Avoid the purgatory of being non-fundable. Find out the investor’s view and structure of their balance sheet in an “investor friendly” manner before submitting an executive summary to startup investors.

The capitalization table (cap table) summarizes who owns what part of the company before and after financing. It is one of the most important elements of the term sheet because it outlines the complete transaction succinctly using concrete numbers.

 An entrepreneur without funding is a musician without an instrument.― Robert A. Rice Jr.

As the startup proceeds through the due diligence process related to a potential investment from an angel group, VC or Corporate VC, (CVC), the process will include discussions and reference checks with a broad base of the start-ups’ constituents.

The process of obtaining investment funding from Venture Capital Firms, (VCs) is typically difficult and time consuming for the entrepreneur. There are hundreds of VCs and each focus on different criteria. As a result, a targeted approach by the entrepreneur may be appropriate.

The key is that they are engaging and actively seek to understand all potential alternative points of view in the decision-making process.

“A term sheet is like a prenuptial agreement and a coach’s playbook. Spend the time to understand the plays, and what happens should you ever separate from the business.”- Mitch Thrower

If you’re not included in an investor’s network and have never met them in person, face it – you’re a cold contact. How can you prevent your pitch from being condemned to the trash? Review this guideline before you email investors.

Entrepreneurs seeking Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) often don’t understand the full benefits of the investment. Find out what you need to know before partnering up with a corporate company.

30+ Questions You Could be Asked About Your Startup During a Screening Meeting with an Angel Group