In short, it is often advisable to get as far as possible without external financing and to focus on product development and customer acquisition, i.e. on the actual performance of the company. Ultimately, the (paying) customer is always the best investor.
Signavio and Celonis, two of the most successful German software start-ups, have done precisely this and only brought in external investors after five years, but then with sums in the double-digit millions.
In many cases, external financing may be necessary to develop a product, finance market entrance and further growth, and capture the markets quickly. Here we can support you as we have been involved in financings, starting from as low as €100,000 and going up to €170 million.
In particular, we can support you with the following:
Module I
Investor readiness & fundraising preparation
Becoming investor-ready is not about polishing slides. It’s about clarity: a sharp vision, a credible strategy, and a concrete plan for growth.
We’ve developed a proven, founder-led program that prepares you for real investor conversations — not just pitch meetings. The program starts with a one-day intensive workshop covering the fundamentals of fundraising: how investors think, what creates conviction, and how decisions are really made.
From there, we work step by step through six core building blocks — the foundation of any successful fundraising process:
- Purpose: What kind of company do you want to build — and why? What’s the long-term vision driving it?
- Strategy: How will you get there? Define the key milestones and approach to achieve your goals.
- Financial Plan: Translate your vision into numbers. What do the forecasts and key metrics look like?
- Funding Needs: How much capital will you need — and when — to execute your strategy effectively?
- Investors: Which type of investor or funding source is right for you at each stage of growth?
- Equity Story: Craft a clear and compelling storyline that captures the essence of your company and what makes it stand out.
- Preparation: What do you need in place to successfully raise the funds — from pitch materials to due diligence?
Module II
Fundraising
Raising capital is a journey, from the first conversations to closing the round and building long-term investor relationships.
We support founders from Seed to Series B (€500,000–€20 million) with a simple, structured fundraising process. We work as closely as possible with you to design, prepare, and run this process. At the same time, one principle is non-negotiable:
You stay in charge. Fundraising cannot be outsourced. Investors ultimately invest in you, in your clarity, credibility, and leadership. And the earlier the stage, the more this matters.
- Fundraising Strategy: Define how much capital you want to raise, from which types of investors, and within what timeframe.
- Investor Outreach: Identify and connect with the right investors for your stage and sector.
- Meetings: Prepare and position your story effectively in investor meetings.
- Pre-Due Diligence: Anticipate investor questions and ensure your data and documentation are ready.
- Term Sheet: Understand and negotiate key terms to protect your interests and align incentives.
- Due Diligence: Manage the process efficiently, from financials to legal and operational checks.
- Negotiation & Closing: Finalise agreements and close your round with confidence.
- Investor Relations: Build a professional yet lean investor relations process that helps you maintain transparency and trust — even through challenging times.