How Do You Build an Initial Investor List for Your Startup?

Kathy Kraysler — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:49:57 GMT

Breaking Down the Stages of a $1M Capital Raise

Kathy Kraysler — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:51:01 GMT

Should You Use PR for Your Startup? Here’s What Founders Need to Know

Kathy Kraysler — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:04:36 GMT

What Makes a Startup Investable?

Kathy Kraysler — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:43:48 GMT

Every founder wants to believe their company is investable. But when you strip away the pitch decks, buzzwords, and optimism — what really convinces investors to say yes?

We Asked 3 Experts Their Best Advice For Founders —Their Answers Might Surprise You

Kathy Kraysler — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:29:11 GMT

Market Your Raise: 4 Powerful Ways to Attract Investors

Kathy Kraysler — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:14:59 GMT

The Top 5 Ways to Build Momentum for Your Raise

Kathy Kraysler — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:07:15 GMT

7 Ways to Win Investors At The Pre-Revenue Stage

Kathy Kraysler — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:45:28 GMT

Many early-stage founders successfully raise capital without revenue by building credibility in other ways. If you focus on showing investors that you understand the problem, have a strong plan, and are the right team to execute it, you can earn their trust and raise funds before a single dollar has come in. Here’s how:

5 Things These Founders Wish They Had Known Before They Started Raising Capital

Kathy Kraysler — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:51:34 GMT

We asked four founders who’ve successfully raised on Netcapital:
“What do you wish you had known before you started?”

Their answers? Honest, direct, and full of insights you don’t usually hear until you’re knee-deep in the process.

Whether you’re planning your first Reg CF raise or in the middle of one now, here’s what they want you to know.

1. Crowdfunding Isn’t Magic—It’s Muscle

John Fanning Jr., Founder and CEO of Zelgor, said it best:

“Equity crowdfunding isn't a place where money rains from the clouds and all your dreams come true. It's a lot of hard work.
There’s no shortcut for calling people and meeting with them in person.
It’s going to be very emotional and painful—even if things go perfectly.
It’s up to you as the company founder to raise excitement for your business.
If you put in the work, generate activity and excitement, and go in with the attitude that you need to generate every dollar of investment yourself, then potential investors will see your activity and momentum and get excited.”

2. Expect to Hear ‘No’—A Lot

According to Jit Basak, CEO of Catailyst:

“Be ready to hear NO a thousand times. No one will believe you in the beginning that you can change the norm.”

“Among many things we try to achieve every day wearing ten different hats, in my view, the most important thing should be—being able to communicate about the problem we are trying to solve. Ultimately, the vision and solution will attract investors.”

3. The Platform Doesn’t Do the Work for You

Bev Jedynak of Phoenix PharmaLabs offered this reality check:

“Really do the work it takes to make it work. If you think you're just going to go up on a platform and you're just going to put some tweets out—it’s not going to work. There's a lot of work involved.

“And once you do it, you need to maintain the content with your investors so they realize that they’ve invested in a real company that really cares and is keeping them apprised.”

4. Line Up Momentum Before You Launch

Jack Kloeber, CEO of MicroMGx, shared this foundational advice:

“Before you do a Reg CF raise, have a couple of big investors lined up to show some momentum. During the raise, communicate regularly—almost like a blog—to show activity and growth, and to generate excitement.”

“Even just saying, ‘I’m traveling here,’ or ‘We’ve seen this much growth’ helps people feel like they’re part of something real and active.”

5. If You Believe in It, Keep Going

Behind every successful raise is a founder who refused to quit.

Jit Basak of Catailyst put it simply:

“It takes a village to build a company. If you start it, commit to it and believe in it—don’t give up. Things will fall in place if you keep going.”

Raising capital is hard. But when you show conviction—real, relentless belief—others start to believe too.

As John Fanning Jr. added:

“It’s up to you to raise the excitement. If you show up every day and generate momentum, people will follow that energy.”

This isn’t just about raising money. It’s about building something that matters—and inspiring others to join you.

Raising capital isn’t easy—and it’s not supposed to be. But if you put in the effort, tell your story clearly, and keep showing up, you can build the momentum you need.

No magic. Just muscle.

Why Summer Might Be the Best Time to Raise Capital

Kathy Kraysler — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:12:06 GMT

Funding Insights for Founders