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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.

The capital raising path

I build the process before I make the ask. Seven stages, from getting ready to the work after the close.

  1. 01

    Get ready

    Clarify the opportunity, the purpose of the raise, the amount, the timing and the evidence that you can execute.

  2. 02

    Find the right fit

    Define the investor profile and confirm the opportunity matches their focus.

  3. 03

    Make it clear

    Prepare a concise explanation and the information that supports it.

  4. 04

    Start conversations

    Make relevant introductions and start focused conversations.

  5. 05

    Build understanding

    Answer diligence questions and organize the information requested.

  6. 06

    Complete the close

    Complete the agreed steps, with funds and documents handled by the right professionals.

  7. 07

    Keep your commitments

    Communicate, report, meet commitments and keep the relationship going.

After the close, relationships continue and lead back to stage 02.

All topics

Funding a company

All funding a company questions

Raising capital

All raising capital questions

Finding investors

All finding investors questions

Family offices

All family offices questions

Pitching

All pitching questions

Angel investors

All angel investors questions

Private investors

All private investors questions

Institutional investors

All institutional investors questions

Ultra-wealthy investors

All ultra-wealthy investors questions

Deal structure

All deal structure questions

Pitch materials

All pitch materials questions

AI in capital raising

All ai in capital raising questions

Mistakes

All mistakes questions

Real estate and funds

All real estate and funds questions

Compliance basics

All compliance basics questions

Work through it with a tool

CalculatorHow much should I raise? calculatorEstimate a raise from your monthly costs, revenue, runway, one-time costs and buffer.CalculatorDilution calculatorSee what founders keep after three rounds, with an optional option pool.CalculatorInvestor returns waterfall calculatorWalk deal proceeds through return of capital, preferred return, catch-up and profit split.BuilderOne-liner builderTurn who you serve, what you do and how you do it into one clear sentence.Self-checkPitch deck graderAnswer 15 yes or no questions about your deck and get a fix for every gap.Self-checkFamily office fit checkTen questions to decide whether family offices belong on your first research list.

See all tools and calculators or look up a term in the capital raising glossary.

Richard C. Wilson

General education only. Not legal, tax or investment advice.

About Richard C. Wilson

Richard has run the Family Office Club since 2007, the largest investor club in the world by media reach. The team hosts 30 events a year, including 16 in person, and has hosted more than 340 events. Richard has done 46+ transactions as an investor and shares what he has learned on the Centimillionaire Strategies YouTube channel.

If you're working through a raise and have a question, I'm happy to help. Text or WhatsApp me at (808) 600-9260 or email Richard@CapitalRaising.com.

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