Roundly Fundraising Blog

Practical guides on running a raise: building the list, writing the email, following up, and knowing what to automate.

• How to Build an Investor List for a Startup FundraiseBuild a focused investor list by stage, sector, check size, geography, thesis and contact quality — and learn how short the list should actually be.
• Startup Investor Outreach Email Template: How to Write Emails VCs Actually ReadA first investor email has one job: earn a reply. Here is the four-part structure, what to cut, and why most personalisation fails.
• Investor Follow-Up Email Strategy: When to Follow Up and What to SayMost investor replies arrive after the first email. Here is when to follow up, what a follow-up should add, how to track replies, and when to stop.
• VC CRM vs Sales CRM: Why Fundraising Needs a Different WorkflowA raise is not a sales pipeline. Here is why sales CRMs mislead founders, what a fundraising pipeline actually needs to show, and how to run it.
• Fundraising Automation for Founders: What to Automate and What Never to AutomateAI can research investors, draft outreach and track replies. It should not press send. Here is the line, and the six-step workflow around it.
• Pre-Seed and Seed Fundraising Guide: What to Have Before You Contact InvestorsWhat pre-seed and seed investors actually evaluate, the checklist to clear before outreach, and how to prepare once someone replies yes.