Funding Readiness Checklist

Assess your startup's fundraising readiness in minutes

Interactive checklist based on what investors actually look for

Most founders approach investors too early - use this checklist to know when you're ready

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Funding Stage

Industry

What Investors Look For

Deal-Breakers (Must Have):

• Legal Structure: Proper incorporation and clean cap table
• Market Opportunity: Large, growing addressable market
• Traction: Evidence of product-market fit
• Team: Capable founding team with domain expertise
• Financials: Clear path to profitability

Competitive Advantages:

• Strong Metrics: Impressive growth or unit economics
• Customer Love: High NPS or retention rates
• Unique Insight: Proprietary technology or approach
• Network Effects: Business gets stronger with scale
• Warm Intro: Referral from trusted source

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to start fundraising?

Start when you have 6-9 months of runway left and have achieved key milestones for your stage. For pre-seed, this might be an MVP and early user feedback. For seed, you need traction metrics. For Series A, you need proven product-market fit and a clear growth trajectory.

What's the biggest mistake founders make?

Approaching investors too early. Wait until you have compelling traction and a complete story.

How long does fundraising take?

Typically 3-6 months from first pitch to closed round. Start networking 6+ months before you need money.

What if my score is low?

Focus on building your business first. Use the checklist to identify gaps and work on them systematically.