[Fundraising For Startups] Lesson 0: Work backwards from your goal.

It's me again.

I know I told you that we're going to start tomorrow but I couldn't help myself.

Right now I’m on a cramped United plane en route to Washington, DC. (Well, you know me better than that, I'm probably driving down an Interstate near you as we haul the Airstream back to DC.)

Whatever. Hopefully, wherever you are in the world, you’re more comfortable than me.

What if I told you to meet me for lunch at 12pm tomorrow in DC?

This is what you’d probably do:

1. Ask where we're meeting for tacos
2. Look up directions on Google Maps
3. Figure out if you should get a taxi / fly / hyperloop / ride your bike / use subway

Now what does that have to do with raising money for your company?

To raise money for your company, you need a plan.

So, here's the plan: you need to learn how other companies raised their money. Figure out what made their companies compel an investor to write a check and then do it for yourself.

It’s hard to figure out what to do (and what not to do). In this course, I'll tell you the most effective tactics and how exactly to do them.

I'm here to help but YOU have to commit to doing the work. If you are not willing to do the work to raise money for your company, please stop reading this now. Delete this email and go watch some Netflix.

Good, got rid of all the vegans. KIDDING. Got rid of all the people not cut out for hard work, like crossfitters.

Haha, okay now that I’ve offended everyone left. Now let’s get to work.

It’s absolutely critical to remember this: If you don’t take action on each lesson, you won't raise money for your company.

Today is “Lesson 0.” Before we jump into tactics, you first have to know what everyone else is doing.

Check out the pitch decks of nearly 1,000 other companies that have raised money. Seriously, they're all posted online here and more are added every month. (Pro tip: most of these slide decks have a video of the founder presenting the company -- watch their mannerisms and watch the way they emphasize key points.)

For now, just browse those pitch decks and watch a few pitches. I'll be back tomorrow.

-P