# Takeways: Navigating Fundraising Challenges **URL:** \ **Category:** Founder Focused\ **Tags:** think-tank\ **Created:** [May 9, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/takeways-navigating-fundraising-challenges/131642 "2025-05-09T16:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alliekerr](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/alliekerr/32/28324_2.png) [@alliekerr](https://community.hubspot.com/u/alliekerr)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/takeways-navigating-fundraising-challenges/131642/1 "2025-05-09T16:21:44Z")
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our conversation on navigating fundraising challenges with Afraj Gill. We don’t have a recording as the conversation off the record, but here are some takeaways from the discussion! 👥 The Role of Advisors and Mentors: - Identify team weaknesses: Recognize gaps within your team and seek advisors who can fill those gaps. - Leverage alternative methods of fundraising: Example: look into roll-up vehicles (RUVs) through platforms like AngelList - They allow you to consolidate multiple investors into one entity on your cap table. These are smaller checks, and these investors can also become your champions and advocates. Note: this is not a fit for all founders, businesses and fundraising processes, but an example of another method to fundraise. Do your own research before any process to find the right fit for you! ✍ Lessons Learned in Fundraising: - Run a real process: Keep your narrative tight with a well-prepared deck. Build a comprehensive list of potential investors (100-200) and run the process full-time for 2-4 weeks to create momentum. - where to find these lists? Some examples: VC Sheet, Pitchbook, Crunchbase - Storytelling: Develop a compelling hook and be sincere in your narrative. - Building an army of supporters early on is crucial. Always be working on this!!! - Understand the VC model: Grasp the power law and how it impacts investor behavior. He recommends this book: Power Law - Learn to live with No: Believe the NO, don’t believe the WHY - don’t get bogged down by the reasons given, investors may not give you the exact reason, but it might not matter. You will hear 49 no’s for every yes. Stay true to your story and vision. 🚩 Red Flags in Negotiations: - Run reference checks: Always ask for references, including founders who both succeeded and those who didn’t. Don’t take social media at face value, so much more truth lies in back channeling through people who have worked with the investors. - Use a lawyer!!!: Ensure you have legal representation to navigate the complexities of investment terms. - Study industry standards: Know the norms for equity stakes and other terms at your fundraising stage. Familiarize yourself with what equity you should be giving up at each round - know what you are negotiating. We hope these insights help you navigate your fundraising journey more effectively. Let us know if you have any questions we didn’t cover - we can have Afraj answer some more! --- This post was migrated from [connect.com](http://connect.com) and was originally published at an earlier date. ---
**Author:** ![Raffy](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/raffy/32/31408_2.png) [@Raffy](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Raffy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/takeways-navigating-fundraising-challenges/131642/2 "2025-05-09T16:21:45Z")
I’m not looking to raise funds right now, but I want to understand how it works. I was counting on a video. Since the discussion was off the record, this summary is really appreciated. You mentioned industry standards. Do you have a go-to resource for this, preferably with an APAC focus? --- This post was migrated from [connect.com](http://connect.com) and was originally published at an earlier date.