Startup Studio Fundraising Fundamentals
Startup studios, venture builders are highly efficient in creating many ventures in parallel, with a higher success rate than with any other startup building approach. The fundraising process is more challenging compared to raising capital for a single startup. You have to show to your investors:
+ Leadership that can build an entire portfolio of companies;
+ Financial-organizational structure that matches your goals;
+ A timely and coherent vision and investment thesis;
+ Viability of your approach;
+ Strong portfolio of startups.
You need to make sure to have a solid strategy and prepare to answer the tough questions including:
- Do you want to raise the capital into your studio or establish a separate fund? Why this way?
- Will the studio act as the GP or who will? Will this be an official fund or a holding company?
- How to cover the studios operational costs? For a management fee and carry or charge the startups? Or do you have another solution?
- How will you manage conflicts of interest between the Studio the Fund and the Startups?
- How will you ensure successful exits of your portfolio and thus ensuring a high fund ROI?
- If you are converting your agency into a studio: How to value your current assets? How will you restructure your organization to fit the new strategy?
- Are you raising a fixed-life fund or evergreen fund? How will you handle raising new capital when needed?
- How will your studio preserve it's equity part in the startups and solve the "dead equity" concern?
- Will you create ventures from internal process or join existing teams? What is your financial modeling backing up your approach?
- ...
This presentation will help you understand the basics of how to build up your fundraising approach.
If you need more help, reach out and I will guide you in:
+ Structuring your venture builder and fundraising strategy;
+ Assess your current material and identify gaps and risks;
+ Preparing for a successful investor meeting;
Attila Szigeti
1 pdf presentation with 27 slides