caroline

As a start-up, raising money was already written in your DNA when the first idea popped into your head. Now that you are registered, your POC is done and your clinical data underway, you are set to start on your path to some serious fundraising.

It’s Friday afternoon, and the sand has settled after a whirlwind of startups pitches, investor meetings and workshops on this very theme. It is now time to reflect on questions raised and a good opportunity to go back to my tip “Should fundraising be painful” with its very first advice of having a powerful opening.

You are head of a young innovative company and you need to raise cash and fast because paying your researchers, your office, your consultants, your IP … tends to be mighty high and your burn rate seems to create a bigger hole in your sock than you initially anticipated.

“I want to close my €3 M round by the end of the month.” –Why funding doesn’t come easy and how to set yourself up for success

Let us come down from Bubble Gum land and take a proper look at how things are really done in Europe when raising early-stage equity.

I am regularly astounded by young start-ups who contact us (The European Health Investor Network) for their fundraising and when asked what their timeline to closing is, they answer without doubt or humour “at the end of the month”.