The best founders build the first version of a product before raising money. It's easier than ever to find users on platforms like Product Hunt and Hacker News. Investors want to jump on trains that are in motion. Turn back for a second step if you're trying to invest in a chemical manufacturing company.
YC Group Partner Brad Flora has seen startup fundraising from every angle: as a founder, as one of the most prolific angel investors in Silicon Valley, and now as a YC Group Partner. Brad has coached hundreds of companies on fundraising. In this talk, he shares stories and advice on how modern startup fundraising works.
Paul Graham Fundraising Essays:
http://www.paulgraham.com/fundraising.html
http://www.paulgraham.com/startupfunding.html
http://www.paulgraham.com/convince.html
http://www.paulgraham.com/herd.html
Geoff Ralston's Fundraising Guides:
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/4A-a-guide-to-seed-fundraising
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcevHkNGrWQ
YC Fundraising Resources:
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/2u-how-to-build-your-seed-round-pitch-deck
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/6q-how-to-pitch-your-startup
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/71-how-to-get-meetings-with-investors-and-raise-money
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/4O-raising-money-online-advice-for-startups
https://www.ycombinator.com/library/3u-different-types-of-investors-and-their-incentives
Apply to Y Combinator: https://yc.link/SUS-apply
Work at a startup: https://yc.link/SUS-jobs