Startup Fundraising Decoded

Dr. Timothy Hor is a battle-tested entrepreneur who secured funding for his X-Internet startup through post-dot-com challenges. He transformed his fundraising journey into rigorous and relevant academic research, developing RaiiSE™—the framework underpinning this book. As Assistant Professor at RMIT University, he brings these real-world insights to researching and teaching innovation and entrepreneurship. Professor Dimo serves as a Professor of Management at the University of Bath. Recognized as a top 2% global entrepreneurship researcher, he uniquely bridges venture capital theory with practice. His groundbreaking studies focus on VC firm performance and entrepreneurial journeys, providing the evidence-based foundation for this book. Furthermore, as the founder of the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Professor Dimov actively champions research that directly empowers entrepreneurs.Professor Georges Romme is a pioneering figure who established Design Science in entrepreneurship education and innovation at Eindhoven University of Technology. He specializes in the crucial work of translating complex organizational theory into actionable frameworks specifically designed for technology ventures. His extensive expertise in new venture creation and innovation design forms the practical, application-focused methodology that underpins this book.Professor James Skinner serves as the Dean of Newcastle Business School, specializing in bridging innovation ecosystems and organizational change. His research on value creation across complex networks—informed by his experience advising high-profile organizations like the International Olympic Committee and Chelsea FC—lends the book its strategic approach to stakeholder engagement in fundraising.

• Chapter 1: Introduction – The Brutal Journey of Startup Fundraising.- Part I: Foundations of Startup Fundraising.- Chapter 2: Navigating the Startup Funding Cycle.- Chapter 3: Startup Fundraising with Clarity and Purpose.- Part II: Discern WHY – Strategic Clarity.- Chapter 4: Discerning Your Business Goals.- Chapter 5: Your Beliefs and Values.- Part III: Determine WHEN – Investment Readiness.- Chapter 6: Determining Your Investment Readiness.- Chapter 7: External Factors - When the Market says 'Yes'.- Part IV: Enact HOW — Process Savviness.- Chapter 8: Organizing Network Ties & Establishing Legitimacy.- Chapter 9: Engaging Potential Investors.- Chapter 10: Negotiating and Closing the Deal.- Part V: Applying RaiiSE™ Across Funding Stages.- Chapter 11: Zero to Pre-Seed — Foundation Building.- Chapter 12: Pre-Seed to Seed — Early-Stage Strategies.- Chapter 13: Seed to Series A — Scaling Up.