# STARTUP FUNDRAISING 101 
## Early-stage deal mechanics

Startup fundraising is so much more than putting money in your bank account. Get to know the contracts you’ll encounter in pre-seed funding—SAFEs and convertible notes. We’ll also cover the importance of valuation caps and dilution.

### Lesson Highlights

Click for sound

### Lessons

Lesson 1: When and how much to raise

Lesson 2: SAFESs, discounts, and valuation caps

Lesson 3: How dilution works

Lesson 4: Pre-money and post-money valuations

Lesson 5: Convertible notes

## Course Structure

### Section 1: Fundraising basics  
Discover different types of pre-seed funding and the importance of product-market fit.
|     |     |
| --- | --- |
| [Course overview](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=1/index.html) | 6:04 |
| [Lesson 1: Bootstrapping and friends and family](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=2/index.html) | 9:52 |
| [Lesson 2: Finding product-market fit](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=3/index.html) | 3:43 |
| [Lesson 3: Angel investors](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=4/index.html) | 6:32 |
| [Lesson 4: Accelerators](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=5/index.html) | 5:13 |
| [Lesson 5: Seed funding](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/1/?slide=6/index.html) | 3:49 |

### Section 2: Early-stage deal mechanics
Ramp up your startup fundraising by getting to know SAFEs, convertible notes, valuation caps, and dilution.
|     |     |
| --- | --- |
| [Lesson 1: When and how much to raise](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/2/?slide=1/index.html) | 11:54 |
| [Lesson 2: SAFESs, discounts, and valuation caps](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/2/?slide=2/index.html) | 11:38 |
| [Lesson 3: How dilution works](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/2/?slide=3/index.html) | 2:47 |
| [Lesson 4: Pre-money and post-money valuations](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/2/?slide=4/index.html) | 12:56 |
| [Lesson 5: Convertible notes](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/2/?slide=5/index.html) | 3:48 |

### Section 3: The pitch deck and funnel process
Understand the pitching process and build an efficient fundraising funnel—step-by-step.
|     |     |
| --- | --- |
| [Lesson 1: The pitch deck (part 1)](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/3/?slide=1/index.html) | 6:16 |
| [Lesson 2: The pitch deck (part 2)](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/3/?slide=2/index.html) | 4:16 |
| [Lesson 3: The pitch deck (part 3)](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/3/?slide=3/index.html) | 4:11 |
| [Lesson 4: The fundraising process: Meetings, pitches, and follow-ups](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/3/?slide=4/index.html) | 13:44 |

### Section 4: The Series A
Prepare yourself for this new level of startup fundraising as we go over converting SAFEs, term sheets, and more.
|     |     |
| --- | --- |
| [Lesson 1: Bringing on VCs, and converting SAFEs](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/4/?slide=1/index.html) | 11:55 |
| [Lesson 2: Term sheets, dilution, and pro formas](/content/learn/startup-fundraising-101/4/?slide=2/index.html) | 9:55 |

## Ready to start fundraising?  
Get tools and services for an easier and more cost-effective fundraise.