Fast-track your funding journey
Are you the founder of a startup and do you expect to raise your first round of funding within 12 months? Then NOM’s Investor Readiness Program will help you enter the funding process better prepared, more focused, and with greater confidence. In three intensive masterclasses, you’ll work on the most important aspects of your fundraising: your funding strategy, pitch deck, financials, cap table, investor narrative, and preparation for term sheets and due diligence. The program is led by Niels Palmers, Melcher Frankema, and Wouter van Gammeren.
Program
The Investor Readiness Program is a hands-on bootcamp for early-stage startups preparing for their first or relatively small funding round (less than 1.5 million euros). You’ll learn to view your startup through the eyes of investors and discover which funding path best suits your stage, market, and ambitions. Raising funding isn’t just about money. It’s mainly about making the right choice: is equity already a good fit for your company, does a CLA make more sense, when is a loan a smarter option, and which investors are a good fit for your startup? During the program, you’ll work on your own case in a small group of 8 to 12 startups. You’ll gain practical knowledge, direct feedback, and concrete tools to help you enter discussions with financiers and investors better prepared.
Master classes
1. Investment landscape and positioning
You will gain insight into different types of funders, the logic of venture capital and what investors are looking for in early stage startups. Then translate this to your own startup: which funding options fit your stage, market and investment question?
2. Fundraising strategy and financials
You work on your pitchdeck, fundraising approach and financials. You'll get feedback on your story, your ask and your key assumptions. You'll also discover what an investment round means for your cap table, ownership and future choices. In addition, you will gain insight into what investors want to see during due diligence.
3. Legal and investor outreach
You will prepare for the deal phase of fundraising. You'll learn what's in a term sheet, how a CLA works and what legal questions can come back towards an investment. You'll also work on a longlist and shortlist of suitable investors in preparation for outreach.
What does participation get you?
After completing the Investor Readiness Program, you’ll have a better grasp of your fundraising process. You’ll have a clearer understanding of which funding route is right for your startup, which investors are relevant, and what you need to have in order before entering into discussions. You’ll be working toward:
- A sharper funding strategy;
- A stronger pitch deck and investor story;
- Better understand your ask, valuation and cap table;
- Better understand equity, CLAs, loans and grants;
- Prepare for term sheets, legal and due diligence;
- An initial selection of suitable investors;
- Be more confident in conversations with financiers and investors.
What others think about the program
Who is the Investor Ready Track for?
The Investor Readiness Program is designed for early-stage startups in the Northern Netherlands that are preparing for their first round of funding.
The program suits you if:
- You actively build a scalable business model;
- You have an investment question between €50,000 and €1,500,000;
- You expect to raise funding within 12 months;
- You are located in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe or are planning to locate here;
- You are willing to share openly, receive feedback and actively work on your pitch deck, financials and fundraising approach;
- At least one founder can attend all three days.
Practical information
- Duration: 3 days
- Group size: 8 to 12 startups
- For whom: early-stage startups preparing for their first investment round.
- Funding request: €100.000 to €1.500.000
- Fee: €199 excluding 21% VAT
- Guidance: Niels Palmers, Melcher Frankema and Wouter van Gammeren.
- Location: Northern Netherlands
Is this program right for you?
The Investor Readiness Program is ideal if you’re seriously preparing for your first funding round and want to understand which path is best for your company.
Are you already working on a larger VC round above €1.5 million? Then the Venture Capital Track is probably a better fit.
Starting dates
Edition 3
- Funding Bootcamp - Tuesday, September 22 from 9:30 - 15:00 at NOM.
- Strategies for Fundraising & Exit - Tuesday, October 6 from 9:30 - 15:00 at NOM
- Legal Playbook: From Term Sheets to IP Protection - Tuesday, October 20 from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm at NOM
Edition 4
- Funding Bootcamp - Wednesday, October 21 from 9:30 - 15:00 at NOM.
- Strategies for Fundraising & Exit - Wednesday, November 4 from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm at NOM
- Legal Playbook: From Term Sheets to IP Protection - Wednesday, November 11 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at NOM
Edition 5
- Funding Bootcamp - Wednesday, November 25 from 9:30 - 15:00 at NOM.
- Strategies for Fundraising & Exit - Wednesday, December 9 from 9:30 - 15:00 at the Kanselarij in Leeuwarden.
- Legal Playbook: From Term Sheets to IP Protection - Wednesday, December 16 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at NOM
Sign up
Do you want to be better prepared for your first investment round? Then sign up for the Investor Readiness Program.
After your application, we will see if the program fits your phase, funding question and ambitions. If there is a good match, we will contact you for the next steps.
