DocSend Newsletter - The seed round: What you need to know

This week, we'll be taking a closer look at how founders can succeed in early-stage fundraising rounds, expert tips for success post-raise, and how you can access DocSend’s world-class analytics on all your shared Google Drive files.

DocSend's 2023 seed report: Essential insights for founders

Discover the latest pitch deck trends and insights to help you succeed in today's competitive fundraising landscape. Our fourth annual Seed report highlights the importance of presenting a compelling narrative demonstrating your business's long-term growth potential. Investors are selective and seek solid assurances, so it's crucial to understand what they're looking for. Check out our report to stay ahead of the curve.

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Pitch deck interest metrics

Investors kept to their pace last week but founders increased theirs as the final few days of fundraising season draw near before the holidays. Investor deck interactions were unchanged from last week, and VCs are right in line with last year’s pace. The first week of December is typically the last period of significant activity from investors before they begin to take time off for the holiday season.

This year looks to be no exception, so we expect VC activity to trail off starting this week. Founder activity rose by 7.07% last week: founders are likely aware that the last days for 2023 dealmaking are upon us, so they may be making one final push to get decks out before the marketplace quiets down. We could see another increase in founder activity this week, but after that we expect activity to die down appreciably until the new year begins. Next week’s pre-holiday update will give us the final few data points we need to evaluate the 2023 fall fundraising season.

Three tips to help you succeed post-raise

As the post-raise glow fades away, what’s revealed underneath is a pressure to spend the money you raised and communicate your decisions to your new bosses: your board of directors and your investors. The transition from rogue innovator to accountable business owner can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. We share three tips to make sure you have a soft post-raise landing.

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