The Funding Playbook

Twelve weeks. Twelve finished outputs. No reading list.

No week without an output. No output without a decision. No decision without an action.

The journey tells you what to do this week. The Playbook is the toolkit behind it — worksheets, calculators and templates you fill in, not chapters you read. You leave every week holding something you can send to an investor.

Decide→Prepare→Position→Target→Approach→Run→Negotiate→Close→Deliver
12
Weeks, 01 to 12
38
Worksheets, calculators, templates
12
Weeks, start to close

Twelve weeks — and what each makes you decide

Week 1 is free and usable now. The remaining weeks are coming soon. Twelve weeks, 12 outputs — 12 decisions turned into documents.

01

Should you actually raise?

Free

Make the raise decision before the raise makes it for you.

Tools
  • Fundraising Reality Check Worksheet
    Seven written answers, with no place to hide.
  • Time Allocation Calculator Calculator
    Calculate total founder time, weekly overload, runway buffer and what work must move.
  • Raise / Don't Raise Worksheet
    Choose raise, wait or bootstrap — and name the next action.
  • Founder Commitment Template
    Turn the decision into a dated commitment.

Output A one-page Fundraising Brief: why, why now, how much, for what and by when.

Use these tools

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

02

Define the round

Soon

Set the amount, runway, milestones and closing date before speaking to investors.

You will decide
  • What is the minimum viable round?
  • Which milestone does it buy?
  • What dilution can you defend?
Tools
  • Round Calculator Calculator
    Amount, runway, hires and milestone in one model.
  • Use of Funds Worksheet
    Allocate the round across hires, product, GTM and buffer.
  • Dilution Sketch Calculator
    Model this round, the option pool and the next round.

Output A defensible Round Strategy One-Pager.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

03

Build the investment case

Soon

Map what an investor must believe and the evidence that makes each belief credible.

You will decide
  • Why this problem, now?
  • Why this solution and team?
  • What proves venture-scale potential?
Tools
  • Investor Belief Map Worksheet
    Belief, evidence, gap and next proof.
  • Thesis Sentence Drill Worksheet
    Five rewrites until the case survives aloud.
  • Proof Backlog Tracker
    Missing evidence becomes dated work.

Output A one-page Investment Case and Proof Backlog.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

04

Get investor-ready

Soon

Find the red flags before an investor does, then fix, explain or accept each one.

You will decide
  • Where are you red across business, product, metrics, team, legal and financials?
  • What must be fixed before outreach?
Tools
  • Readiness Scorecard Worksheet
    Green, yellow or red across eight areas.
  • Fix / Explain / Accept Worksheet
    A decision, owner and date for every weakness.
  • Pre-empt Script Template
    Name the weak spot before they find it.

Output An Investor Readiness Scorecard and dated Fix List.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

05

Build the investor universe

Soon

Work from 200+ investors to a qualified list of partners who can actually write your cheque.

You will decide
  • Who fits your stage, sector, geography and cheque?
  • Which partner owns the thesis?
  • Who can create the warm path?
Tools
  • 200+ Investor System Tracker
    Filter the full system into a focused pipeline.
  • Nine-Filter Screen Worksheet
    Remove false-fit investors quickly.
  • Partner Research Sheet Template
    One page per priority partner.

Output A qualified investor pipeline with named partners and routes in.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

06

Open the right doors

Soon

Ask for specific introductions with a forwardable message, not vague help.

You will decide
  • Who can introduce each priority partner?
  • What exactly are you asking them to do?
  • Can they forward your blurb untouched?
Tools
  • Network Map Worksheet
    Investor, connector, relationship and requested action.
  • Warm Intro Request Template
    A precise message to the connector.
  • Outreach Scripts Template
    Forwardable blurb, cold open and follow-up.

Output A sequenced set of 10–20 introduction requests.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

07

Prepare the fundraising kit

Soon

Build only the materials that create conviction or answer diligence.

You will decide
  • What must be excellent?
  • What only needs to exist?
  • Can every number be defended?
Tools
  • Fundraising Kit Checklist
    Deck, one-pager, model, data room, bio, demo and KPIs.
  • Deck Skeleton Template
    Ten slides, one idea each, with strong and weak examples.
  • KPI Sheet Template
    One page of numbers you can defend.

Output A complete fundraising folder ready to send.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

08

Run the outreach sprint

Soon

Create simultaneous conversations so momentum compounds instead of leaking away.

You will decide
  • How many conversations run in the same seven days?
  • What may change between waves?
  • When does the round stop?
Tools
  • 12-Week Sprint Worksheet
    Every outreach and follow-up action mapped to the raise.
  • Momentum Tracker Tracker
    Live conversations and the floor you will not drop below.
  • Wave Planner Worksheet
    Batches, evidence and permitted changes.

Output A dated twelve-week fundraising sprint.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

09

Run investor meetings

Soon

Prepare what they must believe, remember and do next — then follow up within 24 hours.

You will decide
  • What must they remember?
  • What will they challenge?
  • What is the next step and date?
Tools
  • Meeting Prep Sheet Worksheet
    A focused page for every meeting.
  • 50 Investor Questions Worksheet
    What investors are really trying to learn.
  • Investor CRM Tracker
    Interest, follow-up and next action current to the day.

Output A prepared meeting, three story lengths and a current CRM.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

10

Turn rejection into signal

Soon

One no is noise. Repeated nos are data. Know when to adapt and when to hold.

You will decide
  • What was the no really about?
  • Is it a pattern or noise?
  • Does the story, round, list or plan change?
Tools
  • Classify the No Worksheet
    Ten categories with evidence.
  • Pattern vs Noise Worksheet
    Thresholds and the response each pattern demands.
  • Reset Decision Worksheet
    Change the story, round, list — or stop.

Output A rejection log that tells you what to change.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

11

Diligence and terms

Soon

Move fast when interest becomes scrutiny, and know which terms matter enough to fight for.

You will decide
  • What is missing from the room?
  • What is the riskiest fact they will find?
  • Which two terms are non-negotiable?
Tools
  • Diligence Readiness Checklist
    Every item with owner, status, deadline and risk.
  • Data Room Structure Template
    A folder tree that does not need explaining.
  • Term Sheet Comparison Worksheet
    Offers side by side in plain language.

Output A complete data room and term-sheet decision sheet.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

12

Close and deliver

Soon

Get signed and wired, then turn every investor promise into accountable operating work.

You will decide
  • What remains unsigned or unwired?
  • What did you promise investors?
  • What must be true in 6 and 12 months?
Tools
  • Closing Checklist Checklist
    Legal, signatures, funds and communication.
  • Day 1 Plan Worksheet
    The money's purpose translated into immediate work.
  • Promise Ledger Tracker
    What you said, by when and who owns it.
  • Investor Update Template
    Numbers, wins, asks and misses every month.

Output A closed round and a 6- and 12-month accountability plan.

Coming soon — Week 1 is free while we finish these.

Not really sure about these aspects? You can access more advanced support here.

Ready to commit?

Reading about raising isn't raising.

Start with Week 1 free. The remaining eleven weeks are coming soon.