
What do investors look for in a pitch deck?Investors read a pitch deck for one thing: why this company could return their fund. Polish and slide order matter less than conviction. The slides that carry the weight show the size of the problem, why your solution is different, the quality of early evidence and why this team, so the investor reaches the conclusion themselves.
How do you build an investor data room that survives diligence?Build your data room before you go to market, not when an investor asks: about 80% ready by your first meetings. Organize it in clear folders, fill the gaps diligence will probe, control access, and keep it current. A well-built room keeps a deal moving; an improvised one creates doubt at the moment you need momentum.

For founders outside North America raising from US and Canadian investors: structure, timing, credibility and access. Coming soon.