Learn from the best with a 10-week, tailor-made program. The IRP is specifically designed to provide startup founders with all the essential knowledge, skills and practical advice needed to succeed in raising capital. Ready to kick-start your funding journey? The program starts on May 26. Sign up before May 3!
The Investment Readiness Program (IRP) will provide you with all the ins & outs to take your startup to the next level. With individual coaching sessions and top-notch workshops from the best in the business, you’ll get a solid grasp on what investors are looking for and how to smoothly navigate the funding process.
We offer four enrollment opportunities per year (2 in 2024), with a maximum of 8 to 10 participants per edition. During the 10-week program, experts like business analyst Thomas Mensink and venture capital and M&A lawyer Sjoerd Mol will teach you about things liker the best negotiation practices, exit strategies, legal documentation and strategies to safeguard your technology. The program concludes with a matchmaking event, where you will connect with potential investors. And with a commitment fee of €299 for a program valued at €2.500 per session, you also get a lot of bang for your buck.
Who can apply?
The program is designed for startup founders with limited to no experience in the funding landscape (entry level). Your startup needs to be incorporated and based in Groningen, Friesland, or Drenthe and you need to have an MVP and customer validated problem. After signing up, there will be an intake to determine if the program is the right fit for you.
What others think about the program
The investor readiness track really helped us a lot. During the process you are forced to take a critical look at things that you prefer to put off. Things that still seem far away, or are not yet up for discussion. But that's precisely why this is so good, because the decisions you make now will ultimately determine the future of your company. Read more
What you’ll get out of the program
- Insights into the various types of investments and investment instruments, including subsidies, loans, and risk capital.
- Understanding of the terminology and dynamics of an investment process and the ability to apply this knowledge accordingly.
- The ability to create and deliver a pitch deck with customized financials which meet the investors' requirements.
- Knowledge about key legal documents, such as Term Sheets, Shareholder Agreements, and Intellectual Property.
- The chance to meet relevant, regional and international investors.
Program Outline
Intake: personal development plan
Before you begin the IRP, there is an intake to determine if the program is the right fit for you. Following mutual agreement, we will develop a customized plan to help you reach your personal goals.
Workshop 1: Funding Bootcamp (by Thomas Mensink)
What do you need to know before you start raising capital?
- Discover the various investment options and investment instruments.
- Gain insights into the process of raising capital, including terminology and valuation.
- Learn negotiation best practices, including key dos and don'ts.
- Explore fundraising and exit strategies: determine the ideal investor.
- Define your long-term goals.
Study Material: Startup Funding, Thomas Mensink, ISBN: 9789083213408
Workshop 2: Business model and finance (to be determined)
How to build a pitch deck and present financials to convince investors
- Business model, revenue streams and pricing strategy.
- Costs and investments.
- Financial reporting, including Profit & Loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow drivers, data points, key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Pitch deck components to craft your pitch deck for success.
Study material: follows
Workshop 3: Legal (by Sjoerd Mol)
Understanding legal documents
- Understand term sheets, shareholder agreements, and other legal documentation.
- Learn strategies to safeguard your technology and navigate intellectual property (IP) concerns, including interactions with universities.
- Prepare effectively for due diligence processes.
Study Material: Startup Funding, Sjoerd Mol, ISBN : 9789083213408
Workshop 4: Investment Game & Guest Speakers
- Entrepreneurs participate in a real life investment simulation.
- Two guest speakers (a founder and an investor) will be invited to share their personal experiences about startup investments.
Personal coaching (by our IRP coordinator and experts)
Our personal coaching program is tailor-made. Drawing from your personal development plan, we provide support across various areas. This includes refining your business model, perfecting your pitch and negotiating favorable investment terms. Should the need arise, will also facilitate connections with the right experts. The end product is a comprehensive pitch deck ready for presentation to investors.
Matchmaking event: investor dinner
At the end of the IRP, you’ll be invited to participate in a matchmaking event, where you will have the opportunity to meet a select group of investors.
Conditions for participation in the IRP
- The startup delivers an innovative and scalable product and is impact-driven.
- The startup expects to need investment within the next 12 months.
- The startup is incorporated and based in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe.
- The startup team has multiple founders/team members.
- The startup's team consists of several founders/team members.
- The startup pays a commitment fee of 299 euros.
- Upon completion of the program, the startup shares the results with the IRP organization.
- The startup understands that participation in the program does not guarantee success in securing an investment.
Practical information
- This edition will be taught in English.
- The starting date of this edition is May 26, 2024.
- The second session is June 6 and the third is on June 13.
- All the sessions take place at Feithuis in Groningen from 10 am to 4 pm.
Would you like to know if you qualify for the program? Please contact Leonie Ebbes ebbes@nom.nl or +31 (0)6 557 100 20.
You can sign up for the program using the form below. After registration, we will contact you for an intake interview. Founded in the North will determine whether this program is appropriate for the phase in which your company finds itself.
Individual Investor Readiness Program
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