Fundraising Forward

Selected cohort · 4-week fundraising sprint

Stop chasing investors. Start getting introduced.

Fundraising Forward is a selected four-week sprint for Pre-Seed and Seed founders preparing to raise — combining fundraising readiness, curated investor matching and up to four warm investor introductions per week where relevant fit exists.

🤝 Up to 4 warm introductions / week 🎯 Curated investor matching 📑 Pitch & fundraising readiness ⚖️ Legal fundraising support 🎤 Demo Day
Founding Cohort €550 · only after acceptance · Future cohorts €990
Free Fit Check · No commitment · €550 only if accepted and you choose to join
Fundraising Forward INVESTOR ACCESS
Potential curated introductions Up to 16

Across the four-week programme, subject to relevant investor fit, interest and availability.

01
Investor Fit

Stage · sector · round · geography · thesis

02
Curated Matching

Prioritise investors with a credible reason to care.

03
Warm Introduction

BeFounder facilitates the connection where there is fit.

04
Investor Conversation

Enter the room better prepared and better targeted.

4 Focused Weeks
Up to 16 Curated Introductions
68+ Investors & VCs in the wider ecosystem
Selected Cohort Admission
The Fundraising Gap

A good startup is not automatically an investable conversation.

Fundraising becomes difficult when the story is unclear, investor targeting is random and every conversation begins with cold outreach.

Before Fundraising Forward
“Is my startup actually ready to raise?”
“Is my pitch strong enough?”
“Which investors actually fit?”
“Why is cold outreach getting ignored?”
“What should I do next?”
Four Weeks Forward
You know what needs to be fixed.
Your investment story is sharper.
You know which investors make sense.
Relevant warm introductions can begin.
You have a clearer fundraising next step.
What You Actually Get

More than pitch feedback. A connected fundraising process.

Every part of Fundraising Forward is designed to move you toward stronger investor conversations — not simply give you more startup content.

01

Fundraising Readiness

Identify the gaps that should be fixed before serious investor conversations begin.

02

Pitch & Investment Story

Sharpen your positioning, fundraising ask, investment narrative and pitch deck.

03

Investor Targeting

Identify the types of investors that match your stage, sector, geography and round.

05

Legal Fundraising Support

Access relevant legal expertise when fundraising questions become structural or contractual.

07

Founder Library

Access practical mentorship videos, founder resources and masterclasses beyond the sprint.

08

Fundraising Next-Step Plan

Leave the programme knowing how to continue your raise after the sprint ends.

09

Meeting Preparation

Prepare for investor conversations, feedback, follow-up and fundraising momentum.

How Admission Works

Start free. Join only after acceptance.

Fundraising Forward is a selected programme. We first review whether your startup is ready and whether the programme can create meaningful value for your raise.

01

Free Fundraising Fit Check

Tell us about your startup, round, traction, pitch and fundraising priorities.

02

BeFounder Review

We review fundraising readiness, programme fit and whether relevant investor matching is realistic.

03

Acceptance + €550

If accepted, you receive an invitation and decide whether you want to join the Founding Cohort.

04

Fundraising Forward Starts

We begin readiness work, investor targeting, matching and the four-week fundraising sprint.

Founding Cohort

Join for €550 if your startup is accepted.

The Fundraising Fit Check is free. If accepted, you can join the complete four-week Founding Cohort for €550. Future cohorts are planned at €990.

Founding Cohort Price
€550
Only after acceptance.
Full four-week programme.
Future Cohort Price €990

Start with the free Fit Check.

There is no payment to submit your Fundraising Fit Check. We first review your startup and fundraising readiness. If accepted, you can then decide whether to join for €550.

Fundraising readiness assessment
Pitch deck & investment story feedback
Investor targeting & matching
Up to 4 curated introductions / week
Investor meeting preparation
Legal fundraising support
Selected Demo Day participation
Founder Library & mentorship resources
No payment for the Fit Check · Programme participation requires acceptance · €550 only if accepted and you choose to join
Investor Access

Don’t just find investors. Find investors that make sense.

Fundraising Forward is not an investor database. Matching starts with your company, your round and the investor profile that actually makes sense.

Where a credible match exists, BeFounder facilitates the introduction rather than simply handing you a contact list.

Your Startup Stage · Sector · Geography · Round
Investor Fit Thesis · relevance · current interest
Warm Introduction Facilitated by BeFounder
4 Up to / Week

Up to 16 curated introductions across four weeks.

Introductions depend on investor fit, stage, sector, geography, investor interest and availability. Investor meetings and investment are never guaranteed.

The 4-Week Sprint

Four weeks. One fundraising objective.

Move from fundraising uncertainty toward stronger positioning, relevant investor access and better conversations.

Week 01

Get Ready

Understand exactly where your raise stands.

Fundraising readiness assessment Pitch deck review Fundraising ask Investment story Investor strategy
Milestone: Your gaps are clear.
Week 02

Get Sharp

Turn your company story into an investor conversation.

