How to Find Funding Consultants for Startups

You’ve taken your winning idea from conception right through to a living, breathing business.

But like any new life, you need to provide resources in order for it to flourish.

Startups need cash injections so they can grow. There’s no way around it, unfortunately.

The problem is that we’re betting you don’t have a pile of cash lying around that you can use. Therefore, it’s usually necessary to find and secure external capital.

If you’ve found yourself in this position and desperately need a funding consultant for your startup, you’re in the right place.

What is a Funding Consultant?

Fundraising consultants are individuals who help startups raise external capital from various sources such as angel investors, venture capitalists, crowdfunding platforms, or grants.

It’s important to understand that they don’t provide the actual money; they just help you to find it. They do this in a number of ways, chiefly by helping you to:

• Develop a fundraising strategy and plan
• Prepare a pitch deck, financial model, and valuation
• Identify and contact potential investors
• Negotiate and close deals
• Manage investor relations and reporting

The Benefits of Fundraising Consultants

While the upfront cost of a fundraising consultant may be daunting for startups on limited budgets, the results can be extremely rewarding. Here are the advantages of hiring one:

• Saves you significant time and resources from trying to secure funding alone
• Gives you access to a vast network of investors and opportunities
• Increases your chances of getting funded as they will help you craft a compelling and credible story
• Saves more time and money by helping you avoid common pitfalls and mistakes
• Provides you with valuable feedback and advice on improving your business model and strategy

The Pitfalls of Fundraising Consultants

On the other hand, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Finding a qualified and trustworthy consultant who has relevant experience and expertise in your industry and stage can be difficult.

You may also discover that the consultant charges a ridiculous fee or commission. And since you’ll be sharing sensitive and confidential information about your business with a third party, how can you ensure they can be trusted?

The wrong choice of fundraising consultant also runs the risk of accepting unfavorable terms or conditions from investors

Therefore, finding the right one for your startup is a crucial decision that requires careful research and due diligence.

Define Your Fundraising Goals and Needs

Before you begin the process of finding yourself a fundraising consultant, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you need from them.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How much money do you need to raise, and for what purpose?
• What stage is your startup at, and what are your key metrics and milestones?
• What type of investors do you wish to target?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a founder and as a business?
• What are the main challenges or obstacles that you face in fundraising?

Answering these questions helps you define your fundraising goals and needs, which will help you narrow down your search for a suitable consultant.

Conduct Thorough Research

The next stage is to research and shortlist potential candidates. There are a multitude of places where you can find them, including the following:

Online platforms

There are many online platforms that connect startups with fundraising consultants, such as Toptal, 7startup, and Consultport. The advantage is that these platforms have a vetting process to ensure the quality and credibility of their consultants.

Referrals

Ask for referrals from your network. You can reach out to other founders who have successfully raised funds with the help of consultants and ask for their recommendations

Events

Start attending events related to entrepreneurship, innovation, or fundraising within your business niche. These tend to be a hotbed for fundraising consultants

Virtual financial firms

Platforms such as Finvisor that provide virtual financial services are the perfect place to find consultants. The advantage here is that they only use qualified and vetted individuals so that you can be assured of quality and a fair price

Evaluate and Make Your Decision

After you have explored and evaluated your options, you can get in touch with your shortlisted individuals and have a conversation with them. By doing so, you’ll soon understand if they are the right fit for your startup.

When you have settled on someone, it’s time to hash out the details and determine exactly what services they are going to provide for you. This step is crucial as it sets the expectations right from the beginning.

Next, you must draw up and sign a contract or agreement with the consultant. This must outline the scope, deliverables, timeline, fees, commissions, confidentiality, and other terms and conditions of the project.

It is also vital that you establish a clear and regular communication channel with the consultant and monitor their progress and performance throughout the project.

You should also provide feedback and input to the consultant and address any issues or concerns that may arise along the way.

Conclusion

Finding funding consultants for startups can be a challenging but rewarding process. But ultimately, the rewards will far outweigh any of those initial struggles. By following these tips, you can find a qualified and trustworthy consultant who can help you achieve your fundraising goals and grow your business.

When you’re sitting on top of a healthy chunk of cash, you’ll be pleased you took the step and hired a fundraising consultant. Now you have the resources to take your business to the next level; there will be no stopping you!

At Finvisor, it’s our pleasure to help young businesses flourish. We have an established and highly experienced team of consultants and financial experts who will show you the path to securing investment.

And, if you require other virtual financial services, such as accounting or HR and payroll, we can provide that, too, at a very affordable price.

If you’re curious about what Finvisor has to offer, get in touch with us and have a chat.