Capital raising questions
Answers to the questions people ask Richard C. Wilson about raising capital, grouped into 15 topics. Each answer opens with a short answer, then a checklist, a passage from Richard's talks and the next steps to take.
All topics
Funding a company
- How much money should I raise?
- Should I bootstrap or raise outside capital?
- What is the easiest way to raise capital for a small business?
- Can I raise capital without giving up equity?
- What is the difference between debt and equity financing?
- How do startups raise their first round of funding?
- How do I raise money for a business idea?
- What are the best ways to fund a new business?
- How can I fund a business with no revenue?
- Is a business loan better than selling equity?
- How do I know if my company is ready to raise capital?
- What funding options are available for a startup?
Raising capital
- How do I raise capital for my business?
- How do I raise money with no track record?
- How do I close a funding round?
- What documents do investors request during due diligence?
- How do I set a fundraising target?
- When should a startup start fundraising?
- What happens during a startup fundraising process?
- What are the steps to raise capital for a startup?
- How long does it take to raise a funding round?
Finding investors
- How do I find investors for a startup?
- Where can I find angel investors near me?
- Is cold emailing investors effective?
- How can I find investors who fund early-stage companies?
- How do I find investors for a small business?
- How can I tell if an investor is a good fit for my company?
- How can I get introduced to investors?
- How do I research an investor before reaching out?
Family offices
Pitching
- How do you pitch an investor for the first time?
- How should I follow up with an investor after a meeting?
- How do I explain my startup idea to investors?
- How can I make my investor pitch more convincing?
- What questions do investors ask founders?
- What is the best way to pitch investors by email?
- How do I pitch a startup when I have no customers yet?
- What should I say in an investor pitch?
Angel investors
- How do I find angel investors?
- How much do angel investors typically invest?
- What percentage of a company do angel investors usually want?
- What do angel investors look for in founders?
- How do angel investors make money?
- Are angel investors better than venture capitalists for startups?
- How do I approach an angel investor for funding?
- How do I evaluate an offer from an angel investor?
- What is an angel investor?
Private investors
- What do private investors want to see before investing?
- What should I check before accepting money from a private investor?
- How do I find high-net-worth investors for my business?
- What is a high-net-worth investor?
- How do private investors invest in startups?
- What is the difference between private investors and venture capitalists?
- How do I find private investors for a real estate deal?
Institutional investors
Ultra-wealthy investors
Deal structure
AI in capital raising
Real estate and funds
Compliance basics
The capital raising path
I build the process before I make the ask. The path has seven stages, from getting ready to the work after the close.
- 01
Get ready
Clarify the opportunity, the purpose of the raise, the amount, the timing and the evidence that you can execute.
- 02
Find the right fit
Define the investor profile and confirm the opportunity matches their focus.
- 03
Make it clear
Prepare a concise explanation and the information that supports it.
- 04
Start conversations
Make relevant introductions and start focused conversations.
- 05
Build understanding
Answer diligence questions and organize the information requested.
- 06
Complete the close
Complete the agreed steps, with funds and documents handled by the right professionals.
- 07
Keep your commitments
Communicate, report, meet commitments and keep the relationship going.
After the close, relationships continue and often lead back to stage 02 for the next raise.
Work through it with a tool
See all tools and calculators or look up a term in the capital raising glossary.
About Richard C. Wilson
Richard C. Wilson has run the Family Office Club since 2007. It is the largest investor club in the world by media reach. The 15-person team hosts 30 events a year, including 16 in person, and has hosted more than 340 events since 2007. Richard shares what he has learned on the Centimillionaire Strategies YouTube channel.
Text or WhatsApp Richard at (808) 600-9260 or email Richard@FamilyOffices.com with a question about your raise. More about Richard.
General education only. Not legal, tax or investment advice.