Pitch refinement Investment narrative Investor targeting Meeting preparation Initial matching
Milestone: Your story is sharper.
Week 03

Get Introduced

Move from investor targeting into relevant conversations.

Curated warm introductions Investor conversations Pitch iteration Meeting feedback Follow-up strategy
Milestone: Fundraising becomes real.
Week 04

Get In The Room

Bring the work together and move your raise forward.

Further matching & introductions Final pitch preparation Fundraising next-step plan Legal fundraising support Demo Day preparation
Destination: Better prepared and in the conversation.
The Destination

Fundraising Forward Demo Day.

After four weeks of preparation, matching and investor conversations, selected founders can take the next step: pitching in front of invited investors.

Stronger pitch Clear fundraising ask Investor conversations Final preparation Pitch to invited investors
Beyond the Sprint

Learn from people building what’s next.

Participants receive access to selected founder resources, mentorship videos and insights from experienced founders, investors and operators across the BeFounder network.

Kilian Kaminski
🇦🇹 Founder Insight

Kilian Kaminski

Co-Founder · refurbed
Scaling · Marketplace · Growth

Ramin Hasani
🇦🇹 🇺🇸 Founder Insight

Ramin Hasani

Co-Founder · Liquid AI
AI · Deep Tech · Research

Hugh Forrest
🇺🇸 Ecosystem Insight

Hugh Forrest

Startup Ecosystem · Innovation
Global Community

BeFounder Mentor
Investor Insight

Investor Perspective

Fundraising · Investor Readiness
Venture Capital

BeFounder Mentor
Operator Insight

Founder & Operator

Growth · Go-to-Market
Company Building

Renate Schnutt
🇦🇹 Market Insight

Renate Schnutt

AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA
International Markets · Expansion

Swipe / Scroll →
INCLUDED Founder
Library

Your learning does not stop after week four.

Access practical resources and selected mentorship content beyond the fundraising sprint.

Mentorship Videos Fundraising Sessions Founder Masterclasses Growth & Sales Leadership & Team Legal & Fundraising Content
Programme Fit

Built for founders who are ready to raise.

Fundraising Forward works best when your startup already has enough substance for serious investor conversations.

Strong Fit

Pre-Seed or Seed startup.
Actively preparing a fundraising round.
Initial pitch deck already exists.
Clear product and market direction.
Able to engage with investors during the programme.

Probably Too Early

Still at idea stage.
Not currently planning to raise.
Looking only for general startup education.
Not ready for investor conversations.
Expecting guaranteed investment outcomes.
Limited
Cohort
Capacity
Individual matching · real workload

Why we limit the number of companies

Investor targeting, pitch feedback and facilitated introductions are handled individually. Fundraising Forward therefore cannot operate as an unlimited membership without reducing the quality of matching and support.

Applications are reviewed for readiness and programme fit before participation is confirmed.

FAQ

Questions before you start.

Is the Fundraising Fit Check free?

Yes. There is no payment required to submit the Fundraising Fit Check and no obligation to join after the review.

How much does Fundraising Forward cost?

The Founding Cohort price is €550 for accepted startups. Future cohorts are planned at €990.

When do I pay?

Only after your startup has been reviewed, accepted and you decide that you want to join the programme.

What is included in the €550 programme fee?

The fee covers the complete four-week Fundraising Forward sprint, including fundraising readiness, pitch feedback, investor targeting, curated matching, up to four relevant warm introductions per week where matches exist, legal fundraising support, Founder Library access and selected Demo Day participation.

Is investment guaranteed?

No. Investment decisions remain entirely with investors. Fundraising Forward is designed to improve readiness, targeting, access and investor conversations — not to promise funding.

Are four investor introductions every week guaranteed?

No. The programme is designed to facilitate up to four curated warm introductions per week where appropriate matches exist. Introductions depend on stage, sector, geography, investor fit, interest and availability.

What does “warm introduction” mean?

BeFounder facilitates the introduction between your company and a relevant investor rather than simply giving you an investor list or contact database.

What stage should my startup be?

Fundraising Forward is primarily designed for Pre-Seed and Seed startups with a clear product direction and an active intention to raise.

Do I need a pitch deck before submitting the Fit Check?

An initial pitch deck is strongly recommended because the programme focuses on improving and testing an existing fundraising story rather than building a startup from scratch.

Is Demo Day guaranteed for every participant?

Demo Day participation is for selected founders based on readiness and programme progress.

Why is cohort capacity limited?

Investor matching, pitch feedback and introductions require individual work. Limiting capacity helps keep these activities relevant and personal.

Fundraising Fit Check

Ready to move your raise forward? First, let’s check the fit.

Tell us about your startup, fundraising stage and current round. We will review whether Fundraising Forward is the right next step and whether there is meaningful investor fit.

Founding Cohort €550 · only after acceptance · Future cohorts €990
Free Fit Check · No commitment · Programme participation requires acceptance