What does it take to be investor ready?

What does it mean for your startup to be "investor-ready"?* This field is required.Just 1-2 sentences on what tangible things signal to you that your startup is ready for funding.

What's the biggest challenge you're facing / have faced in getting your startup to be investor ready?* This field is required.Even if you've now overcome it.

As you prepare to raise money for your startups, what do you need to have in place to ensure you're investor-ready?* This field is required.Please add as many items as you need, ideally in order of priority

What part of your business do you find hardest to explain to an investor today?

Where is your startup in its development journey?* This field is required.Choose the best fit — whether you're building a scientific breakthrough, a product, or a business model

🔬 Discovery or concept phase – Exploring core insight, science, or unmet need

🧪 Proof of concept / prototype – Validated key functionality or technical feasibility

🛠️ MVP or pilot – Built something testable; engaging early users or partners

💼 Early traction – Some paying customers or pilots; refining product-market fit

🚀 Growth / scale-up – Clear market validation; focused on growth or fundraising

Have you raised funding for a startup before?* This field is required.Select all that apply

Friends and family

Grants

Prizes and awards

Angels

VCs

Other

Not raised before

How much funding (if any) have you raised to date?* This field is required.Include grants, friends & family, angels, etc.

None

Less than $100K

$100K–$500K

$500K–$1M

$1M+

What best describes your startup’s focus?* This field is required.Choose the closest

Deep tech (e.g., advanced materials, robotics, quantum, etc.)

Life sciences / biotech

Healthtech (digital health, diagnostics, devices)

SaaS / enterprise software

Consumer tech or products

Climate / cleantech

Hardware / IOT / systems

Fintech or data infrastructure

Other

Are you a first time founder?* This field is required.

YESNO

What is your role in the company?* This field is required.

CEO / co-founder (business lead)

C-level co-founder (e.g. technical lead)

Solo founder

Other

Have you participated in any of the following before?* This field is required.Please select all that apply

Accelerator

Incubator

University startup program

University tech transfer office support

Other

None of the above

Would you be willing to share more?If you're open to a 20-min chat about your challenges with getting investor ready, please select "Yes" and share your email in the next screen.

YESNO

What's your preferred email?We'll use this to get in touch for a chat and to send your investor readiness checklist

example@example.com

What does it take to be investor ready?