Startup Funding Readiness Checklist Is your startup investment-ready?Step 1 of 714%Whether you're seeking investment from angel investors, venture capitalists, or applying for grants and loans, our useful online checklist is designed to help you assess your startup's readiness to attract investors and navigate the world of funding.Getting to Know YouBefore we begin, we'd love to stay in touch and provide you with more valuable resources to support your startup journey. If you're interested, please take a moment to share your name and email address below. Don't worry, we won't spam you – we're here to provide helpful insights and guidance tailored to you.What's your name? First What's the name of your business?What's your email address? Company Structure & LeadershipIs your company officially registered? A) Limited company, and we're good to go. B) Partnership or sole trader, contemplating the next step. C) We haven't registered yet, brainstorming names.How many founders do you have, and what are their roles? A) Multiple founders, each with clearly defined roles contributing to our startup's strengths. B) A couple of founders sharing responsibilities and roles. C) Solo founder, wearing multiple hats and looking to expand the team.Do you have an advisory or non-executive board in place? A) Yes, we have an experienced advisory/non-executive board contributing to our strategy. B) In the process of forming an advisory board. C) Considering the benefits of an advisory/non-executive board.How protected is your intellectual property? A) Fully protected with patents, trademarks, or copyrights as needed. B) In the process of applying for protection. C) We need to start thinking about IP protection.How is your pitch deck looking? A) Our pitch deck is polished, concise, and has successfully captivated interest in our past presentations. B) It covers the basics, but we're refining it to better showcase our potential. C) Draft stage – it's more of a sketch than a masterpiece right now.Financial Planning & StrategyWhat's your current funding status, and what investment are you seeking? A) We've secured funding from various sources, including angel investors, venture capital firms, grants/loans, or crowdfunding. We are seeking additional investment to further fuel our ambitious growth plans. B) We've received initial investment from friends and family, providing a solid foundation for our startup. We are exploring opportunities for additional funding to advance our development. C) Funding is currently a work in progress; we're actively seeking investment opportunities to support our startup's growth trajectory.Have you obtained SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance for your startup? A) Yes, we've secured SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance, making us more attractive to investors. B) We're in the process of applying for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance. C) Planning to apply for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance soon. D) Not applicable to our startup/we haven't looked into it.Have you determined a valuation for your startup? A) Yes, we have a clear valuation based on thorough financial analysis and market assessment. B) We've made some estimations, but our valuation is still being finalised. C) We're in the process of determining our startup's valuation and/or are seeking expert guidance.Have you prepared your financial forecasts? A) Yes, detailed financial forecasts covering multiple years ahead. B) We have basic forecasts but are working to refine them. C) Starting to work on financial forecasts.How well have you figured out your unit economics? A) They're clear and positive, driving our decisions. B) We're getting a handle on them, with some adjustments needed. C) In the early stages of understanding and applying them.Long-Term Sustainability & GrowthDo you have a clear and validated revenue model? A) Yes, our revenue model is clear, validated through market testing and generating steady income. B) It's defined, but we're still in the process of validating it with our market. C) We're currently developing and exploring potential revenue models.What's your strategy for scaling and expanding into new markets? A) We have a detailed growth and scaling strategy ready to execute, including plans for expanding into new markets backed by thorough research. B) While we have general ideas, we're in the process of formalising our scaling strategy and solidifying our presence in current markets before exploring new ones. C) Scaling and market expansion are on our radar, and we're in the early stages of strategising our approach to ensure long-term sustainability.How do you envision your business model evolving over the long term? A) We have a clear vision and strategy for long-term sustainability, including plans for innovation and adaptation. B) We're actively considering different scenarios and strategies to enhance our business model's sustainability. C) Long-term sustainability is a concern, and we're exploring options to strengthen our model and mitigate risks.How dialled in are your key startup metrics like CAC, LTV, and MRR? A) Fully optimised – we track, analyse, and act on these metrics consistently. B) We're monitoring them, still fine-tuning for better accuracy and insight. C) On our radar – we know they're crucial and need to get set up to track them properly.Do you have an exit strategy in place? A) Clearly defined exit strategy, aligned with our long-term business goals. B) We have a few ideas on potential exit strategies but nothing set in stone. C) Currently focused on growth, haven't detailed an exit strategy yet.Market & Product ValidationDo you have a clear value proposition for your market? A) Crystal clear – we know our unique selling points. B) Sort of – we're refining it as we get feedback. C) We're still figuring out who our market is.What evidence do you have that demonstrates the size of your market? A) Comprehensive market research with solid data supporting a large and growing market. B) Some initial research indicates a promising market, but we're gathering more data. C) We're in the process of assessing the market size.Is your product or service market-ready? A) Yes, we have a finished product and early adopters. B) In beta – we're testing, refining and gathering feedback. C) Still in the ideation or concept phase.How deep is your knowledge about your competition? A) We've done our homework – detailed analysis in hand. B) Aware of them, still figuring out where we stand. C) Just starting to scope out the competition.Marketing & Customer AcquisitionHow effective are your customer acquisition and retention strategies? A) Highly effective – we have a growing customer base and strong retention rates. B) Moderately effective – we're acquiring customers but working on improving retention. C) Needs improvement – we're figuring out the best strategies for our startup.Have you conducted market testing or received feedback from potential customers? A) Yes, we've gathered feedback from target customers through surveys, interviews, or beta testing. B) We've had some informal feedback but plan to conduct more structured validation activities. C) Not yet, but we're planning to engage with potential customers to validate our product/service.What is your marketing strategy? A) Comprehensive marketing strategy leveraging multiple channels effectively. B) Developing our strategy, focusing on a few key marketing channels. C) In the early stages of planning our marketing approach.Operational Efficiency & ManagementAre you aware of and compliant with relevant regulations and industry standards in your sector? A) Yes, we've conducted thorough research and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and standards. B) We're aware of regulatory requirements and are working to ensure compliance as we grow. C) Compliance with regulations is an area we're still exploring and addressing.What's the state of your cash flow? A) Solid – we've got a good handle on what's coming in and going out. B) It's manageable, but there's room for improvement. C) It's a bit of a puzzle we're working to solve.Your approach to bookkeeping and accounting is: A) Digital and up-to-date, thanks to our accounting software. B) A mix of digital and paper, we kind of keep track. C) Does a shoebox full of receipts count?How are you using tech to keep up or stand out? A) We're on the cutting edge, using the latest tech to innovate and stay ahead. B) Actively using tech to improve, but know there's more we can do. C) Getting more tech-savvy is on our agenda – we see its value and are moving in that direction.EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
